April 20, 2009
Central Truth
God is sovereign and in control. He is bigger than our finite minds can grasp. But open your eyes, look around, and see all that He has done and continues to do for us.
"Pay attention to this, Job! Stand still and consider the wonders God works." (Job 37:14)
1
At this also my heart trembles
and leaps out of its place.
2
Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3
Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4
After it his voice roars;
he thunders with his majestic voice,
and he does not restrain the lightnings
1
37:4
Hebrew them
when his voice is heard.
5
God thunders wondrously with his voice;
he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7
He seals up the hand of every man,
that all men whom he made may know it.
8
Then the beasts go into their lairs,
and remain in their dens.
9
From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
and cold from the scattering winds.
10
By the breath of God ice is given,
and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11
He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
the clouds scatter his lightning.
12
They turn around and around by his guidance,
to accomplish all that he commands them
on the face of the habitable world.
13
Whether for correction or for his land
or for love, he causes it to happen.
14
Hear this, O Job;
stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
15
Do you know how God lays his command upon them
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16
Do you know the balancings
2
37:16
Or hoverings
of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
17
you whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18
Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
hard as a cast metal mirror?
19
Teach us what we shall say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20
Shall it be told him that I would speak?
Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21
And now no one looks on the light
when it is bright in the skies,
when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22
Out of the north comes golden splendor;
God is clothed with awesome majesty.
23
The Almighty—we cannot find him;
he is great in power;
justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24
Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
3
37:24
Hebrew in heart
When I first received this chapter to write on, I was not sure what I could get out of the book of Job, much less this chapter. Man, was I wrong! It hit me right between the eyes where I have been and what I am processing through today.
You see, I struggle with a reward-based religion—one that rewards me for good behavior and punishes me for bad. So, if bad things are occurring in my life, then I must have done something wrong to deserve them. Conversely, when times are good, I must be doing something that pleases God. The truth is that because of God’s love and pursuit of me through the grace of Jesus Christ, I don't get what I deserve—eternal separation from Him because of my sin.
That reward-based mindset kept me separated from Christ in my recent past. I'm ashamed of my past dependence on alcohol and three failed marriages. My thought process was that God would never take me back because I had been too bad. I thought God’s love was something to be earned, and I could never overcome my past. The truth is I can't, but He already did! Wow, what awesome love and commitment!
I read recently that grace is unmerited favor and supernatural enablement. I am definitely a grateful recipient of that grace. I can now speak boldly of my past failures and shortcomings, and I know that the grace afforded me is available for you as well. All you have to do is accept the gift. No matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, Christ has not left you. You may have ignored Him as I did, but that does not change where He is—still waiting with His arms wide open hoping you’ll crawl up in His lap and let Him hold you and love you. As it says in Job 37:14 (NASB), "Listen to this, O Job [Rob], Stand and consider the wonders of God."
1. Is your idea of religion based on your performance or what Christ has already done?
2. When you last stopped and looked around, were you in awe of what God has done? What did you see?
3. How are you doing at accepting God's forgiveness? Are you truly forgiving others as well?