Job, a guy way back in the Old Testament… What a person! The past several days in my Bible reading in the morning during “coffee with the Lord” I’ve been exposed to Job’s quality and character! All I can say is I aspire to be the kind of person he was (in all kinds of circumstances I might add)! I’ve provided just an early sampling from the book in the Bible that bears his name for your inspiration…
“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. He was a blameless and upright man, one who feared God and turned away from evil…”
Job was a exemplary family man – he cared very much about the spiritual well-being of his children… “His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day [his birthday]and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of the all. For Job said, ‘it may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.’”
Then there was God’s assessment of Job’s character… “There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them… The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.’ Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for no reason? Have not you put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side. You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has and he will curse you to your face!’”
And God permitted Satan to test Job… In one horrible day Job lost everything – His livestock, his possessions, his servants, his house and finally all of his children in a terrible storm! The Bible says, “Then Job arouse, tore his robe, and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshipped! And he said, Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!’ … In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong!” (From Job 1)
Wow! What an exemplary human being! His story leaves me in awe! I’ve read the rest of the story in the Biblical book that bears Job’s name. I know about his “comforters” … I know about Job’s other challenges… I’m aware of his humanity… But I’ve got to tell you, if in 2017 I can even begin to measure up to Job’s godly character and commitment, I’ll be pleased! Help me Lord! Help me!!
Reading Isiah’s prophecy about a future day in history this morning during “coffee with the Lord” provoked deep gratitude in my heart for our spiritual heritage as Christians in Israel’s history! We can be thankful for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, King David and many others who forged a rich legacy of faith for us that ultimately led to our Lord Jesus Christ! In Isaiah’s passage, he prophetically pointed to a wonderful future day when that heritage will have prominence and be celebrated universally! Praise the Lord! Just let me say, I’m eternally grateful for God’s faithful revelation expressed through Israel’s history, all the way to God’s revelation through Christ, and then onward into eternity! Thanks to the covenant keeping Eternal God – the Living God!
New Year’s Eve… the end of 2016… Just finished reading my Bible through one more time (began doing it when annually when I was 18 – now I’m 69… figure it out 😉 Been a wonderful, uplifting, soul-sustaining, life-transforming practice! I recommend! (If you’re looking for a Bible reading plan to guide you, I wrote one several years ago I entitled “Necessary Food” based upon Job 23:12 [“I have treasured to word of His mouth more than my necessary food.”] You read a passage from each major literary type of the Bible each day and finish the Bible in a year. Just email me at leroybartel@gmail.com and I’ll send you a free pdf copy for your Bible reading this year.)
