it’s a wonderful life

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0343Job 42:7-17

Job’s restoration begins when God intercedes, and the first thing to be restored is his relationship with those three therapists.  Job takes the upper hand and prays for them.  This is more than simply a vindication of Job’s righteousness, it is acknowledgment that no amount of evil experienced can overcome the power of a right relationship with God. 

Afterward, all of those who would have been expected to show Job support and sympathy return to his life, and then his health and fortune are restored.  The man who had lost it all returns to become again a shining example of God’s blessing and goodness. 

LORD, out of all the blessings that you give us, help us to cherish the one thing we will never lose – our relationship with you.

Posted in compassion, dependence upon God, family, Job, relationship with God | Tagged | Leave a comment

best guesses

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0335Job 40:6-42:6

The LORD first challenges Job, and Job quickly repents and submits.  While Job was right to defend himself, he really did not understand God enough to explain what was happening to him.  God describes two powerful creatures, showing that if humans cannot explain them, they certainly cannot come close to understanding their creator.

Our common approach to science quickly eliminates the wonder of what is.  The moment anyone dares to suggest ignorance of the basic issues of life, he is bombarded with answers, in spite of the fact that most of those answers are best guesses.  Sadly, most of the best guesses come from a scientific community which refuses to entertain the suggestion of a creator.  All Job needed to face the reality of God’s existence was another look at what is.

LORD, forgive us for refusing to see you in what you have made.

Posted in creation, humility, Job, submission, worldview | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

greater wisdom

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0333Job 39:1-40:5

The LORD reminds Job of all those ways of the animal world – both wild and tame, that are beyond the scientific enquiry of humans.  There are some things that we are not meant to understand.  How God works through suffering is sometimes one of those things.  So, Job responds to God showing a wisdom greater than any of his well-intentioned therapists.  He shuts his mouth.

LORD, sometimes the only thing we need to know is that we do not need to know.  Help us to humbly submit to you, trusting that you have life under your control.

Posted in dependence upon God, discernment, discipleship, Job, wisdom | Tagged , | 1 Comment

limits

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0332Job 38

The LORD comes on the scene in a dramatic and powerful way.  All this time, he had been waiting for the experts on him to finish their babbling.  Now he takes center stage and confronts Job with his omniscience and omnipotence.  Job knows that there are no limits with God.  He is grateful that he has a chance to remind his therapists of that fact.  They were guilty of limiting and prescribing the way that God would act.  We are never more in danger than when we think we have God figured out.

LORD, thank you that your ways are past our finding out.  There are no limits to you.

Posted in discernment, Job, wisdom | Tagged | Leave a comment

wondrous works

Posted on December 27, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0330Job 36:22-37:24

Elihu insists that God always works wondrous works.  the last thing that he expects is that God would sit on the sidelines and wait.  But that is what the God of wonders does for Job.  The wonder God is showing is the wonder of a committed spirit who stays faithful in spite of tragedy and pain.  Job stayed faithful to God because of who God is.

LORD, we trust you for who you are, not just what you do.

Posted in faithfulness, Job, trust | Tagged , | Leave a comment

myopia

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0329Job 36:1-21

Elihu assumes that God only works in one way and for one reason.  He fails to see the big picture that revealed why Job was suffering.  He was guilty of theological myopia.

LORD, forgive us for being so myopic.  When we don’t know the whole story, keep us from publishing what we think we know.

Posted in discernment, discipleship, humility, Job | Tagged | Leave a comment

defending God

Posted on December 25, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0328Job 34-35

Elihu insists that God must be in the right, therefore Job must have wronged someone for God to bring this suffering upon him.  He feels he must say this in order to defend God.  Believers need to be careful who we condemn.  God is capable of fighting his own battles. 

LORD,  give us the grace to trust your judgment, but not to assume that it is happening.

IMG_0358May you and your family enjoy the blessing of knowing Christ this Christmas season!

Jefferson Vann

Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

Posted in discernment, discipleship, Job, judgment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

is God speaking?

Posted on December 24, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0321Job 33

Elihu spoke calming words in spite of the fact that he was angry at everyone.  He wanted Job to see his calamity as God’s attempt to rescue him.  God speaks through many means, and sometimes he uses misfortune to get our attention.  But Elihu was wrong.  Job’s suffering was not the voice of God.

LORD, forgive us for assuming that you are trying to speak to us in every misfortune.

Posted in discernment, Job, suffering | Tagged | Leave a comment

having to say something

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0320Job 32

Elihu enters the conversation as a young man who is frustrated.  His elders have let him down.  He thought for sure that their age (and their apparent good standing before God) would break Job of his stubborn refusal to honor God by repenting.  So Elihu feels forced to say something.  He should have had something to say.

LORD, when there is nothing to say, give us the wisdom to shut up.

Posted in discernment, genuineness, Job, wisdom | Tagged | 1 Comment

trial by implication

Posted on December 22, 2012 by Jefferson Vann

IMG_0319Job 31

Job’s therapists had not brought formal charges against him, but he fully understood their implications.  In his final appeal, Job answers those implied charges:

 

  • marital unfaithfulness – not guilty (1-4)
  • theft of conspiracy to steal – not guilty (5-12)
  • criminal negligence – not guilty (13-23, 31-32)
  • idolatry  – not guilty (24-28)
  • secret sin – not guilty (29-30, 33-34)
  • abuse of power – not guilty (38-40)

Job asked for the indictment. He wanted to prove himself guiltless.   But the adversary would rather accuse by implication rather than face the overthrow of his lies. 

LORD, when people we know face trial by implication, help us to stand by our friends instead of joining the crowd against them.

Posted in faithfulness, friends, idolatry, integrity, Job, love | Tagged | 1 Comment