BEWARE OF FALSELY INTERPRETING A SITUATION IN ANOTHER’S LIFE… OR YOUR OWN
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. —Job 8:13
Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers. —Job 8:20
If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. —Job 9:34
“Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? —Job 10:8
If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion and again display your awesome power against me. —Job 10:16
“If he comes along and confines you in prison and convenes a court, who can oppose him? Surely he recognizes deceivers; and when he sees evil, does he not take note? —Job 11:10-11
A false witness will perish, but a careful listener will testify successfully. —Proverbs 21:28
How well do we know those we say are our friends? As we read in the Book of Job, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite are supposed to be Job’s friends, those who know him well. But how well did they really know him? Have they really listened to him to understand his character? Apparently not because they both accuse Job—
- That he has forgotten God
- That he has no hope
- That he is godless
- That he is not blameless
- That he is an evildoer
- That he is confined to a prison by God
- That he is a deceiver
On the other hand, Job thinks God is bringing these difficulties on him. He believes—
- God’s rod is being use upon him
- God’s terror is what is frightening him
- God is seeking to destroy him
- God is stalking him like a lion
- God is displaying His awesome power against him
Job’s “friends” and Job are speaking the truth, but it is mixed with errors in the application. They are getting it wrong when it comes to “why” these things are happening to Job. God is the One who is getting blamed for carrying these things out against Job when, in reality, it is Satan’s doing. True, our Sovereign God gave permission for Satan to do these things to fulfill His own purposes, just as He allowed Satan in the Garden of Eden to impact Adam and Eve negatively to accomplish His purposes.
Let us “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8). Satan sought to destroy Job, but he couldn’t do so because of God’s limits put on him. So it is with us— God sets the limits and we can trust His wisdom to carry out His plans and purposes even when we don’t understand. Yes, Dear Father, may I trust You by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus, knowing You always do what is right to accomplish Your plans and purposes on this earth and in my life! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRC14kX45ck&list=RDCRC14kX45ck&start_radio=1