more on Job

     When I was in college, I studied the Bible a lot on my own.  I noticed one day that the king of Judah named Jehoiachin was said to be eighteen years old in 2 Kings 24:8 and was said to be eight years old in 2 Chronicles 36:9.  This troubled me a great deal that there was a inconsistence and I asked my pastor about it at the time Dr.Austin.  Dr.Austin did not seem all that surprised, but commented that there were several more places like it that dates and numbers were inconsistent.  I had a time dealing with this as before I didn't believe in scribal errors and wondered if this was true what else might not be true.

      If reading this troubles you, you might be in the same place I was back then.  One person told me one day when we talked about how the Bible was inspired by God that God used man to deliver his message, but he didn't fax it down.  The whole process of the compiling of scripture and writing appears to have been at times a messy process.  There was writing and rewriting that went on.  In the end, I concluded that while some numbers may be incorrect, God is great enough to use imperfect man to convey the truths he meant to convey. 

     Nowhere does that appear more evident that the book of Job.  It appears to have suffered from writing and rewriting.  We don't even know who the author was or when it was written.  It appears very different from most of the other books of the Old Testament.  I have come to the conclusion that most likely this was a verbal tale told for hundreds and possibly thousands of years before it was written down by someone.  Parts of chapters 1 and 2 may be more Jewish folklore than actual factual events.  But, does that mean the truths God wanted to convey are  not there, no it doesn't.  Again, it is proof that God is able to tell his story faithfully over time.

      Job appears to have lived during the time period of Abraham or before.  There is no mention of the law, the temple or any festivals or temple worship practices.  The act of worship that is conveyed tells me that it was most likely very early on.  The fact that Job is referred to as blameless can only mean that he was a person of faith much like Abraham was.  You see this mentioned about Abram when it says in Genesis 15:6 "Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness."

     I have wrestled with whether or not Job was an actual person or not.  There are two places where Job is mentioned in other parts of scripture in Ezekiel 14:14-20 and James 5:11.  I will let you look those up if you want to.  It seems clear that the Ezekiel and James both thought he was a real person.  If he was, his world was as different from  yours and mine as someone who lives in Jupiter is from ours today.  He lived in the very early part of human history, yet his doubts and thoughts are something many of us can relate to today.

     One other area that I have wrestled with and am not finished wrestling with is the last 8 verses of the book.  Chapters 1-2 and these verses at the end of the book are the only verses not written in poetry.  It may be that they were added later.  It does help to convey the setting of the story and makes the story more clear.  But, I have wondered does the last few verses of Job sanitize the story and somehow detract from it?  You and I know people who live godly lives and never see their fortunes restored.  At least not on this earth.  Even if God did not decide to bless Job again, it would have been okay.  For God has the sovereign right to do what he wants.  Before Job had his fortunes restored he said these words:

"I know that Thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?  There I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

    That's a pretty great lesson that Job mentions and one that we should keep in mind also.  That God can do all things.  Jesus said this in Mark 9:23 "All things are possible to him who believes." among other places.  Sometimes our God is reduced and too small and as a result our faith is small.  Also, it is important to remember to that there is nothing that can thwart the purposes of God.  God will accomplish his will whether because of mankind or despite us. 

Questions about Job

     I want to start off by saying that what I am going to say about Job and my questions about Job is in no way a criticism or saying that I don't believe that God's Word is the inspired Word of God.  I do believe that God's word is inspired and that God speaks to us through his word.  Job was one of those books early on in my christian walk that I was interested in.  It was the first book that I taught a bible study on as teenager.  I think it has a lot to say to us about suffering and God's presence in the midst of suffering.  But, I also have some quetions in mind when I look at this book.
      I noticed in looking at my study notes about this book that it says that there are some sections in Job that are regarded as additions that were added later than the original.  Among those are the preface and conclusion, chapter 28, chapters 32-37 and some or all of the Lord's discourses.  That makes us a pretty large section of the book.  One of my questions about the book is the first two chapters.  Since God didn't tell Job about his discourse with Satan in chapters 1-2, I wonder to myself how the writer knew about that and who the writer was?  I understand from my study that Job is considered a part of the wisdom books and many consider this to have been written around the time of Solomon or during the exile.  Job is considered to be written in poetry, so we can't think of the discourses as something that these people said word for word verbatim.  It conveys the general idea of what they said in poetic form.
        This post is a little different because these are questions that I have and I don't have solid answers for them yet.  I am going to be examining the questions in more detail in the future.  There is a possibility that some questions I may never have answers for and I realize that.  One other issue I have is that Job is described as blameless.  I wonder what that means since we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  It appears to me that Job lived before the time of Abraham.  I wonder what his understand of God was and his promises.  When it says that he was blameless does that mean simply that he was a man of faith who believed in God?  What does the word blameless really mean?  Especially since our good deeds are like filthy rags in God's sight?
       The other question I have also has to do with chapters 1-2.  Satan comes with the angels to present himself before God in chapters 1-2.  I wonder if this is something that happens often or if this was a one time event.  It seems clear that Satan is an accuser and that he does this to some extent to all of us.  I thought it was interesting that God himself points out Job to Satan. 
     It says at the end of the book that Job's later days were greater than his first and that he had 7 sons and 3 daughters and he saw four generations.  Okay, so did God resurrect the children who had died early in the book?  Does it somehow justify what happened earlier that now Job is rich again?  Would the story really be any different if Job had died some years later having regained none of his wealth?  What's the moral of the story there that his wealth was restored.
     

Not Guilty!

     Typically, I don't comment on political things since this is a spiritual blog, not a political one.  I will let you draw your own conclusions regarding the recent Zimmerman trial.  I have watched very little of it since I am working full time and doing an internship and don't have much extra time.  I did watch as many of you did when the jury came back yesterday and aquitted Zimmerman of all charges.  I also thought about what it must feel like for him to hear the words "not guilty".

     My thoughts turn to the spiritual and how now God calls us also "not guilty".  In Colossians 2:13-14 it says, "And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumsion of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

       Unlike Mr.Zimmerman, I don't have the luxury of standing before God and declaring self-defense.  My old nature of the flesh is entirely guilty as charged.  The Bible does not declare the old nature to be not guilty.  In Romans 3:10-11 it says that there are none that are righteous.  To declare ourselves not guilty by our own efforts or as it relates to the law is a mockery of what Christ did for us.  The fact is, that we were unable to save ourselves.

      Colossians 2:13 says that we are "dead in your transgression. . ."  Dead people do not save themselves.  In fact, the dead are incapable of doing anything.  I think this is important to remember.  It is important to remember how much Christ has done for us.  If we do not we start to become self-righteous or think of ourselves as better than others.  Until you realize how dark Friday was you don't understand how bright Sunday is.  You need to realize your lost before you can be found.  Pharisees don't think they are lost and remain lost. 

       The emphasis in the Colossians 2:13-14 passage is not in my actions but in Christ.  We stand condemned and then it says Christ cancels out the certificate of debt having nailed it to the cross.  In Romans 5:1 it says it this way, "therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with God through the Lord Jesus Christ."  Now, this one who was condemned is set free.   Set free because of what the Lord Jesus did.  Where before we were condemned and guilty, now it says on those who are believers, "Not guilty".   Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

       The devil is our accuser and he constantly brings to mind things in the past that we have done.  He reminds us of all of our fault and sometimes captivates people with shame and guilty.  We may feel the condemnation in our flesh of what we have said and done.  We may feel that we are not worthy of going to heaven or praying or having a relationship with God.  And there is some truth to that.  We are not worthy of what Jesus did for us.  If it was because of our worthy then it would not be called "grace".   While I may not feel worthy, God has shown us an amazing grace and love that he has for us.  

      I can imagine around the Zimmerman breakfast table this morning there is a sense of relief that he was not condemned to years in prison.  I can't imagine sitting at that table of the defense for weeks and wondering if your going to jail for the next 10-15 years.  I am more amazed though that now in God's eyes I stand before him as not guilty.  As a child of God, forgiven, cleansed, freed and greatly loved.  That is something worthy rejoicing over.

Sowing and Reaping

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously" 2 Corinthians 9:6

    In my Bible reading this morning,this verse jumped out at me. Earlier in this book, Paul had mentioned the judgment seat of Christ.  This is a time and place where God would test the quality of every believer's work. Each person gives an account of their lives and they are given a reward in relationship to what they did.  This is a separate event for believers.  For non-believers, they experience the great white throne judgment which is not about rewards.

    Paul was talking to the Corinthians about giving.  It appears that at an earlier time Paul had begun making arrangements with Titus for the churches to give, possibly to the church of Jerusalem.  Paul commends the churches in Macedonia as first giving of themselves and then also to the will of God.  Paul talks a lot about the spirit in which we should give.  He isn't just talking about money here, for he commends the Macedonians for giving of themselves.

     You see people sometimes who think that this world is just about accumulation of stuff.  They work very hard for their own personal goals and attain things.  But, how much are they really investing in the kingdom.  How much am I really investing in the kingdom.  What are you doing that is going to stand the test before that judgment seat of Christ?  Some people live as though this is the end and they won't have to one day stand before God.  But, the word of God tells us differently.

     The question is really about whether or not I am willing to give to Christ whatever he requires of me without reservation.  Does he already have my heart and my will or am I firmly on the throne of my own life.  Is his goals and will for my life important or just my own will?  Am I sowingly sparingly?  I think this passage really calls us to examine our own attitudes about giving to others with a spirit of generosity and grace.  God treats us with grace and expects us to treat others that way also.  So much of the time, that is lacking in the church today.

     By investing in eternity, I am primarily talking about investing in people.  For the things of this world and stuff will wear away, but people are eternal.  God cares about people.  He sent his son to die for people.  What am I doing to help other people and to reflect in my life that I know the risen Lord?  Are you using your talents and gifts to enlarge the kingdom?  The good news is that to do so, doesn't mean you need to change vocations or go somewhere overseas.  Grow where God has already planted you.  Your mission field is around you.

    Some people don't think they have gifts because they can't sing well or preach or do other things.  The fact though is that all of us have the ability to be kind, to share, to give, to love, to show compassion.  This world can be a very dark place.  Many people that we come into contact with on a weekly basis have experienced heartache and abuse in a variety of ways.  You would really be surprised if you truly knew how much a kind word, an act of compassion or a handshake means to some people who are hurting.

The Place of Faith

I’ve been noticing the place that faith has in the miracles and healings of Jesus. Faith played a big part in whether or not people were healed or experienced miracles in their lives. One example of a lack of faith was when Jesus returned to his hometown in Mark 6:1-6, it says,


“And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands upon a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief.” Mark 6:5

Then also there is the lack of faith of the disciples themselves. When Jesus and Peter, John and James were on the mount of transfiguration, the disciples had a man bring his son to them. The disciples attempted to cast out the demon, but were unable to. It says in Mark 9:17-18

“And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him to the ground and he foams at the mount and grinds his teeth, and stiffens out, And I told your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.” Mark 9:17-18

Jesus response to this is to call them the “unbelieving generation”. He wonders aloud how long he is to put up with them. It sounds like he is getting tired of the immaturity and the doubt.

I can really relate to the disciples because many times my faith is small. I struggle to understand why God answers some prayers and allows others to linger for months or years. I wonder at the evil in the world and why he allows people to do such horrible things. I wonder at the haphazard and chaotic world we live in and the randomness of tragedy. Before I am too hard on the disciples for not being able to cast out this boy’s demons, I need to admit that the results probably would have been near the same if I had been there. They often have been in different circumstances.

To those of us who are more pessimistic that optimistic, Jesus gives us these words in Mark 11:23-24

“Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. Therefore, I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them; and they shall be granted you.”

I think one of the keys of this is to meditate upon and focus not on the mountain, but on the size of God and his omnipotence. For many of us, we see the size of the mountain and realize how big it is and begin to feel overwhelmed. We think about all the times we have failed in the past and get our eyes off of God and on to ourselves. We know that we are weak and often fail. The old tape begins to play that says, “You won’t change. You can’t change. Everything will stay the same.” And we make the mistake of believing it. Instead of replacing that tape, getting our eyes off of ourselves and on to how great and awesome God is. If our eyes are there, then our faith will grow. If our eyes are on the mountain, we will get discouraged and bow again to hopelessness.

Some examples of faith in miracles and healings

The leper believed Jesus could heal him Mark 1:40-41

The woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years Mark 5:25-34

The woman whose daughter was near death Mark 7:28-29

The father who brought his son to Jesus Mark 9:24-25

Bartimaeus receives his sight Mark 10:51-52

The Centurion’s servant John 7:6-10

Prayers that God Answers

      We have all had times when it seems that heaven is closed and God is not listening to us. Many of the great saints of the past have testified to going through times like that. So, how do you know that your prayers are heard? How to know that your prayers are pleasing in God’s sight? A friend told me a long time ago that even when God is silent that doesn’t mean he isn’t working and that is true. There are a couple of qualities of prayers that touch the heart of God and move mountains.


      James 1:5-8 tells us that if a person wants wisdom to ask of God, but to ask in a manner that is without doubting. James says the one who doubts is like the one who is double-minded and unstable. That person should expect nothing from God because this is the opposite of faith. You and I are to prayer with the expectation that God will answer. He may not answer the way you want, but you pray by faith trusting God that he knows best how to answer you. See Mark 11:24-26

     Sometimes I have been guilty of praying about something and then God answers it soon after and I have forgotten that this was something I prayed about. I don’t go back to him and immediately thank him for it. Or I may not recognize immediately that it is an answered prayer. I heard about a lady who went to a prayer meeting where they were going to pray for rain. It was farm country and the farmers were all worried about the drought. An elderly lady showed up and told them that none of them were serious about praying for rain. She pointed out, “I see none of you really expect anything. Not one of you brought an umbrella.” Some Christians look at prayer as something to be as a last resort. When all else fails. Like breaking the fire extinguisher glass in case of an emergency. God is not 911. He is available at any time.

     We are to pray that first and foremost God’s will is done. A believer puts the will of the Lord ahead of Himself (Matthew 6:33). Sometimes we think we know what we want. But, if we knew all the variables and possibilities as God does we might not be so sure. You should always be willing to say, “Not my will, but yours be done.” Jesus prayed that same prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night he was betrayed Matthew 26:39, 42. It is arrogant to think that we could possibly know more about the situation than God.

     The little book of James also says that some who James was written to were not receiving an answer. James said, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Sometimes a delay in an answer is a good opportunity for us to check our motives at the door. Why do you want this particular prayer answered? Is God going to be glorified if it is answered? Will it help you achieve your goals and the purposes he has for you? Or is it just for your own selfish ambitions? Sometimes we really just need to be honest with God about why we want what we want. He already knows our hearts anyway.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple John 2:13-25

     I can remember a pastor who preached on this text years ago when I was a college student at a Campus Crusade for Christ conference.  I believe that was the same conference where I decided to sign up for summer missions, which eventually led me to go to the state of Nevada for a summer on mission trip. 

     John identifies John 2:13 as happening around Passover.  John is the only disciple who puts this story at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  It is possible that this happened twice.  The Passover would have occurred around March-April around the full moon.  The temple and Jerusalem would have been extremely crowded with people.  It is possible that the moneychangers and animal pens were temporary for this ceremony.  The problem with it was that the outer court was the only place for non-Jews to pray and worship.  Mark's version of this story says that Jesus called the money changers a robbers den, which may refer to the rates of exchange that the merchants were charging for the exchanges.

     Jesus took his time gathering up the rope that would be needed to drive out the animals.  It must have been extremely crowded and this would have been a difficult task met with immediate resistance and hostility.  But, Jesus drove them out of the temple because he was concerned for his Father's house.  The concerns of the Father were more important to him than anything else.  His Father's house was to be a house of prayer and not of anything else.  This action is looked at as fulfilling Malachi 3:1 and Zechariah 14:21.

     Herod had started the reconstruction of the temple around 19 B.C. and even here while Jesus was in the temple there was still some building going on.  The whole complex was not completed until 63 A.D. and then it was destroyed 7 years later.  Jesus was asked for a sign and he pointed to his death and resurrection.  This is still the main proof that Jesus who he said he was, the empty tomb.  The disciples did not understand this statement at first, but then they did after his resurrection verse 22. (John 10:18)

     This passage is about priorities.  John earlier said that it is through Jesus that the world was made and for whom it was made and holds together.  We were made for a purpose.  Other things, even good things, can come in and crowd out what is best.  Jesus had a zeal for his Father and his purposes.  We need to keep in mind that we are not just made for our own goals and purposes, but for his.  How is what your doing pleasing the Father?  How are you using your gifts and talents to please Him?

   It says the people believe in Him because they saw his signs verse 23.  Yet, this was not a saving belief.  This is the same belief that after he fed them with bread and fish that they wanted to follow him in John 6:26.  They wanted to make him king, yet their understanding of the kingdom he wanted was skewed.  They got their stomach full and therefore wanted more.  Jesus clearly knew the thoughts of man in John 6:26 & Matthew 9:4.  Jesus doesn't judge us the way others do.  He sees the motives and thoughts of the inner man.  What he saw on this occassion was not to be trusted in.  Yet, even though he sees all the dark places of the heart he was still willing to come and die on a cross out of love for you and me.