Jan 6: Job 10-13

Jan 6, Job 10-13

Chapter 10. This is Job’s third speech and he is insistent on his innocence and he still wishes that he would just die. He questions God on a lot of things and still desires death to end his suffering. One thing that we know about Job - this man was passionate! Notice Job’s humility even when he is seeking reprieve from his life. Deep down he trusts God’s plan and will soon find resolve in it. We need to be more like Job in our convictions… if we trust God at our core in all aspects of life, it will come out in our convictions of whatever God puts in our path. 

Chapter 11- Then Zophar justifies himself and condemns Job’s words and actions. In a sense, he is appealing to God that Job would come to his senses - and yet Zophar is the one in need of clarity and conviction, not Job, ironic. Zophar, like the other ‘friends’, is implying guilt on Job. Zophar offers Job no compassion in his suffering, and he really has no mercy on Job. It is good for us to see what dialogue occurred between the 4 of them - it gives us insight on how to respond to someone who is suffering and how not to. What do you think Job needed more… a lecture about sin/condemnation or to be reminded of God’s faithfulness in light of trials? Zophar and friends are quick to assume that God will hear their words and speak through them, when just the opposite may be true. Zophar does get one thing right in his ramblings though - God is incomprehensible in his greatness and Glory!

Chapter 12. Job replies that he is not inferior to his ‘friends’ with a bit of sarcasm. In previous chapters the friends have spoke about how the wicked do not prosper, implying Job, and Job reminds them that the wicked do prosper - not that he is wicked. In verse 9 Job calls God by Yahweh again, His personal name, giving Yahweh glory for creating and sustaining everything. Then Job does a fantastic discourse on God’s judgement and power, and how God manages mankind. This is also a great chapter to explain a lot of things that humans call fate or mother nature - all things are by the hands of God for His Purpose and His Glory… the Master Plan.

Chapter 13 is when Job calls out his ‘friends’. Job was falsely accused by them and tells them that if they just shut up, then they would be wise. He instructs them that because they falsely spoke for God, that God would rebuke them as they are only deceiving themselves, not God. In spite of Job’s hardships, he is resolved to hold fast to his integrity. This is where we need to stand as well. Job had his convictions prior to his trials, and he stood on them. We need to resolve that we will do the same. Then Job begs God to reveal to him what his sins are - notice the heart of Job. He doesn't want to hear it from his ‘friends’ - he wants to hear it from God. He wants to know the worst of himself. If we don't care about our dark sins or want to change them, we don't care about what God wants for us or doesn't want for us. Rather, we should want to know what our sins are so that we can stop them, avoid them in the future, and live a life worthy of God’s Mercy. By simple definition, sin is the act of violating God’s will. Therefore, those who love sin don’t love God. 

To sum it all up:

• At our core we must trust God’s plan, even when we are suffering - especially when we are suffering. God is the only thing that we can rely on in this world that will not disappoint.
• If you are walking a with a friend in a difficult season, don’t feel like you have to always be the mouthpiece for God. Sure, God can speak through you… But not all people are called to be prophets for God.
• God is majestic and all-powerful. He created the world, so out of gratitude and love, we are to recall and rejoice in the powerfulness of God Almighty.
• Convictions are only valid when they are tried. You can talk the talk all day long, but if you truly want to love God and be obedient, it will show when you go through hardships and suffering. Another thing I always say to my kids, “You don’t know what is in the bottle until it is squeezed.”  So, what comes out of your bottle when God and life squeeze you? Are you proud of who you are under pressure, trial, or temptation? If not, be like Job and ask God to reveal it to you what you need to eradicate from your life. And like I said earlier, those who love sin don’t love God. Search your heart and ask God to do the same for you and He will reveal it to you. It is then, that your convictions of obedience count.