ICS Daily Devotions
The True Character of God
There is a tendency for us to relate to Job whenever we go through a period of suffering, be it sickness, financial ruin or tragedy. Just as Job questioned God at the lowest point of his suffering, and thought that God was punishing him for reasons he did not understand, we too can be confused about God’s character with so much ruin around us in this time with COVID19 affecting and destroying lives on so many levels.
In Job’s time, the knowledge of God was transmitted by oral tradition. Job and his friends did not fully understand the character of God during the period of his sufferings. His friends spoke out of ignorance and brought more misery to Job than ministering to him. We, however, have the counsel of the whole Bible and we know that God so loved the world that He sent His only Son Jesus to save the world, not destroy it. Jesus paid the great price of Sin for us and made us righteous before God so that all who believe in Him will be saved from certain death and have eternal life with Him in Heaven. He wants to restore us to Himself, to give us an abundant life.
Luke 9:55-56a But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
The devil works at deceiving us to think that God is the source of the problems that befall us. He accuses and reminds us of our sins to condemn and shame us, causing us to be bitter and ultimately give up our faith in Him. We also need to know that the devil has been given the right to sift our faith through tribulations where he can steal our health, wealth or relationships at any time. How will we speak of God’s character then?
Job 42:7-8, 10 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. ”….And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
At the end, we see God’s generous restoration to Job and His forgiveness of Job’s three friends despite them having spoken wrongly of Him. This reveals the true character of God as merciful and compassionate. Just as with Job, He builds a hedge of protection around us even during our suffering; as He works in us when we trust in Him to be patient in persevering to the end and also through us, to reach out to the lost and those that call upon His name, to restore them to Himself.
Sermon Series: Resurrection Sunday – Job & I
