Burunche’s Blog

Job 10 Job’s Plea to God

“I loathe my own life; I will express my complaint and speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God: Do not condemn me! Let me know why You prosecute me. Does it please You to oppress me, to reject the work of Your hands and favor the schemes of the wicked? Do You have eyes of flesh? Do You see as man sees? Are Your days like those of a mortal, or Your years like those of a man, that You should seek my iniquity and search out my sin—though You know that I am not guilty, and there is no deliverance from Your hand?”

What is God’s nature? Is God kind and loving, or is He vicious and vindictive? Is God sitting in heaven simply waiting for the right time to torment us? These are the questions with which Job is now wrestling. When bad things happen, it’s natural to wonder if God is really sovereign and if He cares. Since God is immortal, how can He possibly understand our human struggles?

“Your hands shaped me and altogether formed me. Would You now turn and destroy me? Please remember that You molded me like clay. Would You now return me to dust? Did You not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese? You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and loving devotion, and Your care has preserved my spirit. Yet You concealed these things in Your heart, and I know that this was in Your mind: If I sinned, You would take note, and would not acquit me of my iniquity.” All Job’s previous life, he has trusted God and has believed in God’s benevolent nature. Job fully realizes that God has carefully created him, but why would God create a man simply to destroy him?

“If I am guilty, woe to me! And even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame and aware of my affliction. Should I hold my head high, You would hunt me like a lion, and again display Your power against me. You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me in wave after wave. Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me! If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave. Are my days not few? Withdraw from me, that I may have a little comfort, before I go—never to return—to a land of darkness and gloom, to a land of utter darkness, of deep shadow and disorder, where even the light is like darkness.”

 Now Job asks a question that has plagued humanity: why should God create us, only to destroy us? And why would God allow us to suffer? Why shouldn’t God allow sufferers to simply die quietly?

What Job does not know is God’s purpose in allowing him to suffer. Despite all Job’s fears, God does not want Job to die but to demonstrate fortitude and patience in the face of misery. God actually has a wonderful future planned for Job, one that will completely wipe out the memory of all the trials Job has endured. If Job were to die right now, he would simply become another nameless statistic and we would never hear about him.

God puts much more stress on us than we think that we can tolerate. One writer has compared the stress God places on his servants to the stress an archer employs when he pulls the string on a bow until he reaches the maximum point of stress. If we were the bow, we would complain bitterly as the archer continued to pull the string as far as it could go. “Archer!” we would say, “Why can’t you just allow me to relax a bit? Give me a little rest! Don’t pull so hard! I’m about to snap!” Left to ourselves, we would remain slack and unfit to effectively launch an arrow. But God knows us better than we know ourselves, and God knows how much stress is necessary to produce His desired results. God also knows the amount of strength He has already given us and the additional strength He will give us when necessary.

Live long enough and sooner or later, you WILL find yourself stretched to the max. At that point, you will find yourself echoing Job’s complaints. But there’s one aspect we don’t consider: God’s help. J. Hudson Taylor, Founder of the China Inland Mission, was fond of saying, “When God guides, He provides.” Taylor began as a missionary with a small London-based mission, but rapidly learned that the mission had no idea how much financial support was actually required for a single male missionary in China. In addition, Taylor realized that the ministry model his original mission had was not productive but encouraged missionaries to remain in large cities where they would associate primarily with other missionaries. In contrast, Taylor learned to minister from a veteran missionary who had adapted national dress and was ministering in Chinese.

 Wikipedia tells us: “Taylor spent 54 years in China. The society he began was responsible for bringing in over 800 missionaries to the country who were responsible for starting 125 schools and directly responsible for more than 20,000 Chirstian conversions, as well as the establishment of more than 300 stations of work with more than 499 local helpers in more than all 18 provinces….Taylor was able to preach in 4 different Chinese dialects and wrote in the Wu dialect well enough to produce a colloquial edition of the New Testament written in it.”

Later, those continuing the work of China Inland Mission continued to expand the work so that by 1939 there were 1300 missionaries with more than 200,000 converts from all levels of Chinese society. Eventually with the Communist takeover, CIM had to withdraw from mainland China; however, the organization morphed into OMF International that continues to work in 40 countries throughout the world with 1400 workers.

How was Taylor able to accomplish so much? Isaiah 40:28-31 holds the answer. “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

By himself, James Hudson Taylor was a small British medical missionary struggling to find his place in the Kingdom of God. But Taylor had already learned to rely on God before he ever left England, and he believed that the God who had called him would continue to provide the resources, the people, and the opportunities. Although Taylor issued regular bulletins under the title “China’s Millions,” he never made appeals for funds but trusted God to provide. All CIM missionaries worked in the same fashion, trusting God to provide. OMF International remains a faith-based mission with workers depending on donations by supporters for their support.

Perhaps you share Job’s concerns right now. You feel as if God has stretched you as far as you can go; meanwhile, God wants you to allow Him to stretch you further. Remember Taylor’s motto: “Where God provides, He will provide,” and that includes providing the strength and the courage for you to continue until God reveals the bright future he has for you.  

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to continue to trust You, even when we feel stretched beyond our limits. Thank You for giving us the strength and courage to endure. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Job 9 Job’s Third Speech: A Response to Bildad

“Then Job spoke again: “Yes, I know all this is true in principle. But how can a person be declared innocent in God’s sight? If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times? For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully?”

“Without warning, he moves the mountains, overturning them in his anger. He shakes the earth from its place, and its foundations tremble. If he commands it, the sun won’t rise and the stars won’t shine. He alone has spread out the heavens and marches on the waves of the sea. He made all the stars—the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the southern sky. He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles.”

“Yet when he comes near, I cannot see him. When he moves by, I do not see him go. If he snatches someone in death, who can stop him? Who dares to ask, ‘What are you doing?’ And God does not restrain his anger. Even the monsters of the sea are crushed beneath his feet.”

“So who am I, that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.”
“If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court? Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty. Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked. “I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me—I despise my life.”
“Innocent or wicked, it is all the same to God. That’s why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ When a plague sweeps through, he laughs at the death of the innocent. The whole earth is in the hands of the wicked, and God blinds the eyes of the judges. If he’s not the one who does it, who is?”

While Job’s friends have been pontificating about God, now Job describes God’s power accurately and magnificently, demonstrating that Job knows God far better than his friends do. Once upon a time, Job believed that God was good and loving; however, now Job is confused. “And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows.”

Job doesn’t know which way to turn, for he has tried to live as righteously as possible and yet he is suffering. Job assumes that God hates him; meanwhile, God is testing Job’s faith. Bad things do happen to good people, as the many stories from the recent floods in Texas serve to illustrate. Camp Mystic was a Christian camp, and one of the most enduring images from the floods is the video of the campers who survived singing praises to God as a school bus transports them to be reunited with their parents. By all accounts, those campers who died were bright spots in their homes, beloved and talented daughters whose deaths have left huge voids. Remarkably, many of the grieving families are founding scholarships or various other beneficent acts in honor of these precious girls. While these families are suffering “bitter sorrows,” they are trying to use their suffering to accomplish something wonderful for others.

“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away without a glimpse of happiness. It disappears like a swift papyrus boat, like an eagle swooping down on its prey. If I decided to forget my complaints, to put away my sad face and be cheerful, I would still dread all the pain, for I know you will not find me innocent, O God. Whatever happens, I will be found guilty. So what’s the use of trying? Even if I were to wash myself with soap and clean my hands with lye, you would plunge me into a muddy ditch, and my own filthy clothing would hate me.”

Here Job is addressing God. Prior to the disasters that tore away wealth and family, Job loved his life and trusted that he was worshiping a good God. Now Job is confused, fearful, and discouraged. Each new day seems to only bring more problems with no escape.

“God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength.”

Notice the difference between Job’s view of God and that of his friends. Job’s friends more or less view God as a divine machine-put in enough prayers and do enough good deeds and God should instantly reward you. Failure to pray enough or to do enough will result in suffering. Job has a far bigger view of God and realizes that God is sovereign. Still, Job is human and very frustrated.

Job is also speaking out of his culture. In many traditional cultures, when a problem arises between two people or between two groups, each opposing group selects a mediator who then speaks on their behalf. It is the job of mediators to find middle ground so that disputes might be resolved successfully. The selection of a mediator is critically important, for a mediator must be someone older with good standing in the community and the ability to speak well. But how is Job to find anybody with sufficient stature to represent him before God?

We must leave Job alone as he faces this unsolvable dilemma. Job lived before the coming of Jesus Christ. The good news for us is that Jesus Christ has come into the world and that he is co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit; therefore, Jesus is completely qualified to be our advocate.

Hebrews 4: 14-16 tells us, “So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”

We are far better off than Job was, for when we trust in Jesus Christ as Savior from our sins and Lord of our lives, we can claim His help. Does this mean we won’t suffer? Ask all those families down in Texas, many of whom were strong followers of Jesus Christ. We will suffer; however, unlike Job, we have a Representative who knows our weaknesses and who has shed his blood for our sins.

Please do not hurry through this chapter but read and re-read Job’s statements about God. Here are some of the most magnificent descriptions of God’s power and glory ever written, and these words were born out of a heart of suffering. At this point in the story, Job sees no way out and only wants to die; yet, he continues to believe in an all-powerful, all-knowing God. May we too respond as Job has done when we find ourselves caught in suffering with no exit.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, as Job has said, Your power and Your wisdom are beyond our understanding. Help us to trust You even in the midst of suffering. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Job 8 Bildad’s First Response to Job

“Then Bildad the Shuhite replied to Job: “How long will you go on like this? You sound like a blustering wind. Does God twist justice? Does the Almighty twist what is right? Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved.”

HORRIBLE! In the wake of the catastrophic flooding in Texas, self-appointed critics began spouting all kinds of theories about what those who died or suffered during the floods should have done. One of the foulest kinds of criticism was aimed at parents who lost children through no fault of their own. Critics claimed that families should never have camped as close to the Guadelupe River as they did, or that they should have awakened sooner. The theories are ridiculous, endless, and cruel. One mother had her young son torn from her arms by the flood waters while her daughter clung to her neck. A 27-year-old father smashed through a window, nearly amputating his own arm, but creating a means of escape for the rest of his family. We know nothing about Bildad, not even whether he has a family of his own. But Bildad has no problem judging Job’s children as horrible sinners. We are tempted to wonder what Bildad’s children might do in later years.

“But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end with much.”

Gee thanks, Bildad! You’re saying these things to a man who has lost nine sons and one daughter, children he has hugged, kissed, comforted when they have gotten hurt, and generally has loved on for decades. While tossing and turning at night, Job remembers the sweet voices of his dead children. The last thing Job needs to hear is that he needs to pray more and be purer than he already has been. And by the way, Bildad, how pure are you? How much integrity do you have?

“Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors. For we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow. But those who came before us will teach you. They will teach you the wisdom of old. Can papyrus reeds grow tall without a marsh? Can marsh grass flourish without water? While they are still flowering, not ready to be cut, they begin to wither more quickly than grass. The same happens to all who forget God. The hopes of the godless evaporate. Their confidence hangs by a thread. They are leaning on a spider’s web. They cling to their home for security, but it won’t last. They try to hold it tight, but it will not endure. The godless seem like a lush plant growing in the sunshine, its branches spreading across the garden. Its roots grow down through a pile of stones; it takes hold on a bed of rocks. But when it is uprooted, it’s as though it never existed! That’s the end of its life, and others spring up from the earth to replace it.”

Poor Job! By now Job must be wondering what he has done to deserve Bildad coming in to lecture him on things he has known for years. When people refer to “the patience of Job,” they generally are referring to Job’s persistence in the face of physical suffering. But looking closely at the meaningless speeches of Job’s friends, it’s obvious that Job must have infinite patience to sit there while someone with far less life experience goes on ad nauseum, ad infinitum.  

“But look, God will not reject a person of integrity, nor will he lend a hand to the wicked. He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the home of the wicked will be destroyed.”  Nice try, Bildad, but you’ve already failed miserably. Watching Bildad try redeem himself after making foolish hurtful statements is a lot like watching a man who has painted himself into a corner get out without getting wet paint on his feet.

What is it about some people, that they say scathing things and then think they can fix everything by attaching some sugary sentiment at the end? Bildad has just spent a long time insulting Job, saying that Job’s complaints are nothing but bluster, implying that Job’s children must have been terrible sinners who deserved their fate, and that Job is a foolish man with no common sense. Now Bildad is trying to make himself look good with this final statement.

Decades ago, there was a show on American television called “The Gong Show.” This show allowed all kinds of amateur entertainers the opportunity to perform on television. Those who did well would make it through their entire performance. On the other hand, singers who couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket, magicians who dropped their props, and other unfortunates would hear a loud “BONG” as a gong sounded off-stage, indicating that their time was up. At this point, Job needs a gong so he can hit it when his friends reach the point of redundant absurdity.

There’s a saying in the American South that “Everybody is good for something, even if it’s only to serve as a bad example.” Bildad is definitely a bad example. All we can do is try not to behave like Bildad!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to truly comfort others and not to abuse them while we are giving advice. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Job 7 Job Sees No Hope New Living Translation

“Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery. Lying in bed, I think, ‘When will it be morning?’ But the night drags on, and I toss till dawn. My body is covered with maggots and scabs. My skin breaks open, oozing with pus.”   

When I was growing up on a Midwestern farm, we did much of our field work on tractors with no cabs or even shades. Raking hay in July meant wearing a hat, sunscreen, and drinking lots of water as the summer sun beat down. It was wonderful when someone would bring cold water or iced tea and snacks so we could take a break and sit in the shade for a while. Here Job is comparing his suffering to that of a farm worker in the hot sun or a servant longing to get paid. But the difference is that Job’s suffering appears endless while the farm worker can go home at the end of the day and the servant will eventually get paid.

Job Cries Out to God

“My days fly faster than a weaver’s shuttle. They end without hope. O God, remember that my life is but a breath, and I will never again feel happiness. You see me now, but not for long. You will look for me, but I will be gone. Just as a cloud dissipates and vanishes, those who die will not come back. They are gone forever from their home—never to be seen again.” Job is caught in a paradox: the days seem endless and yet they are flying by with no relief or hope in sight. Job is trying to remind God that he, Job is only mortal and may soon die.

“I cannot keep from speaking. I must express my anguish. My bitter soul must complain. Am I a sea monster or a dragon that you must place me under guard? I think, ‘My bed will comfort me, and sleep will ease my misery,’ but then you shatter me with dreams and terrify me with visions. I would rather be strangled—rather die than suffer like this.”

Even at night, Job can’t get any rest. Sleep brings nightmares, likely brought on by fever from those infected sores. And if Job isn’t careful, he will turn in the wrong direction, opening new sores that will drain more pus on his sleeping mat. Tormented by “itchy-stingy-burning” pain, Job cannot rest no matter how hard he tries.

“I hate my life and don’t want to go on living. Oh, leave me alone for my few remaining days. “What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often? For you examine us every morning and test us every moment. Why won’t you leave me alone,
 at least long enough for me to swallow! If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you? Why not just forgive my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone.”

In the musical “Fiddler on the Roof,” Tevya, the milkman, is complaining to the Lord. “God,” Tevya says, “I know we (Jews) are Your chosen people, but why can’t you choose someone else for a change?” Job would definitely agree! All Job wants at this point is for God to forgive him, take away his guilt, and allow him to die quietly.

During World War I and II they called it “shell shock,” that condition that left soldiers and others emotionally wounded and fearful. These days, we recognize the condition as PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and we also realize that PTSD is not limited to soldiers but that people in all walks of life who suffer traumas may fall victim. There are various levels of PTSD with some people finding relief and healing swiftly while others suffer for years. Sometimes PTSD doesn’t appear immediately but hits months or years after the triggering incident.

In its worst forms, PTSD can drive people to suicide or murder. One of the problems is recognizing PTSD and then being able to get the help needed. Yet another problem is for the sufferer to admit that he or she is suffering from PTSD and needs urgent help. Here Job fully realizes that he needs relief; Job’s problem is friends who believe that if he just prays the right prayer or repents from some imagined sin, everything will be fine.

There are no simple solutions to PTSD. Long-term counseling done by someone who has recovered from PTSD can be extremely helpful, for such people fully realize that healing is a long-term process with no simple solutions. Many times, PTSD sufferers struggle to erase horrific videos from their minds. Little wonder then, that drugs and alcohol become attractive as temporary escapes.

As we continue to study Job, please remember the mistakes Job’s friends are making. May God help us, so that we will truly comfort and not merely inflict our sentiments on those who suffer.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be guided by You when we are trying to help others. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

  Job 6: Job’s Second Speech: A Response to Eliphaz

“Then Job spoke again: “If my misery could be weighed and my troubles be put on the scales, they would outweigh all the sands of the sea. That is why I spoke impulsively. For the Almighty has struck me down with his arrows. Their poison infects my spirit. God’s terrors are lined up against me.”

Poor Job! Not only has he lost virtually everything, but Eliphaz has begun pontificating about Job’s alleged secret sins. Obviously, Eliphaz has never suffered very much himself; those who have suffered are far more compassionate.

“Don’t I have a right to complain? Don’t wild donkeys bray when they find no grass, and oxen bellow when they have no food? Don’t people complain about unsalted food? Does anyone want the tasteless white of an egg? My appetite disappears when I look at it; I gag at the thought of eating it!”

Job is suffering from two different kinds of nausea, nausea at his situation and physical nausea, likely due to the infections in his boils. Why shouldn’t Job complain? Any of these self-styled comforters would complain loudly if they were in his position.

“Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire. I wish he would crush me. I wish he would reach out his hand and kill me. At least I can take comfort in this: Despite the pain, I have not denied the words of the Holy One. But I don’t have the strength to endure. I have nothing to live for. Do I have the strength of a stone? Is my body made of bronze? No, I am utterly helpless, without any chance of success.”

One of the toughest parts of suffering is when a chronic condition sets in, forcing us to change our lives and our goals. We have a friend who suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that causes her to “hurt all over more than anyplace else.” Despite the pain, our friend remains the bread winner in her family, working long hours from home. One of the biggest challenges with chronic diseases is that the sufferer may appear perfectly normal, causing others to assume that there’s really nothing wrong or that the person must simply be a complainer. Job might identify with our friend.

 “One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty. My brothers, you have proved as unreliable as a seasonal brook that overflows its banks in the spring when it is swollen with ice and melting snow. But when the hot weather arrives, the water disappears. The brook vanishes in the heat. The caravans turn aside to be refreshed, but there is nothing to drink, so they die. The caravans from Tema search for this water; the travelers from Sheba hope to find it. They count on it but are disappointed. When they arrive, their hopes are dashed.”

Obviously, Job lives in a part of the Middle East where water is at a premium and caravans must search carefully, lest they get lost in the desert. In the same way, false friends are just as disappointing, promising comfort but giving nothing but pain.

“You, too, have given no help. You have seen my calamity, and you are afraid. But why? Have I ever asked you for a gift? Have I begged for anything of yours for myself? Have I asked you to rescue me from my enemies, or to save me from ruthless people? Teach me, and I will keep quiet. Show me what I have done wrong. Honest words can be painful, but what do your criticisms amount to? Do you think your words are convincing when you disregard my cry of desperation? You would even send an orphan into slavery or sell a friend. Look at me! Would I lie to your face? Stop assuming my guilt, for I have done no wrong. Do you think I am lying? Don’t I know the difference between right and wrong?”

Ah, now we’re getting at the meat of the matter. Job’s friends continue to remain at a distance emotionally because they fear something similar might happen to them. Since these men aren’t sure why Job is suffering in the first place, they are afraid they too might suffer. Truly, Job is correct when he dismisses their criticism and their assumptions of his guilt.

One of the most difficult parts of suffering is the simple endurance of it. When we begin to suffer, we assume that there will be a swift end to our problems and that we will soon get relief. But what happens if we have a chronic condition that sets in early and plagues us for the rest of our lives?

Annie Johnson Flint lost her mother when she was an infant and subsequently was raised by family friends. Just as this young woman was about to begin a teaching career, she began developing signs of severe rheumatoid arthritis that would progress, crippling her for the rest of her life. But this courageous woman of faith forced her suffering to yield precious fruit in the form of poems and hymns that still continue to bless believers throughout the world. Here is one of her most famous poems that has become a beloved hymn.

He Giveth More Grace

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

Chorus: His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Chorus

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
Chorus: His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to remain calm when we are unfairly criticized and to remember that You are the One who gives us the grace to bear up under every trial. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

“Cry for help, but will anyone answer you? Which of the angels will help you? Surely resentment destroys the fool, and jealousy kills the simple. I have seen that fools may be successful for the moment, but then comes sudden disaster. Their children are abandoned far from help; they are crushed in court with no one to defend them. The hungry devour their harvest, even when it is guarded by brambles. The thirsty pant after their wealth.”

OUCH! As if Eliphaz’s earlier accusations weren’t enough, now he’s accusing Job of being a fool, claiming that Job’s alleged foolishness will keep heaven from helping him. Eliphaz is also taking a swipe at Job’s handling of his children, as if Job’s neglect of his children is somehow responsible for the tornado that collapsed the house they were all in, killing them. And then Eliphaz implies that Job’s financial losses must stem from some secret foolishness, despite a total lack of evidence for such a claim. Then Eliphaz continues.

 
“But evil does not spring from the soil, and trouble does not sprout from the earth. People are born for trouble as readily as sparks fly up from a fire.” Eliphaz, say what??? If you know that trouble is the common human lot, then WHY are you accusing Job of secret sins?

“If I were you, I would go to God and present my case to him. He does great things too marvelous to understand. He performs countless miracles. He gives rain for the earth and water for the fields. He gives prosperity to the poor and protects those who suffer. He frustrates the plans of schemers so the work of their hands will not succeed. He traps the wise in their own cleverness so their cunning schemes are thwarted. They find it is dark in the daytime, and they grope at noon as if it were night. He rescues the poor from the cutting words of the strong, and rescues them from the clutches of the powerful. And so at last the poor have hope, and the snapping jaws of the wicked are shut.”

Well pin a rose on you, Eliphaz! Having stringently criticized Job, implying that he has somehow either sinned grievously or has made foolish mistakes, now you want to hide under a cover of pious verbiage.

“But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin. For though he wounds, he also bandages. He strikes, but his hands also heal. From six disasters he will rescue you; even in the seventh, he will keep you from evil. He will save you from death in time of famine, from the power of the sword in time of war. You will be safe from slander and have no fear when destruction comes. You will laugh at destruction and famine; wild animals will not terrify you. You will be at peace with the stones of the field, and its wild animals will be at peace with you. You will know that your home is safe. When you survey your possessions, nothing will be missing. You will have many children; your descendants will be as plentiful as grass! You will go to the grave at a ripe old age, like a sheaf of grain harvested at the proper time! We have studied life and found all this to be true. Listen to my counsel, and apply it to yourself.”

The term “codswallop” is a British term meaning senseless talk or writing; nonsense; rubbish.” Here Eliphaz continues to criticize Job while attempting to disguise his disdain by invoking pious platitudes about God. Having attacked Job for having committed some secret sin, now Eliphaz tries to redeem himself by exalted pronouncements about those corrected by God. Problem is, it’s tough to know where Eliphaz thinks Job fits into this picture. Although there are individual statements that are true and quotable, overall, Eliphaz’s speech is nothing but a load of codswallop. Eliphaz criticizes Job and then tries to redeem himself by describing how God can heal. The problem is that Eliphaz has already implied that Job doesn’t deserve healing.

I am writing these Bible studies in the wake of the flooding disasters in Texas on July 4, 2025. At this point, the criticism of various groups and individuals has mounted nearly as high as did the record floods! Self-appointed critics have targeted camp owners, campers, emergency services, weather forecasters, and anybody else they can think of; meanwhile, thousands of people are left to grieve and pick up pieces and a few worn tokens of their loved ones. In an especially tragic turn of events, those owning trailers and recreational vehicles that were destroyed by the floods have been deemed to be visitors and therefore not eligible for government assistance. In some cases, entire families have been destroyed, leaving their relatives not only to grieve but also to take up payments on vehicles that now look as if they’ve been through a car crusher.

Despite the heroism that saved hundreds and perhaps thousands of people, these critics are certain that SOMEONE should be held responsible. These floods have constituted a tragedy, the scope of which nobody could possibly have predicted. Just as Job has done nothing to deserve his sufferings, so none of these families have done anything either.

When we closely examine Eliphaz’s pronouncements about God, we realize that he’s whistling in the dark, speaking hopefully but not realistically. The reality is that bad things happen to good people and that God does not necessarily restore everything someone has lost. Is God good? Yes! Absolutely! But our ideas of how God should restore things are not necessarily God’s. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Only in eternity will we understand the reasons behind the Texas flood disasters. But we do know that we are living in a fallen sinful world-the same world that Job inhabited-and therefore, disasters will happen. The same week that floods hit Texas, forest fires hit several parts of the West, destroying the Lodge at the Grand Canyon, as well as thousands of acres of forest. Floods also hit several parts of the Middle West as well as North Carolina. Although the Texas disasters have received the most publicity, people in these other areas are suffering as well.

How can we help in tragic situations? Find what you can do and begin doing it! Some kids have been running lemonade stands, raising thousand of dollars for flood relief. One lady has a ministry cleaning up the toys and stuffed animals recovered from the floods and then placing photos on Facebook so that families can claim treasured mementoes. Others have moved in trailers with showers and washing machines and driers for rescuers. Still others have begun providing clean new socks for those who have been trudging through mud and filthy snake-infested water up to their necks. Many groups are feeding volunteers and some groups are housing them. Even if you can’t do anything else, you can still pray, trusting that God will move people to do His work. What is NOT helpful is criticism and pious codswallop!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to help and comfort those caught in tragedies and not to become part of the problem. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Job 4 Eliphaz’s First Response to Job

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied to Job: “Will you be patient and let me say a word? For who could keep from speaking out? In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak. Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees”

Well, it had to happen sooner or later. Once Job’s friends have spent seven days and nights sitting quietly with him on the ground, they figure they have earned the right to start giving advice. Too bad they didn’t simply tell Job they were sympathizing with him and return home! Eliphaz begins well by complimenting Job on the way Job has comforted others in the past. But unfortunately, Eliphaz can’t let well enough alone.

“But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope? Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed?”

Here Eliphaz graphically demonstrates his naivety. Even in Biblical times, innocent people might die in wars or natural disasters. The question of why bad things happen to good people is as old as humanity. But Eliphaz has led a charmed life and has never suffered himself, so he feels uniquely qualified to give advice.

“My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same. A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger. The lion roars and the wildcat snarls, but the teeth of strong lions will be broken. The fierce lion will starve for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness will be scattered.” Eliphaz is speaking out of both supreme ignorance and arrogance. But Eliphaz is only getting started.

“This truth was given to me in secret, as though whispered in my ear. It came to me in a disturbing vision at night, when people are in a deep sleep. Fear gripped me, and my bones trembled. A spirit swept past my face, and my hair stood on end. The spirit stopped, but I couldn’t see its shape. There was a form before my eyes.” Notice where Eliphaz is getting his inspiration? Eliphaz is claiming he has gotten advice in a dream, but there are all kinds of spirits that might show up at night, and not all of them are from God. The Bible tells us in 1 John 4:1-4 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” It’s tempting to jump to conclusions after a “spiritual” experience, but any of us might be tragically misled.

“In the silence I heard a voice say, ‘Can a mortal be innocent before God? Can anyone be pure before the Creator?’ “If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness, how much less will he trust people made of clay! They are made of dust, crushed as easily as a moth. They are alive in the morning but dead by evening, gone forever without a trace. Their tent-cords are pulled and the tent collapses, and they die in ignorance.”

Poor Job! Not only has he lost most of his family and his possessions, not only has his wife proven to be no encouragement whatsoever, not only has he been afflicted with a horrible painful rash, but now comes the crowning suffering-his friends turn against him and begin accusing him of all kinds of imagined sins.

Okay, Eliphaz, you do have a point. No mortal can be innocent before God, so obviously, Job is not completely innocent, but neither are you. Why are you insisting on going on like this? You are speaking to a man who has lost everything through a series of undeserved disasters. Is this really the time to show off the depth of your presumed spirituality?

There are true comforters and then there are “Job’s comforters.” Through the centuries, the diatribes Job’s friends utter against him have become prime examples of how NOT to comfort someone.

Look at Eliphaz. As far as we know, Eliphaz has never had anything bad happen to him. Years ago, during a very trying time, I found myself fed up with people offering specious advice. Finally, I exploded to one of my friends that I didn’t want to hear from anyone who had not earned his/her PhD in suffering! I also described such people to my friend as living “shrink-wrapped” lives. Shrink wrap is the tight-fitting clear plastic that covers packages of fresh vegetables, protecting them from anything. It’s amazing but true that the less people have suffered, the more likely they are to offer useless harmful advice.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”  

It’s critically important that when we are trying to comfort others, we don’t wind up inflicting more damage than our friends have already suffered. We need to listen to God and not to bizarre dreams such as the one described by Eliphaz. May God help us, so that we will comfort sensitively!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to comfort others as You would have us, and not to speak thoughtlessly. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Job 3 Job’s First Speech

“At last Job spoke, and he cursed the day of his birth. He said: “Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived. Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it. Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it. Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.

Let that night be childless. Let it have no joy. Let those who are experts at cursing—whose cursing could rouse Leviathan—curse that day. Let its morning stars remain dark. Let it hope for light, but in vain; may it never see the morning light. Curse that day for failing to shut my mother’s womb, for letting me be born to see all this trouble. “Why wasn’t I born dead? Why didn’t I die as I came from the womb? Why was I laid on my mother’s lap? Why did she nurse me at her breasts?

Had I died at birth, I would now be at peace. I would be asleep and at rest. I would rest with the world’s kings and prime ministers, whose great buildings now lie in ruins. I would rest with princes, rich in gold, whose palaces were filled with silver. Why wasn’t I buried like a stillborn child, like a baby who never lives to see the light? For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest. Even captives are at ease in death, with no guards to curse them. Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master.

“Oh, why give light to those in misery, and life to those who are bitter? They long for death, and it won’t come. They search for death more eagerly than for hidden treasure. They’re filled with joy when they finally die, and rejoice when they find the grave.

Why is life given to those with no future, those God has surrounded with difficulties? I cannot eat for sighing; my groans pour out like water. What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.”

Nobody can blame Job for wishing for relief from this suffering; the poor guy is miserable. Now Job is wishing that he had never been born or that he would have died at birth. Again, Job’s losses are so staggering that his grief is understandable. But what is most interesting is Job’s final statement. “What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.” All this time, even though Job has been enjoying a wealthy lifestyle, he has been living in fear, but fear of what? Evidently, Job has feared losing everything, including his family, his wealth, and his standing in the community. Yes, Job is a man of faith; however, he has also been making those sacrifices in hopes of protecting his children and his way of life.

Notice something:  Even though Job wishes he had never been born, he is not threatening to kill himself.  Job is committed to continuing to live, even though he is miserable. Job is a man in search of the God who has been leading him and keeping him all his life. Even though Job is in despair, he isn’t giving up.

We have friends who for the last eight months have endured sufferings rivaling those of Job. When Pastor Rus led a small group on a short-term mission to Guatemala, he expected to be there a few weeks at the most and then to return to the small town where he pastors a church. But while in a remote mountain village, Rus suddenly developed severe pancreatitis and had to be carried down the mountain and then sent to a big city hospital where he remained for several weeks. Thousands of people were praying for our friend, for there were times when his life was at risk due to repeated infections. Eventually, Rus was transferred to an excellent hospital in his home area; however, he continued to suffer repeated infections and all kinds of other problems for several more months. There were undoubtedly times when Rus might have wished that the misery and pain would simply stop. Rus’s wife was forced to become his advocate, arguing with health care workers and reporting problems as they became evident.

Blessedly, Pastor Rus’s story has a very glorious ending, for Rus has made a miraculous recovery. Not only has Rus returned home but he is also gradually returning to ministry a little at a time. Both Rus and his wife give all glory to God for answering the prayers of those who continued to storm heaven, refusing to give up.

Throughout the world there are millions of people suffering from chronic diseases that make them miserable. How can we help such people? First, Pray! Pray! Pray! God can give relief or the courage to continue to move forward. Second, ask God to show small things you can do to help-doing shopping, doing laundry, running kids to activities, cleaning house, driving the sufferer to medical appointments-the list of possibilities is virtually endless. And don’t overlook the value of simple text messages or short encouraging phone calls.

May God help us to be sensitive to the needs of others and to help and not hinder.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, inspire us so that we will find new ways to help those around us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

 Job 2 Job’s Second Test

“One day the members of the heavenly court came again to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil. And he has maintained his integrity, even though you urged me to harm him without cause.”

Satan replied to the Lord, “Skin for skin! A man will give up everything he has to save his life. But reach out and take away his health, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

“All right, do with him as you please,” the Lord said to Satan. “But spare his life.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.

Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.”

Ever have shingles? Shingles is a viral rash caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox. Those suffering from shingles will tell you that the pain is itching, stinging, burning, and among the worst pains they have ever experienced. Sometimes shingles rashes can produce large blisters, inciting the sufferers to dig at themselves as they try to gain any kind of relief possible. While we don’t know if Job is suffering from shingles, this description certainly fits. Now Job is applying ashes and scraping at his sores with a broken piece of pottery, probably bleeding from the sores and mixing blood with ashes.

Sadly, Job’s wife is not a woman of faith. Mrs. Job likely married her husband when he was a prominent businessman. Now this lady’s children are dead, the family has lost most of its wealth as well as most of its servants, and her husband is suffering from a loathsome disease. As far as Madam Job is concerned, she would be happy if her husband would just go ahead and die; at least she would get sympathy as a widow and she might be able to re-marry. But Job continues to trust God and tells his wife, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.”

Job’s Three Friends Share His Anguish

“When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.”

If you’ve ever read the Book of Job before, you might have found yourself thoroughly irritated with Job’s friends and the arrogant nature of the advice they give him later; however, look at their initial response. These three men tear their clothing, ruining it, and throw dust into the air over their heads. Next these men sit on the ground with Job seven days and nights without saying anything.

Compare the response of Job’s three friends to the responses we generally give to someone else’s grief. First, none of us are about to tear any of our clothing, let alone throw dust on our heads. We might send text messages or emails or show up at the house of the grieving family with food. These men sit for a full week on the ground without saying anything. What an amazing response! By spending this time quietly sitting with Job, these men are witnesses that they feel his pain and are grieving with him. It’s likely that 99.99% of us when given the opportunity will furnish all kinds of unwanted and/or unnecessary advice, much of it starting with foolish statements such as “I know how you feel.” Rubbish! Grief is an individual matter and none of us knows precisely how someone else feels.  

Although none of these men is Jewish as far as we know, the ritual of Shiva that Job and his friends are going through is one commonly practiced by Jews since Bible times. Here is what Wikipedia says about Shiva.  “Shiva is the week-long mourning period in Judaism for first-degree relatives. The ritual is referred to as “sitting shiva” in English. The shiva period lasts for seven days following the burial. Following the initial period of despair and lamentation immediately after the death, shiva embraces a time when individuals discuss their loss and accept the comfort of others.^[1]

Its observance is a requirement for the parents, siblings, spouses, and children of the person who has died. At the funeral, mourners wear an outer garment that is torn before the procession in a ritual known as keriah. In some traditions, mourners wear a black ribbon that is cut in place of an everyday garment.^[2][3] The torn article is worn throughout the entirety of shiva. Typically, the seven days begin immediately after the deceased has been buried. Following burial, mourners^[4] assume the halakhic status of avel (Hebrew: אבל, ‘mourner’). This state lasts for the entire duration of shiva.

It is necessary for the burial spot to be entirely covered with earth in order for shiva to commence. During the period of shiva, mourners remain at home. Friends and family visit those in mourning in order to give their condolences and provide comfort. The process, dating back to biblical times, formalizes the natural way an individual confronts and overcomes grief. Shiva allows for the individual to express their sorrow, discuss the loss of a loved one, and slowly reenter society.^[“

Job’s friends make a good beginning by just being with him in his anguish and not offering quick solutions. Too bad they don’t continue in this vein. As we go through the Book of Job, let’s remember that these men are friends and also remember that we too can wound people in the name of friendship.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to be sensitive to the griefs of others and to encourage rather than discourage them. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Job 1 Prologue

“There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.

Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.”

Personally, I vote with Pastor Swindoll, that Job himself is telling this story. Does Job keep a diary during his suffering? We don’t know. We do know that Job belongs to a culture and an era that values memorization of large amounts of material, so perhaps Job memorizes everything and writes it down later. But if this is Job telling his own story, he would definitely know all the details of his family and his wealth, and he would be fully aware of the steps he was taking to try to purify his children. But there’s a problem.

Can we purify someone else, even a beloved child? Each one of us must stand before God individually and answer to God for ourselves. All that we can do is to try to teach our children the way to God and set an example by our actions. Certainly, Job is setting an example; however, are Job’s kids relaxing, assuming that they can coast along on their father’s holiness? Sadly, that doesn’t work. And although most young people secretly believe they’re immortal, young people can die in disasters.

Job’s First Test

“One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.

Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”

Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”

Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”

“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.

One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.”

WOOF! In a few brief hours Job loses most of his servants and all of his camels, oxen, donkeys, and sheep through marauding bands and lightning strikes. Now Job learns that all his children have died when the house they were in collapsed during a tornado. When Job got up that morning, he was happy, healthy, and wealthy. Now he is destitute and grieving over the loss of his seven sons and three daughters, not to mention the servants who have also died. If Job is an animal lover, he might also be grieving over the loss of those animals. How much grief can one man stand?

Fortunately for Job, social media did not exist at this time; otherwise, Job’s suffering might have been far worse. News pundits would have been trying to interview everyone in the household-“Exclusive! Job’s servant reveal that his animals were grazing in an endangered area!” “Were these deaths really necessary? An analysis of the house where Job’s children died.” “I alone escaped! The harrowing details given by one of Job’s most trusted servants.” “Rich man but poor decisions-Did Job sufficiently protect his property?”

In the wake of the flooding in various parts of Texas, people in other parts of the world have reveled in criticizing everything and everybody, including the poor weather forecasters, who did their best under horrible circumstances. At least in Job’s day, people were willing to accept tragedies as just that, tragedies. These days, blaming and shaming has become the name of the game. It is eerily reminiscent of practices in remote villages in Ghana where as soon as someone dies, sooth sayers begin trying to ascertain which old lady in the village has performed witchcraft to kill that person.

Job responds beautifully; he tears his robe in grief, shaves his head, and then falls to the ground and worships God. “The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” One of our village friends had a bright son in university. The young man was not only a diligent student but also a fine Christian and a leader in his local church. The morning after this young man suddenly died from liver failure due to Hepatitis B, this man’s father, a strong Christian, quoted Job’s words.

Repeatedly, I have argued with God when young patients have died. And repeatedly, God has reminded me that the day each of these patients was born, He already knew the day they would die. Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” One of our pastor friends who has gone to be with Jesus used to remind us that God is in management and that we are only in advertising.

How do we face unspeakable tragedies? In the end, we must either bless God or curse Him. The families of little girls who were swept away from their camp by the Texas floods are choosing to bless God and to establish foundations that will bless others. Let us follow their example!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust Your sovereignty, even when tragedy strikes and to be grateful for all the years of blessings. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.