SCRIPTURE: JOB 12
Job expressed himself saying that he had a mind not inferior to his friends. Though righteous and blameless, he had become a laughing stock to his friends. According to Job, his life was in the hands of the Lord. The life of every creature and the breath of all mankind is in His hands as proven by the animals, the birds of the air, the earth or the fish of the sea.
JOB’S DESCRIPTION OF GOD:
- God has wisdom, power, counsel and understanding. (v. 13)
- What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. (v. 14)
- If he holds back the waters, there id drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. (v. 15)
- Strength and and victory belong to him; both deceived and deceiver are his. (v. 16)
- He leads counselors away stripped and makes fools of judges. (v. 17)
- He takes off the shackles put on by kings and ties a loincloth around their waist. (v. 18)_
- He leads priests away stripped and overthrows men long established. (v. 19)
- He silences the lips of trusted advisers and takes away the discernment of elders. (v. 20)
- He pours contempt on nobles and disarms the mighty. (v. 21)
- He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings deep shadows into the light. (v. 22)
- He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them. (v. 23)
- He deprives the leaders of the earth of their reason; he sends them wandering through a trackless waste. (v. 24)
- He makes them stagger like drunkards grope i darkness with no light. (v. 25)
THOUGHTS:
Job replied to all the three friends and said that he had wisdom as well as they. He told them not to explain God to him because he knew everything. Job maintained that his friend’s reasons for his suffering were narrow minded and incorrect.
Job affirmed that God has real wisdom and no one can outweigh His opinion. When you want to look for guidance in your decisions, remember that God’s wisdom is superior. Do not seek earthly advises. Ask wisdom from God. Cast your cares on Him and pour out your feelings and frustration to Him as Job did.
Job wanted to die and escape his suffering but God held his life. Know that our life is in God’s hand. We need not be afraid of anything.
If you are a friend to someone who is undergoing trials and suffering, show extra care to him through love and compassion. Offer tangible support through kindness. Paul instructed us to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forging each other” (Ephesians 4:32)