Thursday, September 20, 2012

Job 22-23 Job KNOWS God's Sovereignty


I read a lot today about God’s sovereignty.  Even though Job couldn’t see God during his “furnace experience,” he understood about God’s sovereignty and said, “But God knows the way I take, and when He has tested me, I will come out like gold.  Job wasn’t bragging.  He simply knew that God’s tests make us stronger and purer if we submit to His will, which Job as doing.  “If we resist His will, the furnace experience will only burn us up and make us bitter,” my commentary said. 

 

It continued, “Those who resist or deny the sovereignty of God rob themselves of peace and courage.  There is no attribute of God more comforting to His children than the doctrine of divine sovereignty … On the other had, there is no doctrine most hated by worldlings.  Why?  Because the human heart is proud and does not want to submit to Almighty God.”

 

I also read, “Job 23:14 must be contrasted with Jeremiah 27:11, where God states, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”   Job had said, “He will do to me what He said He would do, and He has many plans like this.”  Putting the two together, God has many plans for us – plans that He knows will prosper us and not harm us, plants that will give us hope and a future.  Our part is those plans is to trust Him and remain faithful, knowing that in His sovereignty God can and will bring them all to pass.

 

Father, I’m reminded of an illustration You once brought my way.  You and I are on a bicycle built for two.  Your job is to steer and my job is simply to keep pedaling and to watch in amazement all the places You are taking me.  That requires me to acknowledge Your sovereignty.  Help me to believe that all the more every day.

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

No comments:

Post a Comment