Day 16- Genesis 37; Job 2-4

Genesis 37: Interesting, this is really an introduction to Joseph, and an introduction to the final message from Genesis.  I find it amazing to see that over and over jealousy leads to such destruction.  It is often true, I think, that within your own family, jealousy is most rampant.  What you do with the jealousy is also interesting.  Whatever you do, suck it up or act on it - it always ends up destructive.

Job 2: This starts out explaining that Satan, who accused Job of having deceitful motives is really the one with deceitful motive.  My Bible commentator then goes on to state, "God cannot be stirred up to do things against His will.  Though it is not always clear how, everything that happens is part of  His divine purpose."  How many times have I said that?   It goes on to explain that trouble and suffering are not only punishment for sin, for God's people it may also serve as a trial or discipline with great spiritual gain.

Matthew Henry states,

We left Job honourably acquitted upon a fair trial between God and Satan concerning him. Satan had leave to touch, to touch and take, all he had, and was confident that he would then curse God to his face; but, on the contrary, he blessed him, and so he was proved an honest man and Satan a false accuser. Now, one would have thought, this would be conclusive, and that Job would never have his reputation called in question again; but Job is known to be armour of proof, and therefore is here set up for a mark, and brought upon his trial, a second time

Job 3: Job, in all his pain and agony, still knows and holds his faith.  It is not to say that Job is happy with God, but he holds his faith.  Amazing.  How hard must it be to look death in its face and sit in pain and maintain your faith?  Just as some of us are made to be ill to test our faith, I think that God must make some of us to remain strong to test out faith?

Job 4: Can you picture these moments in your life?  Here you are suffering, as we call suffering, and here come your friends to cheer you and remind you that you must have faith, "that everything happens for a reason" "that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and all those things.  Meanwhile, your friends, or maybe you in another circumstance, are questioning, "why is God doing this?"  And what you mean is, if there was God would this really be happening?  Or maybe you are questioning your friend's steadfast faith.  My commentator is good to point out that while the words of Job's friends seem wise, we must be careful to understand that the lesson from this is not the faith that his friends had, but that they did not know God's purpose in allowing Job to be "buffeted" by Satan.

Well, friends, I leave you today to ponder how should we address these inflictions and trials in our lives?  "With the patience of Job?"