For today, One Year Bible Online links here. As I read today’s passages, I sensed a theme and a thread running through them. But as I wrote my thoughts about them, that thread eluded me. I pray that the Spirit work through the words I did write in order to convey the message He has for those who read this.
There are people who constantly imagine dangers which preclude them doing actual work. Accomplishing anything involves a certain amount of risk, but those who wish to avoid any effort always imagine the risk to be greater than it is.
The psalmist reminds us that sometimes hard times come upon those who are faithful to the Lord. There are times when we will face trials and difficulties because of our faithfulness to God. However, God will not forget us and will deliver us when His plans are complete.
We may face troubles because of our faith and because we preach the Gospel to others. However, let us never allow such troubles to silence us. As a matter of fact, Paul tells us that if we truly have faith, we will feel compelled to tell others about the Gospel despite any troubles which might ensue. As more people hear the Gospel message, some of them will recognize God’s grace to deliver them from their sins (which cause them misery). The result of this will be an outpouring of thanksgiving bringing glory to God.
In the meantime, let us not focus on the difficulties and troubles which we experience in this life, rather, let us focus on the glory which will follow. In the grand scheme of things, the troubles we face today are small things that will last only a short time. They will soon be gone. We cannot truly see the glory to which God is bringing us, but it will last for all eternity. Currently, we live in bodies which are breaking down and falling apart. As we get older, we acquire pains and are less able to accomplish physical tasks. Our current bodies are like tents, great for a temporary shelter, but not a permanent place to live. When these bodies will no longer serve and we die, God will give us bodies that are like houses, a place to live permanently. It is not that we seek the death of our current bodies, rather we should crave the new, eternal bodies which God will grant us. While the death of our earthly bodies will bring an end to our suffering and pain, let us not seek death. While we are yet in these bodies we can serve God and do good so that others may come to know and worship Him. Let us not fear death because when it arrives for our bodies, we will then be at home with the Lord.
Elihu goes into the conclusion of his monologue by stating that thinking about God’s power causes him to tremble with fear. Further, our imagination is not capable of conceiving the extent of God’s power. What we can see of His power is but a small sample of its grandeur. We do not have the ability to even make a coherent argument before God, let alone make a case defending our actions before His judgement. We cannot even look directly at the sun on a clear day, how can we hope to present ourselves before God?
Finally, God Himself answers Job’s complaints. God asks a list of questions which demonstrate how our limited knowledge and wisdom leave us unable to understand all that God does. We cannot hope to comprehend all of the things which God does because we do not have sufficient knowledge. There are things which go into the actions God chooses to take that are not only beyond our knowledge, but beyond our ability to know.