"Who is as mighty as You are, O LORD?"

As I've been reading in Exodus, I have been noticing over and over the many displays of God's power and might.
Something that caught my attention this time in my reading, which I haven't noticed before when reading Exodus, is that while the Egyptian magicians could duplicate several of the plagues (Nile turning to blood, and frogs) - Pharoah always had to call on Moses to remove the plagues! The magicians apparently couldn't undo what they had done! Only God had the power and might to remove the plagues; only God is all powerful; there is none like Him! Wooohooo!!

If you have time today, read Psalm 89 (especially verses 5-8). This is a Psalm I keep coming back to for praising God and worshipping Him as the One True God.

"O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?" (Ps 89:8)

Keeping An Eye on His Hand

It has been awhile since I lasted published a post! The flu hit Ken hard, and got me a bit lighter; then we were gone for EMI Board of Director meetings in Minneapolis two days; and when I got home, that nasty little flu bug bit me big time! I am still recovering, still not at 100% strength, but am enjoying being alert enough to be back in God’s Word! 

This morning while others were in church, I read Exodus 1-9. And as usual, my reading leaves me with lots of questions!

1:16 – the Hebrew midwives are to kill the baby boys, but let the baby girls live. What was Pharoah thinking? I understand that he is afraid of the numbers of Hebrews that they might join with Egypt’s enemies, but where does he think his future slave labor will come from if he kills off all the males?

2:6 – how does Pharoah’s daughter not only get away with defying her dad’s order to cast the baby boy into the Nile (1:22), but why is she allowed to raise a Hebrew as her son?

2:15 – Pharoah’s second death penalty issued against Moses. Did Pharoah suddenly realize he hadn’t ‘educated the Hebrew out of Moses’ and is he afraid Moses might one day rule Egypt with a heart of compassion for the Hebrews?

3:11-4:17 – Moses has all kinds of arguments for God regarding why he shouldn’t be the one to go back to Egypt. I understand Moses’ fears in returning to Egypt, and I understand feelings of inadequacy for a job one doesn’t feel qualified for, but how does Moses miss all that God has been doing for him? Rescuing him from the Nile and a death decree; allowing Moses to be raised in Pharoah’s home – no one else was better qualified than someone raised in ‘the system’ who knew it, understood it, and who could go back and appeal to it.  

And on this note, I wonder how many times have I pulled “a Moses”. How many times have I argued with God that I am not the one qualified for what He is asking of me; that there must be someone else more eloquent, more gifted, more skilled for the job? How many times have I allowed fear and feelings of inadequacy or inferiority to blind me to the obvious Hand of God on my life preparing me for such a time as this?

And I wonder if Moses missed out on blessings (and have I, too?) by insisting God send someone else (Ex 4:13-17).

As a result of our time in the book of Job, I have started keeping a Praise journal. The last post of Job (from one of my friend’s) really made me realize how ‘unnatural’ praise/gratitude is in my life. It is hard work for me to live with an attitude of gratitude – and it shouldn’t be! So I have determined to change that by recording praises throughout the day. I don’t want to get caught in focusing on the negatives in life or on fears or failures. I don’t want to miss seeing God’s Hand in my life, nor the many blessings He so graciously bestows. I am hoping that by changing my focus I will realize that when God gives me a Kingdom Assignment, I am the most qualified for the job and He has my back.

If you aren’t already journaling praises and things to be grateful for, why not start today?

How have you seen God's hand on your life? How have you seen Him prepare you for an assignment that only you were qualified for?

Thoughts from another friend

Another friend sent me some thoughts on Job as she has been reading. She, too, has given me permission to share:
I read your blog and the thoughts from a friend on Job.   I have the following notes in my Bible from a sermon I heard on the radio by David Jeremiah back in 1997!  I referred to these thoughts as I read through Job.   I'm using my old Scofield, but following the schedule (loosely) from my husband's Chronological Bible.   Use these thoughts if you think they would be helpful to someone else - but credit should be given to the authors. 

 

The problems with Job's friends:

1) They responded to his words but failed to regard his pain.

2) They refused to recognize his suffering as part of God's plan.

3) They related all of Job's suffering to sin.  (All suffering is due to sin -- Adam's sin -- but not all particular suffering is due to some particular sin.)

4) They rejected the uniqueness of Job's suffering.

 

And the following thoughts are from Rick Warren's PURPPOSE-DRIVEN LIFE, p.111

When Job's life fell apart and God was silent, Job still found things for which to praise God.

 

God is good/loving  10:12

God is all powerful  42:2,  37:5,23

God notices every detail of my life  23:10   and  31:4

God is in control  34:13

God has a plan for my life  23:14

God will save me  19:25

 

This was very timely for me! I have been struggling more this past week with health issues and I needed to be reminded that even when life falls apart and God seems silent, there are many, many things I can praise Him for. What are you praising God for today?

Job Musings

A friend sent me her Job Musings this morning; I asked permission to post, and she agreed, under the condition of anonymity! :)

Paying attention to the content of the conversations (between Job and his friends) is like listening to my own heart; if I just do better, be better, everything will get better. Repent and ask forgiveness and life will be good; but that isn't really what is promised. 

With Job's words comes an insight into the future beyond what I expected at that time in history.  As someone said at church Sunday morning, Job is looking for an arbitrator, a mediator between him and God. "If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more." Job 9:33-34  The answer,  "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men..." 1Timothy 2:5

Wow, Job is looking for Jesus, seeking relief from God's punishment.  And though Job may not know his name, he certainly believes there is such a one.  "Even now my witness is in heaven, my advocate is on high.  My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."  Job 16:19-21  "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."  Hebrews 7:25

Job is aware, somehow, that he has a redeemer and that he will come to earth at the end; "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the  end he will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25.  "On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, ..." Zehariah 13:8

How did Job know all that?  Was there some ancient revelation given concerning the Messiah and the end times.  I always thought that up until Jesus became flesh, it was the righteousness of man evidenced by obedience and sacrifices that gave man an assurance of forgiveness.  Obviously, Job believed in that program; he offered sacrifices on behalf of his children in case they sinned. Why then did he acknowledge an advocate, a Redeemer?

Aren't we supposed to be getting questions answered in our Bible reading, not finding more questions? Job is far more intriguing than I have previously thought.

Does anyone else have insights you would like to share? Email me and I'll post them! I'd love to have more involved!

The flu bug has decided our home is a cozy place to stop for awhile!
If anyone would like to post something about where we are reading in Job, feel free to email it to me and I'll post it on the blog. I'd love to have others' input!

Temporal Vs Eternal

Job's friends have been trying to comfort Job with the hope that his life will return to the way it was: riches, wealth, etc. But Job reveals the true and wise way to comfort the afflicted: with that which will not fail; the promise of God, his love and grace, and a well-grounded hope of eternal life (Matthew Henry’s commentary).

This is so true! Too often I’ve tried to bring comfort to others through the false hope that life will return to what it once was. But what if it doesn't? What if health doesn't return? What if their loved one dies? What if....? True and lasting comfort comes from God, His Word, His character and attributes, the knowledge that this world isn’t our home, etc.  That is where the focus should be in times of distress, affliction, loss and sorrow. We need to point others to what is eternal, rather than what is temporal. Lasting peace and comfort comes on those wings.

As I read through Job, I am intrigued by Job’s friends. I wish I could know more about them. 

They have jumped to the conclusion that Job’s troubles must be due to sin in his life, and they proceed to chastise him and challenge him to confess the sin and let the suffering be done. 

And I wonder: how many times have I done this as a friend to someone? How many times have I jumped to the wrong conclusion and proceeded to give advice to a friend based on that wrong conclusion? How many times have I challenged/advised others based on wrong or incomplete facts, or on wrong or incomplete knowledge of God and His character? 

God is using this book to challenge me to make sure the counsel I give is filled with wisdom – God’s wisdom, and that it is not based on my personal bias, preferences, or opinions. If I am not diligent to advise based on God’s wisdom, then I become part of the problem rather than part of the solution. 

The flip side of this is: what type of friends are giving us advice? Do they know God’s Word, God’s character and attributes and do they counsel based from that wisdom? Or are they speaking from what seems right in their eyes? When life is tough, unfair, and there just don’t seem to be any answers, what kind of counsel are you receiving from your friends? Eliphaz’ counsel to Job has truth in it, but it’s not all truth; there is error mixed in. This is a challenge for us to examine the counsel we are receive from others and make sure it lines up 100% with the counsel of God’s Word.