Reading: Job 9-12
Iknow it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? If He will contend with him, he cannot answer Him one of a thousand (Job 9:2-3). For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both (Job 9:32-33).
As we read Job’s rebuttal to the advice given by Bildad, we quickly pick up on his bitter hopelessness. I know it is so of a truth. Job believes, intellectually, that Bildad’s interpretation of God’s relationship with man is correct, but he is at a total loss for what he should do with that belief. Before his tribulations had begun, Job had been just as confident as his friends that he knew what God expected of him. Now, having been subjected to such intense suffering without any reason he could discern, he had to re-evaluate everything he thought he knew. He did not doubt God’s sovereignty over man or His ability or right to control everything in existence (9:4-10). But Job’s pain forced him to look deeper at his faith, and what he found pushed him to the edge of his sanity. Job concluded that the gulf between God, the Creator, and mankind, His fallen creation, was too great for a man to breach. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear (Is. 59:2). Although Job had a profound need to communicate with God, he believed that the differences were too great for that to be possible.
Praise God that today’s believer will never have to suffer the utter despair of Job! For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (I Tim. 2:5-6). God Himself bridged the gap in the person of Jesus Christ His Son. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). No matter what our situation or how great our earthly pain, we can cling to the knowledge that even now He stands at the throne of God, making intercession for us. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us (Heb. 9:24).
We are blessed beyond measure to be the children of a loving God. He knows our weaknesses and fears, and He knows we are ill-equipped to handle them on our own. From the moment that we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we will never be alone again. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever (John 14:16). God has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us to provide us with comfort, support, and guidance for the rest of our earthly lives.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Rom. 8:26).
Thought For Today: God does not lower Himself to hear our troubles; we are elevated into His presence to speak them.
Christ Portrayed: Through the daysman (mediator) that Job longs for (Job 9:33). Christ is the only Mediator between God and (sinful) men (I Tim. 2:5).
Word Studies:9:33 daysman = mediator; 9:34 rod = chastisement; 10:11 fenced = knit me together; 11:6 exacteth = demands; 11:14 tabernacles = dwellings; 11:19 make suit unto thee = seek your favor; 12:19 spoiled = stripped and plundered.
Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Government Officials: Rep. Scott Peters (CA), Rep. Jerry Carl (AL),Rep. Marcy Kaptur (OH), Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH) • Country: St. Kitts and Nevis (51,538) Caribbean • Major Language: English • Religious Freedom • 50% Anglican; 25% Roman Catholic; 25% Other (Protestant; Seventh-day Adventist; Jehovah's Witness; Mormon; Rastafarian; Muslim; Hindu; Baha'i) • Prayer Suggestion: Confess and forsake any known sin (Neh. 1:6).
Optional Reading:Galatians 6.