FBT Daily Devotional: Job 40

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Transcript

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And so with Job chapter 40, what we're looking at is um, I don't have any songs for you guys today, but however, one thing that we do have is a sermon is going to be focused on when God answers out of the storm. So the beautiful part about it is um I know oftentimes we think of Job and we think of Job and his woes um and what he was going through, but um we'll focus more because it is talking of God talking to him in this chapter, um, we'll focus more on what is he directly saying, and he answers out of the storm. When we question God from our limited perspective, he answers not to crush us, but to correct, humble, and to restore us through revelation of who he truly is. So we know before inside, like um uh God has already spoken to Job out of the whirlwind, that's the Job 38. And so, since we're coming out of 40, the storm didn't come from Satan, just to put some clarity onto it. Um, if it wasn't already clear enough, uh, it wasn't random weather, and it wasn't yeah, nothing random out of the or Satan, um, but it was the presence of God manifesting his authority. So when we think of that, uh one thing it made me actually think of was while often would say, like, God works in mysterious ways, which we know that phrase isn't a direct Bible quote, um, but a what uh scripture would actually teach, and we're gonna give this some balance is uh Deuteronomy 29 29 out of the NKJV, and we're gonna read through the um the Job 40 as well, but I'm gonna do that out of the NLT, okay? Um, but out of the NKJV with Deuteronomy 29 29 for cross-references on the mysterious ways, um, we're looking at it says the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us. So God is not hiding truth from his children, but he is God, and there are things revealed and things reserved, right? So when we walk through Job together, um chapter 40 and verse 1 through 2, it says, Then the Lord said to Job, Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers? And so this is uh a correction, right? But notice the tone, God doesn't destroy Job. Um, he confronts them, right? There's a difference in that the issue wasn't ever gonna be Joe, Job's pain, because that's part of human pain. But with human nature is going through pain, it's meant to produce growth as well. Um, when that happens, God can take whatever the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good, etc. etc. Um, and it's funny how it plays out at the beginning of Job's story to think of that scripture. Um, but um the issue wasn't like Job putting God on trial as it is laid out through the scriptures, but sometimes we suffer, and when we do so, we shift from why is this happening to God? You owe me an explanation, and so that posture is different. God's question is powerful though. He says, Do you have the answers? So when we look at verses three to five, it says, Then Job replied to the Lord, I am nothing. How could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already, I have nothing more to say. So that is the next response that Job gave. And um, this is showing that humility has now entered the room. So earlier, Job demanded an audience with God. Now God is speaking, and Joe realizes perspective matters. So, like, even for me personally, uh, as a creative and someone building music, uh business, as well as uh operating in ministry, it's key. Because there are moments where we want clarity on timing, favor, and results, but God shows up, and sometimes the greatest maturity is knowing when I should be silent and just trust. So verses six through eight says, Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind, brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you. I like the boat, that's how God talks. I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? And so that's that's crazy. Um uh, so this is the heart of like the whole chapter 40, right here. Um, when God asks, Are you lowering me to lift yourself? In essence, that hits. Uh, sometimes we try to preserve our understanding by questioning God's justice itself. But as uh Isaiah 55, uh eight and nine says, it says, My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. So God's transcendence is not cruelty, it's his supremacy, right? When we continue to read though, in nine through 14. Let's see what more is said. Um from God, are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like this, like his? All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty, give vent to your anger, let it overflow against the proud, humiliate the proud with a glance, walk on the wicked where they stand, bury them in the dust, imprison them in the world of the dead. Then even I would praise you. And that's crazy, God's saying that. Even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you. Excuse me. Um, and so God is essentially saying that if you can run the universe, he's like, do it. You can judge perfectly. Go ahead, step in. If you can sustain justice, take over. But here's the point we want answers, but we don't want the weight of sovereignty. And correction without relationship feels like it's harsh, but correction from a sovereign creator such as God, mercy. So let's look a little further when he starts to create an imagery with the behemoth from 15 down to uh 24, which is the end of the verse, all right. And what we're looking at is it says, take a look at behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox. See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly, its tail is as strong as a cedar, the sinews of its height. Uh sorry, the sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together, its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs are bars of iron. It is a prime example of God's handiwork. That's God talking to himself in third person. I love it. Uh, and only its creator can threaten it. The mountains offer it their best foods. Where all the sorry, there we go. The mountains offer it their best food where all the wild animals play. It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh. The lotus plants give its shade among the willows beside the stream. It is not disturbed by the raging rivers, not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it. That says even the water moves. Um, no one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away. And so, simply put, it's like with that imagery, the behemoth is representing an untamed power within creation, massive, immovable, and is beyond human control. Because notice that even it's talking about something that's powerful as the mountains, but yet it's saying that it provides its food and where its resting place is. And yet, notice God says, I made it. The point isn't the whole zoology and um things of the biology around it. But watch this, it's to point at sovereignty. If God governs what you cannot control, then why would you assume he has lost control of your life? And so imagine Job picking up on this. Um, and it connects to even the mystery, like where the um the uh secret things are discussed as far as um Deuteronomy 29, 29. But the storm wasn't like a mystery to confuse Job, the storm was revelation to to um reposition Job himself. And so um as we come towards the end with these big takeaways, I would say um you got humility restores perspective. Okay. Um Job didn't get all his questions answered, he got a revelation of who God is, and sometimes God answers not by explanation, but by elevation of our understanding. Um when we look at uh the second, you're seeing that God reveals what we need, not everything we want. So that's like Matthew 11, 25 and 27, how God shows that um he reveals truth intentionally, because God is intentional God. So mystery is not concealment from his children, it's protection of his sovereignty. Um, then we have how the strength is safer in God's hands, so the behemoth is the power, um, but governed. And storms are intense but directed, and if God controls the uncontrollable, he surely governs the personal, our personal lives as well. And so um, lastly, uh to conclude with this, um when the storm speaks, listen. And when we say for like a personal application, think of when building something. So for me, whether it's music, uh for you, business, for me is business as well, uh, ministry, um, etc., just trust God's timing. And when misunderstood, don't condemn God's justice. That's what we learned from Job. And when results delay, don't question God's sovereignty. Job wanted answers, God gave revelation. Job questioned justice, God he revealed sovereignty. And when you truly see who God is, you don't need to win the argument. You just need to do what? Worship. And we'll end with that, and we can go to breakout rooms. Thank you.