Job 8-10 WOW! What We Need To Hear!

Bildad steps up to counsel Job.  “He was so concerned about defending the justice of God that he forgot the needs of his friend,” my commentary said.  “It angered Bildad that Job even thought that God would do anything wrong.  Bildad was looking at only one aspect of God’s nature – His holiness and justice – and had forgotten His love, mercy, and goodness … His love is a holy love, and His holiness is exercised in love, even when He judges sin.  These two attributes of God are reconciled at the cross.”

With all Bildad’s talk of God’s justice, Job simply wants a chance to see God in court to present his case to prove his integrity.  But he asks, “How can a mortal man prove himself righteous before God? … If God doesn’t step in and testify on Job’s behalf, what is the purpose of all this suffering?”

“Job is convinced that God is against him and that any steps he takes on earth will be nullified by heaven.  ‘If only I had a mediator!’ … This is where Jesus Christ enters the picture.”

“Job could not understand what God was doing, and it was important that he not understand.  Had Job known that God was using him as a weapon to defeat Satan, he could have simply sat back and waited trustfully for the battle to end.  But as Job surveyed himself and his situation, he asked the same question the disciples asked, when Mary anointed the Lord Jesus:  ‘Why this waste? … Nothing that is given to Christ in faith and love is ever wasted … Job was bankrupt and sick, and all he could give to the Lord was his suffering by faith, but that is just what God wanted in order to silence the devil.”

“Job asked, ‘Why was I born?’  In the light of his losses and his personal suffering, it all seemed such a waste!  But God knew what He was doing then, and He knows what He is doing NOW.”

Father, this is exactly what I needed from You at this time in my life.  Thank You for watching over me and remind me of this today!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford