Monday, 05 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

Job replied to his wife saying, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10

Job's story is a monumental tale of personal disaster. Riches to rags in a matter of moments. Job's possessions were stolen, his servants murdered, his children killed.

I'll be honest - I can get upset if I break a mug or miss a train.

How do we react when things go wrong, when life is unfair?

Do you give up on God?

Job didn't.

Tuesday, 06 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

Job said to his friends, "My contentment is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever - death has invaded life." Job 3:26

Time isn't always a great healer.

The days went by, and Job got worse. In fact, he sank into depression. Yes, he'd been through personal tragedy, but what got to him was the silence that followed.

People say this could be the lowest point in the Bible.

The good news is this isn't the end of the story.

Wednesday, 07 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

Job said, "God is not a mortal like me, so I cannot argue with him or take him to trial. If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together." Job 9:33

This looks like a flash of theological genius. Actually it's a cry for justice.

Job wanted to challenge God; to defend himself; to at least get his case heard. Here he is basically shouting for a lawyer.

If only he'd known how right he was, because now we do have someone to mediate, someone who stands before God on our behalf.

His name is Jesus.

Thursday, 08 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

Then Job replied to his friends, "What miserable comforters you all are... will your long-winded speeches never end?" Job 16:1-3

Let's be fair. At least these three friends stuck around - the rest were avoiding Job like the plague.

Unfortunately they didn't help him much. The thing was, although they had plenty of theology (they knew about God, sin, judgment, etc) they didn't have much sympathy.

We all comfort others sometimes. This is a lesson in how not to do it.

Friday, 09 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

"I know that my Redeemer lives." Job 19:25

From deep within Job's anguish comes an amazing shout of triumph. It's become his most famous line - it was even set to music in Handel's Messiah.

When our world turns upside-down we are tempted to say, "I don't know anything any more."

Job may have lost everything else, but he did know this: He knew his God was still alive.

Saturday, 10 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. Job 38:1

At last!

At last God spoke.

Everyone else fell silent as the creator of the universe had the last word.

You'll see there's nothing here about quiet waters or still small voices. Just a raging storm. But even the storm belonged to God.

Make no mistake. The day will come, and God will speak.

Sunday, 11 November 2007 00:00  |  Written by Steve Davies and posted in Job

"Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?" Job 39:1

How annoying is it when someone doesn't seem to hear your question?

Job's lost everything, his health is wrecked and he's been screaming for an answer. And God wants to talk about goats and ostriches... and even a hippopotamus.

But I think God's answer is subtle: Take my hand. Look at my creation, my wisdom, my justice.

Remember, I'm in charge.