Bible in 90, Day 38: Then the LORD answered from the storm

Job 25-42

*image courtesy of Lucretious at www.sxc.hu

Ok, when God tells you to brace yourself like a man cuz He’s about to question you, exactly how do you respond to that?!  Job has spent the whole book defending himself to his friends and feeling as though he needs to defend himself against God.  Eventually, he starts asking God a few questions himself!  He sounds a little arrogant at some points.  Then finally, God answers Job out of the storm (Job 38-42).

This is a fearful thing!  God has heard all that was said, about how Job wanted to take Him to trial and ask Him some questions.  Now, He shows up with some questions of His own.  God asks Job where he was when He was busy making the universe.  Where was he when God’s angels were cheering on His creation?  Is he able to move the constellations through the evening sky?  Does he know the laws of the universe?  Can he control the thunderstorm or see the place the lightning is sent from?  Job realizes he has spoken rashly and unwisely.

But God does not stop!  He goes on to talk about the behemoth and the leviathan, animals whose exact identity is not known.  (I happen to think that the behemoth is a dinosaur and the leviathan a dragon, but no, I can’t prove it!)  What we do know is that they are both huge powerful animals.  God asks if Job can handle them, make them his pet.  God can!  God made them both!  Again, Job realizes he overstepped his bounds.  He repents and is mournful of his sin.

One time when I was in college, I got mad about something.  I forget what it was, but I was sure I was right and someone else was wrong.  I knew I shouldn’t be mad, and I decided I didn’t care!  I decided that it didn’t matter what the Bible said, I was going to enjoy being ticked off, and that other person was going to pay.  I was punching my mattress and about to go into a full-blown fit when a clap of thunder like I’ve never heard boomed outside my window.  It was so loud I dropped to the floor instinctively to take cover.  Without a moment’s thought, I realized God was speaking to me out of the storm.  I repented right then, realizing as Job did that I was nothing in comparison to the power of a storm, let alone the God who controlled them!

Have you ever dared to question God’s motives? Have you ever found yourself judging God’s actions or intentions?  This is a fearful place to be in.  When we do this, we are claiming to be wiser than God, or more righteous than God.

Let us never presume to be either.  God’s ways are higher than our ways, like the stars are above the surface of the earth (Isaiah 55:8).  Let us humble ourselves before the God who created the universe and anything in it.  Let us remember that we came from the dust of the earth, and were formed by God.  We can always know that God is in control, and has good things in store.

*originally at Words of Reason

Bible in 90, Day 37: If only there were a mediator!

Job 8-24

*image courtesy of creationc at www.sxc.hu

While Job’s friends hurl their insults at him, he realizes that there is only One who’s accusations and judgments really matter.  Job knows that he will stand or fall before God, the Judge.  He uses frightful imagery to describe this Judge in chapter 9.  He speaks of the Judge as Creator, the One who made the stars and constellations, One whose wisdom is profound and His power vast.  He portrays God as an unstoppable force.  He sums it all up saying, “If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?” (Job 9:19).

Job realizes his guilt before a Holy God.  He knows that even if he were “innocent” before man, he is guilty before God.  He knows that God is not a man that can be taken to court.  Job cannot summon Him before some tribunal, for He is the Judge!  God is God, and Job is not.  Realizing this, he cries out in desperation:

“If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both!” (Job 9:33).

Job knew that man cannot stand before God and hope to be found innocent.  He cannot stand before God’s holy judgment.  He needs an advocate, a mediator, an arbiter that can put his hand on both God and man.  This is the perfect picture of Christ’s mediating work.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Timothy 2:5).

There’s a quote, the source of which I cannot find, that goes something like this, “Man had a debt he could not pay.  God could not pay a debt He did not owe.  We need a God-man!”  That is precisely who Jesus Christ is!  He is the God-man, a unique being in the universe, 100% God and 100% man.  He is the only possible mediator between God and men because He is the only one who’s on both sides!  Job cried out for someone who could lay his hand on both him and God.  In Jesus Christ, you and I witness the answer to that hope.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15).  As God, He is holy, righteous, and just.  He embodies the righteousness of the Father.  As man, He can sympathize with our weakness, pain, and temptations.  He took on flesh and dwelt among men.  He is the go-between, the Mediator that Job hoped for.  For us today, He is the Mediator that we must turn to to gain access to God.

Let’s remember this great truth!  Let’s remember that we have the Mediator which Job desperately sought.  Let’s live in the knowledge that because of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can go and, as Job wised he could do, speak to God without fear of Him (Job 9:35).

*originally at Words of Reason

Bible in 90, Day 36: … and other four letter words

Esther 1 – Job 7

*image courtesy of ugaldew at www.sxc.hu

In Esther, we see a woman who is constantly having to decide whether she will do her own thing, or obey the authority God has placed over her.  Mordecai tells her not to reveal her heritage as a Jew (Esther 2:10).  He has done this, most likely for her protection.  Rather than being a brash young person, she obeys the wisdom of her elder.  Later in the story, this proves to be a key element in the salvation of the Jews.  It is her hidden ethnicity that ruins Haman.

When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she had a choice to make.  Each girl was allowed to take whatever she wished with her.  Esther chose to follow the advice of Hegai, one of the king’s eunuchs who had been placed in charge of her (2:15-16).  Who would know the king better, one of his long-time servants, or a young girl who had just entered the palace a year ago (2:12)?  She submitted herself to the authority placed over her, even preferring his wisdom to her own.

Later in the story (chapter 4), Mordecai urges Esther to intercede before the king on behalf of the Jewish people.  In this interchange, we see her recognizing and submitting to two authorities.  First, she recognizes the penalty for breaking the king’s law about approaching his throne un-summoned.  But, dangerous as this is, she submits to the authority of Mordecai and agrees to try.  There is, or course, the element of self-sacrifice that is always celebrated in this story.  But don’t forget that part of this is the continuation of the habit of being under authority and submitting to and obeying it.

As Christians, we should have the highest standards of integrity, and the best reputations as those who obey authority.

This is so counter-cultural.

It’s almost un-American.  We are a country founded on rebellion.  I may catch some flack for this, but the fundamental principle of our nation’s government is one of revolt against authority.  Originally, this was a revolt against authority that was seen as being tyrannical, but it has morphed into so much more.  It has been perverted to the point where anytime we disagree with authority, we feel we are not only permitted, but almost duty bound to rise up and throw off the shackles of oppression.  I’m not downing our country, I’m trying to expose a satanic tendency and mindset in our culture that says “No!” to authority whenever it can justify it.

Christians are called to submit to authority.  Whether this be federal, state, or local government, our boss, our parents, our pastors, our committee chairperson, our coach, our spouse, and even the brotherhood.  Peter tells us to love the brotherhood of believers (the church), fear God, and honor the king (the government).  Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3-4 that we are to consider others (specifically in the church) as better than ourselves and look to their needs first.  Ephesians 5:21 tells us to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

If I view myself through the lens of Scripture, I will see that I don’t have it all figured out and I am not perfect.  I may find that, perhaps, I’m not as smart as I think I am, and that I could stand to listen a little more and talk a little less.  I might just submit myself to those God has placed in authority, and not assume that I’m right and they’re wrong.

originally at Words of Reason

P.S. if this sounds familiar, it’s because I posted it back on Sept. 12, 2009 before I began the 90 Day Challenge