A Magnificent Growth In God

From: November 8 – 14, 2011

Theme: "A Magnificent Growth In God" Job 9:1-7

Job was very resentful of his affliction. A great pain depressed him because of the great tragedy that had overcome him and all of his loved ones. Job responds to a friend named Bildad, that even though he was speaking to him to humiliate him, Job continues to be a gentleman in his response. He exalts God and speaks humbly. His friend wants to convince him that he is talking too much (Job 8:2), but Job did not respond to him. Job 9:2 says, "Surely I know it is so; and how can man justify himself before God?" Anyone can think that it is a complaint of Job towards God. It could be that anyone who was in Job’s position would say it complaining. But, one must know the meek spirit of Job and take it from there; it was a pious confusion of the sinfulness of man and of his, he suggests that if God treated us as our sins deserve, we would be lost. Job understands that no one can contend with his Creator. "If I wanted to contend with Him I could not respond Him one time out of a thousand (Job 9:3)." In Chapters 38 and 39 when God spoke to Job from a whirlwind and asked him multiple questions, Job could not respond to any of them. God can accuse us of thousands of offenses and we cannot respond to Him to excuse ourselves of not even one of them, we would be guilty of everything. It says in Job 9: 4 "Who has resisted Him and has done well?" "... He is wise of heart ..." There is no one who has raged against God that has done well because they have had to pay for their foolishness. He is the wise and powerful and we cannot respond to His law or fight with Him. The Devil wanted and hoped that Job would be capable of cursing in his affliction, but on the contrary, Job honored God and spoke highly of Him exalting the power and sovereignty of God. This God of nature is powerful and acts with uncontrollable power as He pleases, for He has created everything and all things created depend on Him. Nothing is stronger than the mountains, nevertheless, God can move them and dissuade them in such a way and so rapidly, that Job was able to say in beautiful personification, that they do not know who overturned them (v. 5). He shakes the earth in earthquakes and makes its pillars tremble (v. 6). He darkens the sun with eclipses and fog. He seals off the stars in a closed container through the clouds (v. 7). Such is the power of God! There is no other above Him who is up righteous and His nature is kindness. Let us remember that Job has lost everything and if God can with the stars, the earth, the sun and everything else, then Job understands what he is. When we are afflicted we feel as if we are dead. Job is in great affliction, you and I read the history and we could talk, but it is not the same when one is living it. What Job wants is for God to move on his behalf to overcome that bitter cup he was drinking. While in affliction we think that we have done something wrong and that God is against us. Job understood that all was surrendered before the power of God. What can he do, a poor man placed in such a lamentable situation! He does not want to be justified before the Lord. So he seeks the mercy of God. Job feels as if he is before God’s great trial against his life. He wants God to hear his cause. If God answers him it is because it pleases God. Job is desperate and he cannot find encouragement for his life, he feels miserable because of what he is living. He could not find a cause or reason for so much punishment by God upon his life. But, the worst was that Job could not resist the strength or the wisdom of God. Great truths that we should all apply! Even if he could appear before the tribunal of God, Job could not say anything (verses 19-20) on his behalf. His mouth could not speak words to prove he was innocent because God would let him see that he was not impeccable, that he wasn’t as innocent as he thought and that his life was worthless.

The truth is that every good person who knows how deceitful and wicked the human heart is (Jeremiah 17:9) will suspect that in his interior there is more poison than he can imagine and therefore will never try to justify himself before God! When we are called to the throne let us go without fear of being condemned. We need to know that there is a cause for which we are called and that we could be condemned for it; it is better to go before God now while we are alive, even if it hurts us, because He will do justice. And even more in these times, Jesus will be our advocate, He will defend us and make us see what we have to repent about, He will help us correct what we are doing wrong and we will reach God in perfection. But first, let us live thru the trials! Let's face it without being surprised or complaining. Let us learn from Job, who lived his trial intensively. God teaches us about Himself in His Word for the well-being of our lives. Amen.