November 12 ~ Job 9:21-35
21-24 "Believe me, I'm blameless.
I don't understand what's going on.
I hate my life!
Since either way it ends up the same, I can only conclude
that God destroys the good right along with the bad.
When calamity hits and brings sudden death,
he folds his arms, aloof from the despair of the innocent.
He lets the wicked take over running the world,
he installs judges who can't tell right from wrong.
If he's not responsible, who is?
25-31 "My time is short—what's left of my life races off
too fast for me to even glimpse the good.
My life is going fast, like a ship under full sail,
like an eagle plummeting to its prey.
Even if I say, 'I'll put all this behind me,
I'll look on the bright side and force a smile,'
All these troubles would still be like grit in my gut
since it's clear you're not going to let up.
The verdict has already been handed down—'Guilty!'—
so what's the use of protests or appeals?
Even if I scrub myself all over
and wash myself with the strongest soap I can find,
It wouldn't last—you'd push me into a pigpen, or worse,
so nobody could stand me for the stink.
32-35 "God and I are not equals; I can't bring a case against him.
We'll never enter a courtroom as peers.
How I wish we had an arbitrator
to step in and let me get on with life—
To break God's death grip on me,
to free me from this terror so I could breathe again.
Then I'd speak up and state my case boldly.
As things stand, there is no way I can do it."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Grab a chair… this is getting interesting! Job has HAD it, and he is starting to cave in a little bit. He hasn’t completely given up on God, but he is fading fast! He still isn’t cursing God, but he is conceding that God must be ready for him in heaven. He’s sorta saying, “I thought I was blameless, but apparently God doesn’t see it that way.” He is obviously completely desperate.
Look at the McCullys. They are closing in on nine consecutive months in the hospital. Job’s grandma has battled breast cancer and treatments. His dad has had to take odd jobs in St. Louis to help keep them in an apartment there. They had major insurance problems, and their teenage daughter has to live with family and friends in Bigelow so she can stay in school. They have been faithful in their Bible study, prayer, and their words and actions. And every time Job gets better for a day or two, he seems to have a setback and be at death’s door again. Still, other children they have come to know and love in the same hospital have already passed away. Troubles are piled on them in giant heaps. But they will NOT waiver in their faith.
Maybe the McCullys have done what we should do. Maybe they have taken a look at the Old Testament Job and seen that troubles do come to good people, but God never deserts His children. I understand Job’s desperation and his frustration… and so does God. But we will see that God’s timing is always perfect… and His ways are always right and fair. It may not seem so when you are going through tough times, but remember Psalm 23:4 says “Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when You walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.”
Never forget this…God IS with us… always.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 11 ~ Job 9:1-20
1-13 Job continued by saying:
"So what's new? I know all this.
The question is, 'How can mere mortals get right with God?'
If we wanted to bring our case before him,
what chance would we have? Not one in a thousand!
God's wisdom is so deep, God's power so immense,
who could take him on and come out in one piece?
He moves mountains before they know what's happened,
flips them on their heads on a whim.
He gives the earth a good shaking up,
rocks it down to its very foundations.
He tells the sun, 'Don't shine,' and it doesn't;
he pulls the blinds on the stars.
All by himself he stretches out the heavens
and strides on the waves of the sea.
He designed the Big Dipper and Orion,
the Pleiades and Alpha Centauri.
We'll never comprehend all the great things he does;
his miracle-surprises can't be counted.
Somehow, though he moves right in front of me, I don't see him;
quietly but surely he's active, and I miss it.
If he steals you blind, who can stop him?
Who's going to say, 'Hey, what are you doing?'
God doesn't hold back on his anger;
even dragon-bred monsters cringe before him.
14-20 "So how could I ever argue with him,
construct a defense that would influence God?
Even though I'm innocent I could never prove it;
I can only throw myself on the Judge's mercy.
If I called on God and he himself answered me,
then, and only then, would I believe that he'd heard me.
As it is, he knocks me about from pillar to post,
beating me up, black-and-blue, for no good reason.
He won't even let me catch my breath,
piles bitterness upon bitterness.
If it's a question of who's stronger, he wins, hands down!
If it's a question of justice, who'll serve him the subpoena?
Even though innocent, anything I say incriminates me;
blameless as I am, my defense just makes me sound worse.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever been in a situation where you are “pleading your case” with someone, and no matter what you say or do, you feel like you just dig yourself deeper and deeper into a hole? For every argument you present, the other person has a retort. It’s like trying to climb out of a hole in the ground, and every time you gain a couple of inches, you slip and slide a foot – or worse yet, someone pushes you back!
This is how Job is feeling toward God, and I’d bet that you have felt this way at some point. If not, there is a good chance you will some day. You will almost feel persecuted – as if you have done everything right and God is still allowing “the world” to kick you and keep you down.
We will see in the days ahead that things are not always what they seem to be. God has NOT left Job out in the cold, and He DOES hear our prayers and pleas for mercy. God is not the one doing the “knocking about” in this situation… and He is NOT knocking YOU about, either. God is with you ALWAYS… NEVER forget that!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 10 ~ Job 8:20-22
20-22 "There's no way that God will reject a good person,
and there is no way he'll help a bad one.
God will let you laugh again;
you'll raise the roof with shouts of joy,
With your enemies thoroughly discredited,
their house of cards collapsed."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever heard the saying, “cheaters never prosper”? I know I sound like a broken record when I tell you that people are watching you… but it’s true… and more importantly, GOD is watching. He knows when you do things that honor and glorify Him. And He knows when you do things that are displeasing – when you sin. He will reward those who follow Him… and those who choose to follow another will be rejected.
God does not want to reject any of His children. But the choice is ours. Just like we don’t want to be around people who don’t care about us, God doesn’t want those who don’t choose Him, either. In 1966, Peter Scholte wrote a song titled “We Are One in the Spirit,” that is sung quite often in churches, small groups, etc. The words of the song are powerful and could easily have been the battle cry for Job and his friends. As you read the lyrics, ask yourself… “Am I someone God would rescue, or am I someone He would rather reject? Will others know me by my Love for Christ? Am I one in the Spirit?”
We Are One in the Spirit
©1966 Peter Scholte, F.E.L.
Verse 1
We are One in The Spirit, We are One in The Lord.
We are One in The Spirit, We are One in The Lord.
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored.
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Chorus
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, By our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
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Verse 2
We will work with each other, We will work side by side.
We will work with each other, We will work side by side.
And we'll guard each man's dignity and save each man's pride.
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Chorus
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, By our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
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Verse 3
We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand.
We will walk with each other, We will walk hand in hand.
And together we'll spread the News that God is in our land.
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Chorus
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, By our Love,
Yes they'll know we are Christians by our love.
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I pray today that “we will walk with each other… we will walk hand in hand, and they will know we are Christians by our Love.”
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 9 ~ Job 8:8-19
8-19 "Put the question to our ancestors,
study what they learned from their ancestors.
For we're newcomers at this, with a lot to learn,
and not too long to learn it.
So why not let the ancients teach you, tell you what's what,
instruct you in what they knew from experience?
Can mighty pine trees grow tall without soil?
Can luscious tomatoes flourish without water?
Blossoming flowers look great before they're cut or picked,
but without soil or water they wither more quickly than grass.
That's what happens to all who forget God—
all their hopes come to nothing.
They hang their life from one thin thread,
they hitch their fate to a spider web.
One jiggle and the thread breaks,
one jab and the web collapses.
Or they're like weeds springing up in the sunshine,
invading the garden,
Spreading everywhere, overtaking the flowers,
getting a foothold even in the rocks.
But when the gardener rips them out by the roots,
the garden doesn't miss them one bit.
The sooner the godless are gone, the better;
then good plants can grow in their place.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
My grandmother is a fabulous gardener. She can make just about anything grow. I, however, am not! My track record with plants is nothing to flaunt! I have a handful of live plants that are notoriously hardy and actually thrive on neglect. When I see my peace lily drooping in thirst, I water it. In a few hours, it has sprung back to life and raises its stems and leaves in thanks. My aloe plant requires almost no attention, yet when I burn myself in the kitchen, a juicy stem soothes the burn almost instantly. The geraniums and begonia on my deck can go a couple of weeks without a good drink of water and still cheer me with their beautiful salmon-colored blooms and colorfully veined leaves. Don’t get me wrong… I love flowers and plants… but I just don’t love the care and nurturing of them. Yet somehow, they “love” me back with their beauty and color.
I am so glad that God doesn’t treat me like I treat my plants. He probably should a lot of the time, but He doesn’t. He nurtures me daily. My relationship with Him is strong, in spite of the fact that sometimes I treat HIM like I do the geranium or peace lily. I get busy with the daily routine of life, and I don’t find time to read my Bible every day. My prayer life could use some work. I don’t always have kind and loving thoughts about others. Honestly, some days my spiritual life is as fragile as the spider web that Bildad describes… and it’s a wonder that God doesn’t reach down and wipe it away!
But God doesn’t operate that way, and I am so very grateful. He waits, like my plants, for us to return to Him and to spend time in His presence, and He blesses us with everything from grace and mercy to the beauty of a potted geranium. He deserves better, and I am going to try to give Him more. And when I look at my plants, I’ll think of Bildad and his admonition, and I’ll thank God for loving me so well.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 8 ~ Job 8:1-7
1-7 Bildad from Shuhah was next to speak:
"How can you keep on talking like this?
You're talking nonsense, and noisy nonsense at that.
Does God mess up?
Does God Almighty ever get things backward?
It's plain that your children sinned against him—
otherwise, why would God have punished them?
Here's what you must do—and don't put it off any longer:
Get down on your knees before God Almighty.
If you're as innocent and upright as you say,
it's not too late—he'll come running;
he'll set everything right again, reestablish your fortunes.
Even though you're not much right now,
you'll end up better than ever.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
WOW! Job’s friends are really giving him “the business,” as they used to say on “Leave it to Beaver”! He’s calling Job to task for his crying and complaining and saying, “If God is Who He says He is, and you are the kind of man you claim to be, then you’re accusing God of making a mistake in allowing you to suffer like this.”
Can you imagine a so-called friend saying those things to you? Can you imagine someone taking a risk that you might be insulted and/or the friendship ruined just to stand up for his/her beliefs? Bildad is obviously a brave… and faithful man. He obviously cares enough about Job to talk straight to him and to rattle his cage. He obviously believes in God and His Almighty power – to give and take… and to restore.
What about you? Are you a faithful friend? Do you have the kind of relationship with God that causes you to say, “Whatever it takes, whatever it costs, I will stand up for God and I will not let anyone – even my friends and family – talk against Him to me. This is a HUGE challenge. It’s not always easy, but if you are truly a maturing Christian, you MUST be willing – and able – to do this. I promise, God will be with you always, no matter the outcome.
So go ahead, and with love and kindness, be brave and honest with others about God and His power, grace and mercy. Be a Bildad for the 21st Century!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 7 ~ Job 7:11-21
11-16 "And so I'm not keeping one bit of this quiet,
I'm laying it all out on the table;
my complaining to high heaven is bitter, but honest.
Are you going to put a muzzle on me,
the way you quiet the sea and still the storm?
If I say, 'I'm going to bed, then I'll feel better.
A little nap will lift my spirits,'
You come and so scare me with nightmares
and frighten me with ghosts
That I'd rather strangle in the bedclothes
than face this kind of life any longer.
I hate this life! Who needs any more of this?
Let me alone! There's nothing to my life—it's nothing
but smoke.
17-21 "What are mortals anyway, that you bother with them,
that you even give them the time of day?
That you check up on them every morning,
looking in on them to see how they're doing?
Let up on me, will you?
Can't you even let me spit in peace?
Even suppose I'd sinned - how would that hurt you?
You're responsible for every human being.
Don't you have better things to do than pick on me?
Why make a federal case out of me?
Why don't you just forgive my sins
and start me off with a clean slate?
The way things are going, I'll soon be dead.
You'll look high and low, but I won't be around."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Man! Job’s got it bad, doesn’t he?! He is really venting to God. And that’s okay. God understands, and He DOES hear these grumblings. Job is being honest. He’s telling God that even in his dreams, he sees himself sick and/or dead. He doesn’t understand, and he cries out to God to explain it to him or to just kill him and get it over with!
You know, we all have moments when we wonder what God is up to… why on earth He does things the way He does them. We wonder why little children suffer and why babies are born with cerebral palsy, cleft palate, or spina bifida. We wonder why our friends are killed in car wrecks. We wonder why God allows us to have everything from ulcers to hair loss to acne. We wonder why a God Who is all-knowing, all powerful, all sovereign allows cancer, diabetes, heart attack and stroke, and more. What’s up with obesity, deformities, and poverty? Why do we have child abuse, bigotry, and war?
Go ahead… ask God all of these questions and more. Don’t expect a concrete answer in your earthly life. But don’t expect to be struck by lightning either. God wants to hear from you, any time, about anything. Abraham questioned God. Others have questioned God. Obviously JOB questioned God. God will reveal Himself to us in His timing. He is perfect in all of His ways, and I promise you, He understands your suffering and your questions. Don’t be afraid to tell God how you really feel. He can take it!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 6 ~ Job 7:1-10
1-6 "Human life is a struggle, isn't it? It's a life sentence to hard labor.
Like field hands longing for quitting time
and working stiffs with nothing to hope for but payday,
I'm given a life that meanders and goes nowhere—
months of aimlessness, nights of misery!
I go to bed and think, 'How long till I can get up?'
I toss and turn as the night drags on—and I'm fed up!
I'm covered with maggots and scabs.
My skin gets scaly and hard, then oozes with pus.
My days come and go swifter than the click of knitting needles,
and then the yarn runs out—an unfinished life!
7-10 "God, don't forget that I'm only a puff of air!
These eyes have had their last look at goodness.
And your eyes have seen the last of me;
even while you're looking, there'll be nothing left to look at.
When a cloud evaporates, it's gone for good;
those who go to the grave never come back.
They don't return to visit their families;
never again will friends drop in for coffee.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever considered how short and fragile life is? If you are in your teens or twenties, you may feel you have plenty of time left. On the other hand, if you happen to have lost a young friend or loved one, you may have had a rude awakening to the brevity – and frailty – of life. And if you have been unfortunate enough to be plagued with an illness or injury that causes you frequent or constant discomfort, you may wonder why you are here at all.
That’s how it has come to be for Job in this passage. I won’t begin to claim that I can understand how Job feels, because, as David Letterman says, “I wouldn’t give his troubles to a monkey on a rock!” Okay, so I don’t know quite what that means, but the point is this… Job has more than his share of troubles. He has physical problems, financial problems, loss of loved ones and his home and business, and he is truly suffering.
BUT… Job does not give up! There are people who suffer unbelievably every day, and they do not give up – or give in. We have to understand that God expects us to stand tall and faithful, no matter what, and to never, never, EVER give up on Him. I assure you, He never gives up on US!
So understand that life IS brief, and quite often, it is unfair. But you don’t have to look very far to see someone who is suffering far more than you are… and hopefully, you are both standing steady in your faith in God. Others ARE watching to see how you react to challenges. How are you doing so far?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 5 - Job 6:14-30
14-23 "When desperate people give up on God Almighty,
their friends, at least, should stick with them.
But my brothers are fickle as a gulch in the desert --
one day they're gushing with water
From melting ice and snow
cascading out of the mountains,
But by midsummer they're dry,
gullies baked dry in the sun.
Travelers who spot them and go out of their way for a drink
end up in a waterless gulch and die of thirst.
Merchant caravans from Tema see them and expect water,
tourists from Sheba hope for a cool drink.
They arrive so confident -- but what a disappointment!
They get there, and their faces fall!
And you, my so-called friends, are no better --
there's nothing to you!
One look at a hard scene and you shrink in fear.
It's not as though I asked you for anything --
I didn't ask you for one red cent --
Nor did I beg you to go out on a limb for me.
So why all this dodging and shuffling?
24-27 "Confront me with the truth and I'll shut up,
show me where I've gone off the track.
Honest words never hurt anyone,
but what's the point of all this pious bluster?
You pretend to tell me what's wrong with my life,
but treat my words of anguish as so much hot air.
Are people mere things to you?
Are friends just items of profit and loss?
28-30 "Look me in the eyes!
Do you think I'd lie to your face?
Think it over -- no double-talk!
Think carefully -- my integrity is on the line!
Can you detect anything false in what I say?
Don't you trust me to discern good from evil?"
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
A few years ago, I had some experiences that were challenging, and during those times, more than one person said to me, “I just didn’t know what to say,” or “I just didn’t know what to do.” And so they didn’t do or say anything. I ended up writing a book to help people with these situations – What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. And one of the main points of the book is that you don’t have to say or do anything! But saying “I’m sorry,” “I love you,” or “I’m praying for you” will all do for starters.
The important thing to remember is that your presence and show of concern is needed. It gets easier with practice, but a good way to begin is to ask if there is anything you can do to help. Listen. Let the person “vent.” Poor Job just wanted to tell his friend Eliphaz how he felt, and he got the impression Eliphaz really wasn’t listening. So be involved and connected. Don’t talk about yourself. I knew of someone who learned he had cancer, and when he told someone close to him, that person responded by saying, “That sounds just like what So-and-So has.” Somehow that is not a comfort. Later on, it might be helpful to say, “You know, I know someone else who has the same thing, and he/she is getting such-and such treatment/therapy, etc.” But your first reaction should be to connect with that person… tell them you are sorry, ask how to help, and keep your own experiences to yourself.
Look, the point here is this…God wants us to show His love to our friends and family by BEING THERE for them in their times of need. He wants us to call, visit, send cards, take food, and offer to help. He wants us to really, honestly LISTEN to others’ needs and concerns and to offer constructive suggestions. I don’t think Eliphaz a bad friend, but he may have been a little hard on Job, and unsympathetic in the name of trying to help his friend see “the big picture.”
Ask God to show you how and when to help your friends… and what to say and do. Now go find a friend to nurture in His name!
©2007 Debbie Robus
