Jan 9: Job 21-23

Jan 9, Job 21-23

Chapter 21. Job again replies explaining again that the wicked can and do prosper. This might go against some of our logic, as we might believe that only good things happen to good people. Truth is, sometimes the wicked (as in verse 13-14) spend all their days on earth in prosperity and in peace they die away from the Lord. We need to understand that being good or being wicked doesn’t account for peace on earth, nor does being a Christian only offer prosperity and peace. We are warned here to not look at a mans circumstance, as it may not be an indicator of blessing. 

Chapter 22. This is Eliphaz’s last speech and it is not much different. He is emphatic that Job is wicked. He goes so far as to say that Job just flat out sins continually and abundantly, yet he has zero proof of this, because Eliphaz falsely believes that only bad things happen to bad people, and therefore Job must be bad. He tries to tell Job again to repent and his life will represent happiness. I am not sure how Job had so much patience! I am on the reading end of this and am losing patience with Eliphaz. 

Chapter 23. Job is now tired of fighting his case against his friends. Sad, isn’t it. He pretty much ignores the last rant that Eliphaz has and just expresses his desires to come to God directly, as God is almighty and will have His way. Job continues to find comfort in expressing his true emotions, as he felt as though God had abandoned him. Rightly so, sometimes those whose hope is in the Lord, goes through times where we are lonely and feel abandoned by God. But thankfully, we know that the Lord never left him and He will never leave us, even if we feel like He has…

To sum it all up:

• Sometimes in this life, things happen that can cause us to question a lot of things, including our own faith. Do not let your friends or circumstances sway you from being obedient to God and serving Him only. 
• We can’t believe the false notion that good things happen to good people and bad things happen only to bad people. It just ins’t true.
• In the past, has there been times when you felt as though God has left you? Now that you can look back, was it true?