Wondering

Good Morning…

Before I do anything else today, I want to praise God for my oldest son, Jim. Today is his birthday – I won’t tell you how old he is – I will just tell each of you how much joy he brings to his Mother and to me, his Dad. So happy birthday, Jim.

Jim will be leaving in just a few days headed once again to Kenya. I know you will join me in praying that God will put His loving protection around him as he travels and his wife and children while they wait for his return. May Godspeed and bless his ministry in Kenya.

I don’t know why old Job came to mind today – he just did. I guess there are times when I wonder what God is up to and question His motives. You will remember the story of Job – or perhaps you don’t. So whether you know it or not, here is the Classic Illustrated version:

Job was a man who was upright and honored God. As a result, Job had prospered greatly. Satan contended that if Job lost it all, he would turn against God. So God allowed Satan to take everything away from Job. To Satan’s surprise, Job didn’t curse God. So Satan asked if he could strike Job with disease – certain that Job would turn against God. Job didn’t.

Enter three “friends” of Job – who assume because Job is suffering all these setbacks, he must be the world’s worst sinner. It wasn’t uncommon to believe that sin brought on bad fortune in those times – these times too. Anyhow, Job defended his honor – but he did begin to wonder why God was punishing him. Eventually God speaks to Job to remind him who is who. Here’s just a little bit of what God said:

Job 38 (Contemporary English Version)
The LORD Speaks From Out of a Storm
1From out of a storm, the LORD said to Job:
2Why do you talk so much when you know so little? 3Now get ready to face me! Can you answer the questions I ask? 4How did I lay the foundation for the earth? Were you there? 5Doubtless you know who decided its length and width. 6What supports the foundation? Who placed the cornerstone, 7while morning stars sang, and angels rejoiced? 8When the ocean was born, I set its boundaries 9and wrapped it in blankets of thickest fog. 10Then I built a wall around it, locked the gates, 11and said, "Your powerful waves stop here! They can go no farther."
Did You Ever Tell the Sun To Rise?
12Did you ever tell the sun to rise? And did it obey?
13Did it take hold of the earth and shake out the wicked like dust from a rug?
14Early dawn outlines the hills like stitches on clothing or sketches on clay. 15But its light is too much for those who are evil,
and their power is broken.
16Job, have you ever walked on the ocean floor?
17Have you seen the gate to the world of the dead?
18And how large is the earth? Tell me, if you know!
19Where is the home of light, and where does darkness live? 20Can you lead them home? 21I'm certain you must be able to, since you were already born when I created everything.
22Have you been to the places where I keep snow and hail, 23until I use them to punish and conquer nations?
24From where does lightning leap, or the east wind blow?
25Who carves out a path for thunderstorms? Who sends torrents of rain 26on empty deserts where no one lives? 27Rain that changes barren land to meadows green with grass.
28Who is the father of the dew and of the rain?
29Who gives birth to the sleet and the frost 30that fall in winter, when streams and lakes freeze solid as a rock?

And God goes on for a while explaining to Job who He is and who Job is. Sometimes I forget that God is sovereign and I am subject. I get that mixed up – and I pay the price for my mix up. I certainly don’t understand all the things that God created or how He created it. I just have to have the basic faith that believes that God is God and I am His child – and He loves me. So when the bad stuff happens, I need to just turn to Him and trust that there will be good stuff on the way and I will learn from the bad stuff. I hope that makes sense this morning.

God loves you… and He wants the best for you. So rejoice in our Lord for He is good!

Agape’

Mr. Jim