Scripture Passage For Today
Scripture Focus
13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
(Job 23:13 NLT)
Observation
The language of Job’s accusers grows stronger than ever. At first, it seems, Job’s friends have attempted to kindly assert that perhaps there’s some sin—some offense against God—that Job has somehow overlooked; that if Job would just examine his life again, he would discover the error of his ways, and could repent, and be restored.
The more firmly Job asserts his innocence, however, the more strongly his friends suggest otherwise—until it’s no longer a suggestion, but an outright indictment! Listen to chapter 22:4-5…
4 Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you
and brings judgment against you?
5 No, it’s because of your wickedness!
There’s no limit to your sins.
(Job 22:4-5 NLT)
Job’s response is a study in honest conversation with God.
Job affirms God’s awareness of his life, and affirms the purity of that life…
10 “But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
(Job 23:10 NLT)
Job affirms the authority of God to ultimately do as He pleases…
13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
(Job 23:13 NLT)
Job questions why evil seems to persist without judgment from God…
1 “Why doesn’t the Almighty bring the wicked to judgment?
Why must the godly wait for him in vain?
(Job 24:1 NLT)
But Job ultimately affirms the empty destiny of the wicked:
24 And though they are great now,
in a moment they will be gone like all others,
cut off like heads of grain.
(Job 24:24 NLT)
The thing is, for all the conversation with God, Job reaches no real conclusions. He only is able—at this point—to declare things he knows to be true.
That’s a frustrating place to be. I’ve been there many times. Only able to say to God, “I know *this* is true, and *this* is true, and *this* is true…but I don’t really know where that leaves me! I don’t yet know the conclusion I’m to draw from that! I know what I know…but not all I *want* to know!”
I’m thinking today that perhaps this is the point a person has to get to before any hope of a solid conclusion can be reached. This is part of the process, part of the journey, of a growing understanding of God and His ways. That before any conclusions about God can be secure, all the pillars on which they stand need to be tested and affirmed. And it’s possible that, plenty of times, we’ll not quite understand how the dots connect—only that the dots are true. When that happens, I wish to agree with Job:
13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
Whatever he wants to do, he does.
(Job 23:13 NLT)
For me, that’s not a complaint about a capricious God, it's an affirmation about a sovereign God. And though sometimes I wish the dots connected better—or at least I saw how they connected better, ultimately, I'm both glad I'm not the one in charge, and glad I know the One who is.
2 comments:
I agree with you pastor I am glad I am not the one in charge and that God is praise God. I just dont understand why Job just doesnt tell theses friends to leave him alone if they dont have anything to say to help him.But they do seem to be getting more on his back now I wonder whyGod hasnt step in and said anything yet to theses friends I guess that comes later praise God for all He does and will do.
In one of my earlier comments I assumed the patience of Job was found in how he dealt with his friends' persistance of his guilt. I guess it was my own assumption. I am now learning that the patience he showed was also in how he stayed true to our soveriegn God at a time when it would have been easy to blame or deny Him. His patience is found in the way that he still asserts the truths that he knows of God when it would probably be easy to come up with his own assumptions and 'half-truths'. It would have been easy to give up! Praise God for His sovereign ways and His ways being higher than ours!!!
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