living like Job

I know my life is nothing like the life of Job.  I have read through the book of Job before, but I usually end with mostly wondering why: Why did God use Job, in this way, to prove his point to Satan?  Why did Job's friends not seem to listen to what Job was saying?  Why did they continue to blame him?

This time it has been a little different.  Some verses just jumped out at me in ways they had never done before.  (Don't you love how the bible is such a living document -- how God uses his Word in different ways each time we read it?)

"His great works are too marvelous to understand.  He performs miracles without number."  Job 9:10

When I read this, I immediately thought "God, perform one in me!". Then I started asking why again! lol!  Why have you not performed a miracle in me, Lord?  Why have you not fixed me?  Why have you not cured me of all my emotional ills?  Why, why, why?

Then, further down the page he continued to speak to me with this:

"Though I am innocent, my own mouth would pronounce me guilty.  Though I am blameless, it would prove me wicked.  I am innocent, but it makes no difference to me -- I despise my life."  Job 9:20-21

Now, please bear with me and trust that God can use his Word in many ways.  The context of this verse may not follow how God used it to speak to me, but that is just how cool God is.

I realized: Oh, so that is the problem.  It isn't God who is pronouncing me guilty (not fixed or cured of my ills).  It is me.  Although I say that God loves me and that he forgives me and that he has given me grace, I don't think I really have accepted it fully as the truth.  There are times that, although God has said these things, and I repeat them (saying I am innocent), it makes no difference to me and I despise my life. That, my dear, is called jumping back into the pit. 

With these next verses from Job, God made it clear to me that fear was drawing me to the pit.  I cannot deal with the fears in my life without his help.  Until I take care of that, I will keep on living like Job.  I do not want to do that.  Here is the last verse of the chapter:

"Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength."  Job 9:35

I love all the winks from God.  This just happens to be my first memory verse for February:

 "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)

So, God is telling me that I cannot do it alone and in my own strength, but that He is able to make all grace abound to me. 

Let go, Lisha, and let God work.

Reading between the lines

Today's Readings: Genesis 25:27-28:5

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn." Genesis 25:34

"When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, 'She is my sister.' He was afraid to say, 'She is my wife.'" Genesis 26:7

"From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. 'I am the God of your father, Abraham,' he said. 'Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you.'" Genesis 26:23

"We can plainly see that the Lord is with you." Genesis 26:28a

"At the age of forty, Esau married two Hittite wives; Judith, the daughter of Beeri, and Basemath, the daughter of Elon. But Esau's wives made life miserable for Isaac and Rebekah." Genesis 26:34

After recording these verses that I had underlined while reading, I was comforted to see similarities in their life struggles, the ups and downs of life, and those we endure today.

• They showed contempt towards by not being open to receive a blessed from God
• They lied and did not trust the Lord to protect them
• God told them to not be afraid - he was with them and would bless them
• Others could tell that the Lord's presence was with them
• They still had misery in their lives

I love when God shows me a new nugget from his Word.  Whenever I have read this passage before, I just read the story.  It is almost as if I have been able to read between the lines this time.  I love how he sneaks in those secret lines.

A hostile world

Today's Readings: Genesis 25:1-26, 1 Chronicles 1:34

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Ishmael lives for 137 years. Then he breathed his last and joined his ancestors in death. Ishmael's descendants occupied the region from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt in the direction of Asshur. There they lived in open hostility toward all their relatives." Genesis 25:17-18

Today's reading was shorter than most, and I underlined very little. It began after Sarah's death and told of Abraham marrying again and having many more sons. But little is said of those sons after Abraham gave all to his son, Isaac, and then sent them off to 'a land in the east, away from Isaac'. What is said is about Ishmael, the son of Sarah's servant. His descendants 'lived in open hostility toward all their relatives'. All I could say is Why. Why more pain for Ishmael? First he was sent away from his father...to a sure death in the wilderness until God stepped in. He survived, and even thrived, fathering twelve sons. But, even in the end, at his death, more pain was to come -- this time a hostile life for his descendants.

God can be in our lives, being 'with' us, and we can still have pain. But, he will help us through that pain.

Fear God

Today's Readings: Genesis 11:32, 21:8, 22-24

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"'Don't lay a hand on the boy!' the angel said. 'Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.'" Genesis 22:12

"And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed -- all because you have obeyed me." Genesis 22:18

"Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land, and he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. 'No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.' Ephron answered Abraham, 'My lord, please listen to me. The land is worth 400 pieces of silver, but what is that between friends? Go ahead and bury your dead.' So Abraham agreed to Ephron's price and paid the amount he had suggested -- 400 pieces of silver, weighed according to the market standard. The Hittite elders witnessed the transaction." Genesis 23:12-16


As I read that first verse above (vs.12), I could not help but be reminded how much Abraham was like the Lord himself by being willing to sacrifice his only son.  But, at the last moment, God allowed this only son to live, knowing that the father was truly obedient.  I can only ask myself if I, like Abraham, would "fear God."

After I read the last reference in Genesis 23, I was a little confused.  Why would Abraham not accept the gift from Ephron? Why would he not allow Ephron to be blessed by giving him the cave?  Doesn't the bible teach us to give to others (so, it would be right for Ephron to give)? Then, it popped in my head that Abraham was not needy -- he had wealth and was able to buy his own cave.  We should concentrate on helping the needy, not those that can help themselves.

Unrighteous laughter

Today's Readings: Genesis 18-21:7

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Then the Lord said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh? Why did she say, Can an old woman like me have a baby? Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.' Sarah was afraid, so she denied it, saying, 'I didn't laugh,' But the Lord said, 'No, you did laugh.'" Genesis 18:13-17

"The other men turned and headed toward Sodom, but the Lord remained with Abraham." Genesis 18:22

Sarah laughed, then Sarah lied to try to hide from the Lord. Laughing in itself is not wrong, but Sarah was laughing because she did not believe that she could have a child at her age, even with the help of the Lord. The Lord's response to her reminds me of that line from the film "Facing the Giants" and Luke 1:37 - "Nothing is impossible with God". [Coincidentally, the passage from Luke was in response to Elizabeth becoming pregnant in her old age.] God's power has no limits, but I believe his choice to use his power correlates with our faith that he will use that power. Sarah was fortunate -- the Lord did not require that she had faith that he would cause her to give birth after so many years, even after she lied to him. God is good.

A Kick in the Pants

Today's Readings: Genesis 15-17

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, 'Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.'" Genesis 15:1

"And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith." Genesis 15:6

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, "I am El-Shaddai -- 'God Almighty.' Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants." Genesis 17: 1-2

First reading earlier in the week about Noah being a "righteous man...he walked in close fellowship with God" and now reading about Abram who was counted by the Lord as "righteous because of his faith" has given me more of that desire to be called the same. I want the Lord to consider me righteous, but I am reminded by these men who lived so long ago that you are not just born righteous, you have to do something -- believe and live faithfully. If we just do that, then we are also promised great rewards. This is the kick in the pants I needed this week. Thank you, Lord, for the reminder.

Faith + Obedience = Blessings

Today's Readings: Genesis 11-14, 1 Chronicles 1:24-27

Highlighted Verses and my thoughts:

"The Lord had said to Abram, 'Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.' So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran." Genesis 12:1-4

In reading this again, I am hit much harder with what this verse really meant to Abram (Abraham). How would you feel if God told you to pack up all your relatives and all your belongings and leave the only home you know? Oh, and you are seventy-five years old. Yes, you could argue that seventy-five in Abram's time was not like seventy-five today. Yes, you could argue that times are just different now. But, the fact still remains that it was a lesson in obedience. It probably was helpful that Abram had such a relationship with God to receive his promises of blessings. But, it still gets down to faith and obedience.