Bible Study: Accept By Faith
Accept By Faith 06.27.08
Hello My Friend/Guest,
It is Friday June 27, 2008 and today we are completing our studies on the book of Job. Please read Chapters 41-42 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2041-42&version=9
Today we will read and learn about the review of God’s great power, Job’s submission to God, Job praying for his friends and God blessing him for praying for them. Today’s message focuses on the importance of realizing that it is not required that we understand everything that God sets before us, but only to be faithful and obedient to His Word.
The Lord answered Job, gloriously revealing Himself in a series of questions which caused Job to realize how little all of us know about what we accept by faith. Through a series of over 80 questions, God revealed to Job many of the wonders of the universe, some of which have only recently been discovered by science.
Because of his faith in God and his patience through suffering, Job acknowledged the supreme authority of God compared to how little is known by mankind. Job confesses to God, “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2-6). By this he meant: “You can do anything and although I do not understand, I will never again question what You do or what You allow to happen. Your wisdom is perfect and too wonderful for me to handle.”
All of us need to be reminded that our limited knowledge and ability to cope with life’s problems should cause us to realize how foolish, as well as sinful, it is to question the wisdom and love of God for His children. We need to accept, with submissive hearts, the circumstances He allows in our lives, which He will use to fulfill His loving, eternal purpose.
Through all of his suffering, the loss of family, wealth, friends and wife, he came to realize he didn’t know why. All Job needed was to know Who was in control of his life. Both Old and New Testaments teach that the just shall live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38). God, in His great wisdom and wonderful love, kept dealing with Job until he came to realize that he must trust God. We too must learn to trust Him. Those who trust in the Lord, as Job did, are not searching for the answers to all of life’s problems, nor asking the questions: “Why?” or “Why me?” They are simply trusting our loving, all-wise Father, who always knows what we need and will give the best to those who trust Him.
Eliphaz must have been shocked to hear God reprimand him. “And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.” (42:7-9).
Job could have become proud after God came to his defense. Instead, he humbly prayed for God to forgive his three friends who had so cruelly misjudged him and by doing so he recieved many more blessings than he imagined. “So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters.” (42:12-13).
When you recognize the Lord’s ways, all fears and frustrations vanish. Human reason has never been able to go beyond Job’s friends in explaining the great mysteries of human experience and creation.
The purpose of this book is not only to shed light on suffering but to show God’s method of developing our faith and godliness. What is infinitely more precious is that our wonderful Lord would lead us to see His sovereignty in all things.
In today’s message Jesus Christ is revealed through Job’s praying for his “friends” (Job 42:10). We are reminded of Christ’s command to pray for those who curse or falsely accuse us (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28).
Today’s Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Will You help me remain faithful and trusting to You and your calling upon my life. Strengthen and grow my faith as I daily read Your Word and apply their truths to my spiritual walk. As I go through trials and experiences of my earthly journey would You fix my eyes and my ever wandering heart upon You. When the howling winds and forceful storms of this life attempt to shipwreck my faith help me to instead prove my faith to be more than sufficient to withstand the continual assaults from the devil. I take refuge in You which will always lead me to glorious victory. In Jesus’ name…..Amen.
Have a glorious and wonderful Friday. TGIF!
God Bless,
Christina
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