How big is your God?
Dear Reader,
If you read Job chapters 38, 39, 40, and 41 you will see that God asked Job 78-84 (depending on how you count them) consecutive questions. Job never answered even one of them. They were questions like "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the world?"(Job 38:4), "Have you entered into the springs of the seas?"(Job 38:16), "Canst you send the lightnings?"(Job 38:35). If you think about it, these questions were not designed to be answered.
Now for a little back-tracking... Job was perfect before God and was just. (Job 1:1,8) He was also very rich (Job 1:2-3) and had seven sons and three daughters (Job 1:2). It was then that Satan came to God and told God that the only reason why Job feared God was because God handed everything to Job. (Job 1:7-11) So, God told Satan that he had power over Job (Job 1:12). So Satan killed all of his cattle, sheep, and goats (his wealth), some of his servants, and killed all his sons and daughters. (Job 1:12-19) Yet, Job said, "Naked came I from my mother, naked shall I return." and did not sin or talk to God foolishly (Job 1:21-22).
Now, let me stop right there. You mean to tell me that after all that, Job still had Faith? Could you imagine the Faith it would take to do what Job did? And without Christ? What if us Christians had that kind of faith? Sin would be an after thought...So, after all that Job remained sinless. So Satan went before God again. (Job 2:1-3) And Satan told God that it was because he had not hurt Job's flesh that Job did not sin. Satan asked God if he could hurt Job's flesh. (Job 2:4-5) God then said that he would allow it, but he was not allowed to kill Job. So, Satan went out from the presence of God and smote Job with boils from head to feet (Job 2:6-7). Then, on top of everything that has happened to him, his wife turns on him and tells him to curse God. (Job 2:9) After all that, Job was able to set his wife straight, but was also distraught after his ordeal. Also, three of his friends came to visit him. (Job 2:10-12) For 31 chapters, Job's friends tell him why he was struck with this situation. They said because he sinned, because he was vain, etc. (Job 3-37) He kept defending God and then something in Job broke. In Job 23:1-10, Job is wondering where God is in all this and is doubting. Maybe even prideful because of how perfect he has been. Then God spoke out of a whirlwind. And I for one will listen to a tornado if it starts talking to me.
Now that we are caught up, we can see that God was not looking for an answer in the questions he presented. The questions were more like the questions you would ask your kids. For example, If your kid decides that he can stay out till 4 in the morning because, after all, he is ten. So, your kid asks you why he cannot do it. So, instead of answering it, you ask him questions. Questions like: Who pays the bills in the house? Who puts clothes on your back? Who made and paid for the dinner you ate today? Who paid for the soap that you washed yourself with....a week ago? These questions are not meant to look for an answer. These questions are meant to change our point of view.
The questions that God asked Job were not to have Job answer them, but to change Job's perspective. Job was good, but he finally could not understand why God had done these things. Yet, after God had finished talking, Job repented. (Job 42:6) The thing God wanted
to change is his fear in Him. His understanding that he did not understand it all and God did.
Now I said all that to say this: How big is your God?
Do you fear (honor, respect, and well...have a healthy fear) of God?
For Example: Does God tell you what music you should listen to? (Ephesians 5:19-20)
Do you listen when he says not to drink alcohol? (Proverbs 23:29-35, Proverbs 20:1, Habbakuk 2:15, Lev.10: 9-11)
Even, if you should have long hair? (2 Cor. 11:14-15)...not a sin but a shame...
I leave you this: If you want the truth about God, you need to know how big yours is!!!!!!
In Christ,
Daniel
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