Job's Pity Party, Job 8-11

Job's friends have a few off-base things to say in today's reading, i.e. "your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved", but also some good wisdom. Bildad says "He will once again fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy" which reminds me of the verse (that I can quote but not reference), "weeping endures for a night but joy cometh in the morning". And Zophar says, "if only you would prepare your heart and lift your hands to Him in prayer!" and "Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? Such knowledge is higher than the heavens- and who are you?" These are great spiritual truths. But Job is too busy feeling sorry for myself, and frankly I don't blame him, to process any of what they say. God seems remote and arbitrary to Job, and Job feels powerless and unmotivated to approach God. But in the middle of his long-winded pity-party, Job makes an absolutely profound statement. It just leaps off the page!

"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. The mediator could make God stop beating me, and I would no longer live in terror of his punishment. Then I could speak to him without fear, but I cannot do that in my own strength."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you get the idea...

IF ONLY THERE WERE A MEDIATOR.... His name is Jesus! And we no longer live in terror of punishment because Jesus has already taken it! And we can speak to Him without fear because Jesus is the "friend who sticks closer than a brother"! These are things that could not be done in our own strength. The people of the Old Testament tried in vain to be holy and worthy to approach God. But it is not humanly possible to do so. We have to ride the coat-tails of the One who is strong enough to shoulder our sins and burdens.

Tomorrow's reading: Job 12-14

About Melissa Gibbs:

Melissa is the mother of four boys and the wife of her junior high sweetheart, JD.  He is the President of Joe Gibbs Racing and the son of NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs.  JD and Melissa have been married 16 years and are actively involved with Young Life, Motor Racing Outreach, their church, and other ministries.  Their youngest son Taylor is nearing completion of a 3 year treatment protocol for leukemia, which has been a powerful faith walk for their family.  Since his diagnosis, Melissa has been called upon to share their family's testimony with many local churches. Much of her energy is now focused on a huge festival planned for mid May in celebration of Taylor's victory over leukemia and in effort to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer.  If you'd like to check out what she's up to while not blogging, go to www.finishlinefestival.com.

Visit Melissa at http://chronologicalbiblein2010.blogspot.com/.