{"id":7401,"date":"2020-01-29T20:00:24","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T03:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/?p=7401"},"modified":"2020-01-26T16:07:07","modified_gmt":"2020-01-26T23:07:07","slug":"job16_1-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/job16_1-22\/","title":{"rendered":"When Job Saw Jesus. Also, Why God Allows Attacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Job 16:1-22 \u00a0Click here for Bible Verses<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Job 16:1-22.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Job 16:1-6 (NIV)\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>
\n1\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Then Job replied:
\n2\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all!
\n3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?
\n4\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.
\n5\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
\n6\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 1-6:\u00a0\u00a0Job is in such physical and emotional torment that neither him speaking out nor him trying to stay silent helps (v6).\u00a0\u00a0Job has learned first hand that\u00a0when a person is experiencing such great pain and loss, what that person needs is to be comforted and encouraged by others, not lectured, judged, accused or argued with him as Job\u2019s friends did with him<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0Even if that person\u2019s own poor decisions brought about their suffering, even if their character leaves much to be desired, in the moment of their agony, don\u2019t take that moment to tear them down even more, but hold them up with God\u2019s love.\u00a0\u00a0In so doing, your gentle actions will teach them something about God\u2019s love and grace that your lectures never could.\u00a0\u00a0Save your sermon for later when the pain is less piercing and the grief less agonizing.<\/p>\n

Job 16:7-14 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Surely, O God, you have worn me out; you have devastated my entire household.
\n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0You have bound me–and it has become a witness; my gauntness rises up and testifies against me.
\n9\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0God assails me and tears me in his anger and gnashes his teeth at me; my opponent fastens on me his piercing eyes.
\n10\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Men open their mouths to jeer at me; they strike my cheek in scorn and unite together against me.
\n11\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0God has turned me over to evil men and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
\n12\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0All was well with me, but he shattered me; he seized me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target;
\n13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0his archers surround me. Without pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground.
\n14\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Again and again he bursts upon me; he rushes at me like a warrior.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 7-14:\u00a0\u00a0Job thinks God is actively attacking him.\u00a0\u00a0Just look at the violent images Job paints of God as his attacker: \u201che seized me by the neck and crushed me.\u00a0\u00a0He made me his target\u201d (v12); \u201cWithout pity, he pierces my kidneys and spills my gall on the ground\u201d (v13).\u00a0\u00a0Is that what God does?\u00a0\u00a0Is it within God\u2019s character to actively try to destroy His people?\u00a0\u00a0No.\u00a0\u00a0What Job does not see is that it is not God who is initiating these attacks on Job.\u00a0\u00a0When I read Job 1 and 2, it seems to me that Satan is the one who is actively planning and unleashing these attacks on Job, not God Himself.\u00a0\u00a0Job only feels the brunt of Satan\u2019s attacks now because, for a set time, God has decided to remove His hedge of protection around Job (Job\u00a01:10) to allow these attacks.\u00a0\u00a0Is there a difference?\u00a0\u00a0Yes.\u00a0\u00a0It shows that\u00a0God\u2019s heart is not actively trying to attack or destroy your life on earth; that\u2019s Satan\u2019s agenda<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0As Jesus says in John\u00a010:10,\u00a0\u201cThe thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0So if you or your loved ones are experiencing sickness or devastation, know that it is not God, but Satan, who orchestrates the attack.\u00a0\u00a0God is not a terrorist.\u00a0\u00a0He is a protector and also the greatest story writer.\u00a0\u00a0So if God allows an attack, it is not because He is out to destroy you; rather, as He did with Job,\u00a0<\/strong>God allows the attack because it is part of a greater story He is writing through your life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job 16:15-18 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n15\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“I have sewed sackcloth over my skin and buried my brow in the dust.
\n16\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0My face is red with weeping, deep shadows ring my eyes;
\n17\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure.
\n18\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“O earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest!<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 15-18:\u00a0\u00a0Job describes how much pain he is in despite being blameless.\u00a0\u00a0When I read these verses I can\u2019t help but think about another Blameless One.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus was infinitely purer than Job was.\u00a0\u00a0Jesus endured far more suffering and injustice than Job did.\u00a0\u00a0Yet when Jesus was oppressed and afflicted on the cross, what did Jesus do?\u00a0\u00a0Jesus did not cry out for justice.\u00a0\u00a0Rather, \u201clike a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.\u201d (Isaiah 53:7)\u00a0\u00a0Like Job, when we suffer great injustice, everything within us wants to cry out \u201cFoul!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0Yet Jesus remained silent when he suffered the greatest injustice and died for our sins.\u00a0\u00a0Not just through His authoritative words, but also through His silent submission, Jesus showed that He is on another level compared to you and me.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job 16:19-21 (NIV)\u00a0<\/strong>
\n19\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.
\n20\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God;
\n21\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

On verses 19-21:\u00a0\u00a0It was somehow revealed to Job that in the midst of his pain, Job had an intercessor in heaven who pleads with God on his behalf.\u00a0\u00a0Who is this witness, this advocate (v19), this friend (v20)?\u00a0\u00a0His name is Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0Hebrews\u00a07:25\u00a0says that Jesus \u201calways lives to intercede for\u201d those who trust in Him.\u00a0\u00a0In 1 John 2:1 (NLT) it says \u201cbut if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ\u2026\u201d Though it would be many centuries before Jesus Himself would arrive on the scene, Job supernaturally received a sneak peak revelation of Jesus, our intercessor in heaven, our friend and advocate who stands in the gap and speaks on our behalf.\u00a0\u00a0Whatever season you may be in today, know that Jesus our advocate, friend and high priest, is interceding for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Job\u00a016:22\u00a0(NIV)<\/strong>
\n22\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0“Only a few years will pass before I go on the journey of no return.<\/em><\/p>\n

On verse 22:\u00a0\u00a0This verse may be more appropriately grouped together with the first verses of the next chapter.\u00a0\u00a0We\u2019ll take a look at this verse\u00a0tomorrow\u00a0as part of our study of Job 17.<\/p>\n

Heavenly Father, thank You for showing us that it is Satan, not You, who plans attacks and devastation on us, and that whenever You allow them to happen, it is always with a greater purpose in mind and a greater story You have to tell.\u00a0\u00a0Thank You that at all times we have Jesus, the greatest advocate, intercessor and friend to plead on our behalf.\u00a0\u00a0In Jesus\u2019 name, AMEN!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hi GAMErs,<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s passage is Job 16:1-22.\u00a0\u00a0Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n

Job 16:1-6 (NIV)\u00a0
\n1\u00a0\u00a0Then Job replied:\u00a0
\n2\u00a0\u00a0“I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all!\u00a0
\n3\u00a0\u00a0Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?\u00a0
\n4\u00a0\u00a0I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you.\u00a0
\n5\u00a0\u00a0But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
\n6\u00a0\u00a0“Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
\n\u00a0
\nOn verses 1-6:\u00a0\u00a0Job is in such physical and emotional torment that neither him speaking out nor him trying to stay silent helps (v6).\u00a0\u00a0Job has learned first hand that\u00a0when a person is experiencing such great pain and loss, what that person needs is to be comforted and encouraged by others, not lectured, judged, accused or argued with him as Job\u2019s friends did with him.\u00a0\u00a0Even if that person\u2019s own poor decisions brought about their suffering, even if their character leaves much to be desired, in the moment of their agony, don\u2019t take that moment to tear them down even more, but hold them up with God\u2019s love.\u00a0\u00a0In so doing, your gentle actions will teach them something about God\u2019s love and grace that your lectures never could.\u00a0\u00a0Save your sermon for later when the pain is less piercing and the grief less agonizing.\u00a0\u00a0
\n\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gametime-sharing"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7401"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7404,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7401\/revisions\/7404"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}