Job Daily Bread Devotionals Chapter 36-42 – by Kevin E. Jesmer 2015

Thursday. May 28

LORD, SPEAK TO ME IN MY AFFLICTION

Job 36:1-33

“But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.” (15)

First, the responses of the righteous and the wicked (1-15). There is a difference between the righteous and the godless in their reaction to affliction. The righteous recognize their sin and repent but the wicked harbor resentment. They don’t forgive. They blame God. Elihu implied that Job was fettered by God, to lead him to repentance and freedom. For the righteous, trials should draw us closer to repentance and to the Lord. It is never easy to do so when we are suffering, but we must know that God is love. He is alive and will surely speak to us in our afflictions. He will encourage us, mature us in our faith and draw us closer to him.

Second, extol His greatness (16-33). God is exalted in his greatness. The righteous should praise and honor Him despite difficult circumstances. When we are suffering, the last thing we want to do is extol the Lord. We become selfish, seeking relief. But God wants us to lift our eyes up from our difficult circumstances and fix them on things above, unto God himself, even when we don’t fully understand what is happening.

Lord, speak to me in my afflictions. Help me to extol your glory to the ends of the earth.

ONE WORD: Listen to God and extol his glory

Friday, May 29

REVERE THE GOD WHO DOES NOT OPPRESS

Job 37:1-24

“The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?” (23, 24)

First, stop your labor and behold God’s glory (1-13). Elihu urges Job to listen to God’s voice even while he sits in suffering. God sends natural storms to stop people from their labor so that everyone may know his work. He is in control of all creation. Our awesome and mighty God speaks to us. We see his power and give him thanks. We praise Him and listen to Him, even when sitting in anguish.

Second, revere a gracious God (15-24). Job was to consider two things: his own limitations and the mighty works of God. Job would realize how helpless he was to reach God on his own. He should conclude that God does not oppress. In light of this grace, Job should revere the Lord. God does not oppress. He forgives and draws up alongside us in trials. Knowing our human condition prepares our heart to experience God’s love and revere Him.

O God, who does not oppress, thank you for revealing your glory and speaking to sinners.

ONE WORD: God is Almighty yet speaks – revere him

Saturday, May 30

IN THE LORD ARE OUR ANSWERS

Job 38:1-30

“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” (2-3)

First, brace yourself when hearing from God (1-3). Appearing without warning, God spoke to Job. Job was asked to brace himself. To brace means to get ready to listen to God and respond, not in pride, but in humility, repentance and reverence. It means acknowledging that our own view point is wrong and God’s is right. Allow God to be God. Get out of the way so that God’s glory is never obscured.

Second, come to the Sovereign Ruler for answers (4-30). These verses proclaim God’s sovereignty over everything on the earth and in the heavens. God wanted Job and his friends to examine their way of thinking and come to him for answers. These people were trying to figure God out. But the things they pondered were too huge to comprehend. God reminded them of their human limitations. If they wanted understanding they needed to humble themselves and revere God. He would whisper wisdom into their hearts.

Lord, I don’t know much, but I know there are answers in you. Shed light in my heart and mind.

ONE WORD: Brace yourself and receive the answers you seek

Sunday, May 31

OUR AWESOME CREATOR WHO CARES

Job 38:31-41

“Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?”  (33)

First, God, the amazing Creator and Engineer (31-35). This is proven in the universe. In the KJV, verse 31 reads, “Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?” The interactions of the stars are called “sweet”. Engineers might describe the smooth workings of complex machinery like this. Young people, impressed by something complex often say, “sweet”. These stars form an orbit so large that one revolution takes thousands of years, yet it is accomplished with precise regularity by God. Sweet! If Job could not explain such celestial events, how could he possibly question God? Yet, God has chosen to make his presence known.

Second, God provides…so trust in Him (36-41).        God grants wisdom to the ibis and the rooster. He provides prey for the lioness and food for helpless chicks. God can grant anyone wisdom to interpret the meaning of their suffering and grace to bear up under it, when they humble themselves before Him.

Lord, you created and control for the vast universe. Yet, you care for the individual, granting wisdom and strength.. Thank you for your grace and love.

ONE WORD: Our great and awesome God does care about us!

Monday, June 1

SEE GOD’S PURPOSE IN ALL THINGS

Job 39:1-30

“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?” (1)

First, God controls things that we cannot (1-17). God designed and watches over the ways of the goat, donkey, wild ox, and the ostrich. These animals are hard to domesticate, but God controls them. He sets the boundaries in which these animals live. God manages all of creation. Job felt that his world was spinning out of control. He could just “hang in there” and survive, asking himself “Why?” But God does a great job controlling the uncontrollable, even our lives.

Second, God-given nobility thrives in the midst of struggles (19-30). There are three noble animals: the battle horse, hawk and eagle. They are strong, spirited and brave. They overcome adversity. They inspire. God grants them nobility as they overcome adversity. He is working like this in Job’s life. Job was suffering greatly. But he responded well. He was seeking answers in the Lord. God was establishing him as a noble, inspiring man of God.

Lord, help me to look beyond my struggles to see you and what you are doing. I trust that you are working in my life to reveal your glory.

ONE WORD: Glorify the Lord in all of our struggles

Tuesday, June 2

STAND HUMBLY BEFORE GOD

Job 40:1-24

“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.?”  (7)

First, Job was totally convicted (1-14). The tone of Job’s dialogue with God is now very different. He used to be very bold, demanding to argue his case before the Almighty. But now he is quiet when the living, holy, Almighty God revealed himself to him. Job is overwhelmed by God’s greatness and his unworthiness. But God wanted to teach Job to stand before him, despite his sins and depend fully on the grace of God. Brace yourself, means “stand up and brace yourself, for I am about to question you.” Job could brace himself by standing humbly and by faith, trusting in God’s love.

Second, God is the one we must come to (15-24). God challenged Job through the example of the Behemoth, a mighty animal (possibly a hippopotamus or an elephant). It is large and impressive. Who can contend with such mighty animals but God alone? The Lord is mightier than any person. Let all creation be humble before him. Come to Him to listen and learn. He shed light in our darkness.

Lord, open my eyes to see your greatness and my insignificance. Help me to humbly seek answers in you.

ONE WORD: Humbled in God’s presence

Wednesday, June 3

STAND WITH GOD AND NOT AGAINST HIM

41:1-34

“No one is fierce enough to rouse it. Who then is able to stand against me?” (10)

First, humble submission to Almighty God (1-23). The leviathan dares all who come near. To try to capture it with harpoons is pointless. Its defenses are impenetrable. Any who tried wished they never did. The leviathan is too fierce to be defeated by mere people (10). God alone, is all powerful. If we are no match for this creature, it is foolish to think that they can stand up against God, shaking our fists and making demands of Him, telling him how things are. Instead we must bow our heads in humility and submission. When Job did this, he could find peace and rest.

Second, fight in the strength the Lord provides (25-34). Apparently people flung swords, spears, darts, arrows and slingstones at the creature which had no effect. Though people were so powerless, they still thought they could do something. Why is it so hard for individuals to admit defeat, stop fighting with “human” efforts and submit fully to God, who is the only one who can save?

Lord, save me from pride that keeps me at odds with you and fighting losing battles. I want to submit to you and depend on you alone. 

ONE WORD: Stand with God and not against him.

Thursday, June 4

BEHOLD GOD’S GLORY. REPENT AND PRAY.

Job 42:1-17

 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (5, 6)

First, Job beholds God’ glory (1-6). Job honestly faced God. He repented of his wrong attitude in questioning God’s sovereignty and justice. Instead of shaking his fists and saying to God, “Why have you done this too me?” he yielded to the Lord in full submission, even in his suffering! He no longer insisted on his own righteousness, but fell silent, repenting in dust and ashes. He was made totally humble in order to be restored by God.

Second, Job received a mission to pray (7-17). The three friends were to go to Job, confess, repent, make prescribed sacrifices and be prayed over. This is the equivalent of coming to God for his mercy and his grace. How hard it was for Job to pray for those who oppressed him when he was down. This took a lot of faith on his part. He could do so because he experienced God’s love. Job humbly obeyed. When he did God blessed the remainder of his life so he could further glorify God.

Holy and Awesome God, I behold your glory and repent. Thank you for your grace. Help me to minister to others you have sent into my life.

ONE WORD: God forgives and blesses