Bible Pathway - June 24, 2011
Read Genesis 38
Highlights:
God asks questions no man can answer (Job. chap. 38 — 40), reminding Job of man's limited knowledge and the Lord's infinite wisdom. Job remains silent before God (40:3-5)!
Elihu was interrupted by the storm which had been gathering during his speech. Suddenly the voice of God was heard out of the whirlwind and the accusations from the ultimate know-it-all came to an end. The faithfulness of God to His people often comes disguised as a storm. But the Lord is in the storm, and He speaks from it just as He answered Job's grief from His whirlwind. Day after day, Job was left to wonder why he was experiencing so many disasters, but there was not even the slightest word to explain his suffering.
Then the Lord answered Job (Job 38:1). The Voice from the whirlwind neither offered explanation of the mystery of his past sufferings nor promised future restoration. God did not explain that Satan was the source of all Job's suffering and that it was all within His permissive will for Job's ultimate good.
Job had said: Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (13:15). God will reveal His very best to all who will trust Him. This is illustrated in chapters 38 — 41, where He revealed to Job His greatness, power, and majesty through His creation. These chapters also show how confident we can be to trust God regardless of circumstances. Satan's slanderous accusations were proven false, and the devil was defeated. Under fierce temptation, Job proved the genuineness of his devotion to God..
Faith is trusting God even when we don't understand. When we consider the greatness of the wisdom of God, we too will recognize our insufficiency to know what is best and will trust God to direct our lives. To impress this upon Job's heart, God said: Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades (the 7 stars that stood for the 7 influences of spring), or loose the bands of Orion (that stood for the storms)? . . . Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, here we are? . . . Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? . . . Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it (38:31,34-35;39:27; 40:2).
When we consider the greatness of the wisdom of God, we realize how incapable we are of understanding His ways. Those who see the hand of God controlling everything are able to leave everything in His hands. Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen (Rev. 7:12).
Thought for Today:
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handywork. . . . There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard (Ps. 19:1-3).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4). By Christ, God created our universe (Heb. 1:1-2). All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3).
Word Studies:
38:1 Pleiades the seven stars that stood for the 7 influences of spring; bands of Orion storms; 38:9 swaddlingband wrapping; 38:12 dayspring dawn; 39:9 unicorn wild ox; 40:4 vile insignificant; 40:21 fens marshes.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Mike Moore • Country: Malaysia (22.7 million) in Southeast Asia • Major languages: Malay and English • All Christian witness to Muslims is illegal • 58% Muslim; 23% Buddhist/Taoist/Chinese; 8% Christian; 6% Hindu; 5% Sikh/Animist/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray, remembering that there is no one like God (II Kings 19:14-15,19).
Optional Reading:
Memory Verse for the Week:
Acts 2:36
