by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Job 1-4
Uh-oh, we’ve come to Job. My husband and I get kidded about Job. I personally think that it is the most misunderstood book in the Bible.
II Timothy 2:15 says “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the Word of truth.” Handling accurately. That’s a significant term. it means context and perspective, and that’s what we have been trying to do all year. We want the Word in context.
So what about Job? He lived about the same time as Abraham – maybe a little after him. And he came from the same region. He is different from the other people we have been studying in the Bible, because he isn’t a Jew. He isn’t in covenant with God.
Job is an example of a man who is trying to live a good and blessed life outside of a covenant with his Creator. He is praying and trying to live a holy life, without a covenant. The Jews had the covenant of Abraham. We have the covenant cut through the blood of Jesus. So we have been focusing on people who had at their hands a covenant, and now we come to one who doesn’t.
So as we look at these chapters, let’s keep this in perspective.
First, let’s remember that after the fall of man, the devil had free reign in the earth. He had few limitations as to who he could influence. That’s why God was so adamant about the Jews not socializing with their neighbors. He was trying to keep them on track. So the devil had great entrance into Job’s life.
Second, notice that throughout these passages, Job thinks that everything which happens to him is from God. There are some today who believe that. When people die untimely deaths, you often hear people quote Job and say “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.”(1:21)
Wrong. The Lord gave, and Satan took away. Job doesn’t realize who his enemy is.
Third, notice that whereas we saw Abraham being a man of faith – always believing God, Job is full of fear. He doesn’t really know the nature of God, so he tries to be righteous in his own strength. (Which is impossible). He is afraid that his children have sinned, so he often offers burnt offerings.
I have compassion on Job, as God does. He was being blessed, even in his state.
I think of Job as being like the “good” people we meet who are not Christians. We see in our society many who are not walking with God, but who seem to “be sweet.” Sometimes they may be faithful to their families, give to causes for the poor, etc.
But man’s goodness is not what gets us into the relationship with God. It’s the fact that we receive Jesus and His sacrifice for us. That’s what gets us in.
It’s something to think about.
Acts 7:21-60
Do you know where the phrase “gnashing your teeth” came from. It might be from here, because that’s what the leaders are doing as they hear the words of Stephen.He is pointing out to them that they have neglected the Word of God, having become “stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears.”(51)
Stephen looks up and sees Jesus giving him a standing ovation, as the priests cover their ears, yell loudly, and rush him out for his stoning. He is to be the first Christian martyr.
So Stephen gets stoned to death by this wild crowd, but he enters into heaven to be with his Lord.
His final words are like those of Jesus, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”(60) He then leaves the earth. Stephen is showing the nature of His Lord.
Could we do the same?
One of the experiences which led my husband to his salvation was a newsletter telling about martyrs. He read the story of a young girl who was taken out in her schoolyard and told that if she didn’t deny Jesus she would be shot. Refusing the commands, the girl was shot as a demonstration before her classmates.
My husband was troubled, not knowing whether he would do the same. This set him on a Bible-reading journey to decide if he really believed in Jesus. That was about 35 years ago, and that answer is clear today.
Now one more question. If we are willing to die for Him, are we willing to live for Him? That may be harder.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 9-10
“On the day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain mastery over them, it was turned to the contrary so that the Jews themselves gained the mastery over those who hated them.”(9:1)
That’s the way it is. When the armies around Israel today are threatening, they just have no idea who they are dealing with. God has a profound way of demonstrating His power for His people. He still has the covenant with Abraham.
There are many back-story accounts concerning Israel’s 6-day war with Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq in 1967. Everybody knew that Israel demolished the air forces and demoralized these four nations in just 6 days. What many never knew was that the other forces saw lights in the sky and heard noises which weren’t there. They thought they were encountering greater numbers and a greater power than they actually were. Hmmm…
Back to Esther. After the day of turning – of “turning from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday” ( 9:22), the Jews were raised into high esteem among the people.
Mordecai was then elevated to second in position in Persia, second only to King Ahasuerus. What a turnaround!
Do you need a turnaround? God has a way of doing it for you too.
Acts 7: 1-22
As Stephen stands before the council, they see his face like the face of an angel. Shouldn’t that be enough to stop any harassment? Not for them.
Now Stephen displays the boldness of Peter as he begins to speak before the council. The boldness and the knowledge.
It seems that if you want to have the Old Testament in a nutshell, this chapter would suffice. Stephen tells in detail the story of Abraham’s call, the birth of Isaac, and Jacob. Then he recounts how they went into Egypt to survive a famine and stayed there four hundred years…until the time “of the promise was approaching.”(V. 17)
Stephen knows his history extremely well, as he even recounts some nuances of scripture.
This reminds me of a precious man who is a friend of my husband and mine. He is 91 years old and has been preaching for 72 years – since he was 19. There is lots of fruit in his life, as he has started and oversees several churches – reaching from Atlanta to Chicago. When we go to visit him, he starts telling us stories.
His favorite story is to tell us again how he came to know the Lord, recounting every detail of his experience. Somewhere in the account, he says, “I love to tell the stories.”
Do you have a history which is precious to you? Maybe you have been through some hard times – as this man of God has. But do you have the story of your encounter with Jesus locked in your memory? Do you tell it often?
You can see in this passage concerning Stephen that the story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is very dear to him. He has a history with God – based on the experiences of God’s dealings with man.
There is no greater faith builder than to remind yourself of all of the good God has done for you in the past. Think of it and tell it often.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 6-8
I wonder who kept King Ahasuerus from sleeping and brought to his mind the chronicles for nighttime reading. I think I can guess.
Our God has a way of getting the job done. While the king reads the books, he happens to notice that Mordecai had never been rewarded for saving his life. What a terrific time for him to notice! Just when the awareness is needed.
So Haman’s own plans turn on him. The honor he plans for himself goes to Mordecai, and the gallows he plans for Mordecai is where Haman winds up. There is a proverb which states, “The righteousness of the blameless will smooth his way. But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.” (Prov. 11:5). I think we are seeing this in action.
If you are facing some unjust issues, I would suggest that you really turn to God. Spend time with Him in prayer and reading the Word. He will guide you and He will take care of the problem for you.
There have been many times when I have faced problems which seemed insurmountable in the natural. As I would take the case to God, I would gain greater understanding and often some direction. In a couple of cases, He would show me that I was harboring unforgiveness toward those people. of course, i would have to let that go. Then he has ordered my steps.
The most exciting part, however, has been the times when I would see God at work – in a way that was impossible for me. he can get inside of hearts – with dreams, sending the right people across a path, having “just the right” TV programs come on the air. I have seen Him work in so many ways.
Our God is a God we can trust. If we do our part, honoring Him with our obedience, we will see His work on our behalf.
Acts 6
Stephen is a testimony to all of the lay people out there who want to walk in closeness with God. Sometimes people get the wrong impression that certain levels of closeness are only for the ministers. Stephen proves that idea to be wrong.
Stephen is a server. His job in the church is to serve the widows their meals. In fact, he is doing this so that the apostles are not burdened with anything but prayer and ministry of the word. So many might get the idea that Stephen isn’t that “spiritual.”
Wrong. Stephen is full of grace and power, and performing great wonders and signs among the people. (V. 8) When the religious leaders try to argue with Stephen, they are “unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (V.10)
Stephen is a sign to us, that we need to take the wraps off of our relationship with God. We don’t have to be timid or afraid that we aren’t valuable enough. God loves us all, and he wants our lives to be productive. Just as Stephen is shown with great wisdom, signs, and wonders, we can expect to the same.
Very few people, even good Christians, reach for God’s highest plan. It takes focus, energy, and fortitude to have that level of relationship with our Creator. But that relationship is available.
As we proceed with the New Testament, we will see more examples. Are you ready for the challenge?
