Tuesday, October 18th, 2022

The Book of Job is a fascinating study of faith for many reasons, but one major teaching in it shows us how to respond to God in faith when things around us seem unfair. Job has lost everything and for many chapters of the book, his friends attempt to explain to him that he must have done something wrong to deserve such punishment. But Job refuses to believe this, he knows he is a man of faith and has walked in righteousness. When he finally speaks to God, he confronts God with this belief of himself and all but demands that God explain Himself for what has befallen him because he feels he is undeserving of such punishment. God responds in several ways, but look to this passage of God speaking, “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” God redirects Job’s attention from his own righteousness to God’s. We all fall victim to our own victimization at times: believing we are too good for such bad things to happen to us. We cry out to God in anger, desperation, and frustration — all natural reactions to the human mindset. But God reminds us of His own righteousness; that He is in control and all good things come from him, whether we can see them or not. This is a powerful lesson in faith, that when bad things happen to you, trust not in your own righteousness but instead in God’s. As He reminds Job, His good plans are not thwarted by earthly circumstances. Today, if you are walking through bad circumstances, study Job. See God’s power, love, and grace on full display and understand how faith in His righteousness will bring eternal joy.

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

7 “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

8 “Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low, 12 look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand. 13 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. 14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you." - Job 40: 6-14 NIV