In Chapter 39, God continues to question Job by asking where was Job when everything was created. Is it by Job's wisdom or by Job's command that creation exists?
Chapter 40 begins with God saying, "Shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? Anyone who argues with God must answer." So Job answers by saying he realizes he is insignificant compared with God and he will listen to what God has to say. God continues to declare that God is supreme above all creation.
This conversation is interesting, but what is the answer for us. Does the book of Job tells us that it is okay to be angry with God, God can handle our anger. Does it tell us that we can be angry with God, but know that God's ways we may never understand. Is the lesson that to know God is to be in conversation with God during our difficult times?
The best part of Job for me is 42:1-6. Then Job answered the LORD: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things to wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question: I will question you, and you declare to me.' I heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Job, who knew God only by what had been told him, now has a personal relationship with God. God is no longer just a thought or idea, but God is now real to Job. It is also interesting that throughout scripture when someone has an aha experience of God, they also clearly see how small they are and how flawed they are. Maybe that is a lesson from Job, we can in all circumstances open ourselves to be in relationship with God and that to know God is to see ourselves through God's eyes.
From 42: 7-17 God is also not happy with the friends who were only helpful when they were silent. We might learn from God's reaction that rather than speaking for God and trying to explain why something happens, we should practice being present and listening to the one hurting. Job fortunes are restored. Job also has more children and his daughters are to receive an inheritance. Yea, Job, in his experience with God he see sons and daughters are equal.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Week May 9-15 Readings
This week readings are Acts 19-23:22, Judges 10-19, Job 39-42, and Psalm 42-44
The Psalms speak so much to the human condition and our relationship with God.
These are the verses which spoke loudest to me from our readings.
42:1-2 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
42:11 and 43: 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again priase him, my help and my God.
44:23-26 Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up, come to our help, Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
The Psalms speak so much to the human condition and our relationship with God.
These are the verses which spoke loudest to me from our readings.
42:1-2 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?
42:11 and 43: 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again priase him, my help and my God.
44:23-26 Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord? Awake, do not cast us off forever! Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression? For we sink down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Rise up, come to our help, Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Acts 15-18
If people think they are in a church where disagreements abound, they need to read Acts. The early leaders find themselves in theological and organizational debates. We should be thankful that in chapter 15, they decided that we can be followers of Jesus without following Jewish law. Big step theologically 15.11 "we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will." and also a big step in polity, man are no longer required to be circumcized.
Paul and Barnabus part ways over a disput about John Mark. Each take off with other traveling partners as early circuit riders returning to they home churches they started.
In chapter 16 entire households 16.15 and entire familes 16.33 are baptized on the faith of one person. As Methodists we baptize infants and children based on the faith of the parents and congregation, believing that God works in the life of the child until they can profess for themselves. It appears that happened in the early years of the church.
Paul used every opportunity to share the gospel. At all times even in jail or in Athens with the unknown god, Paul finds way to proclaim the good news.
As a woman it was exciting to read the part women played in the growth of the early church. In chapter 18 we read about Priscilla and Aquilla. Interesting she is named first. Interesting they minister as a team. Interesting that they have to improve a man's theology.
The Acts of the Apostles really helps us see the length, breadth, and depth of God's Spirit working through the lives of people to grow the church. Reading these stories challenge my belief of what faithful living looks like. What do you think?
Paul and Barnabus part ways over a disput about John Mark. Each take off with other traveling partners as early circuit riders returning to they home churches they started.
In chapter 16 entire households 16.15 and entire familes 16.33 are baptized on the faith of one person. As Methodists we baptize infants and children based on the faith of the parents and congregation, believing that God works in the life of the child until they can profess for themselves. It appears that happened in the early years of the church.
Paul used every opportunity to share the gospel. At all times even in jail or in Athens with the unknown god, Paul finds way to proclaim the good news.
As a woman it was exciting to read the part women played in the growth of the early church. In chapter 18 we read about Priscilla and Aquilla. Interesting she is named first. Interesting they minister as a team. Interesting that they have to improve a man's theology.
The Acts of the Apostles really helps us see the length, breadth, and depth of God's Spirit working through the lives of people to grow the church. Reading these stories challenge my belief of what faithful living looks like. What do you think?
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Joshua 23-24, Judges 1-9, Job 32-38
Joshua 23-24: Joshua continually warns the people of Israel not to promise something to God and not do it. It seems that Joshua realizes the people are fickled. 24:15 Joshua says "now if you are unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve.....but as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." The people promise to serve God and Joshua warns them not to break the covenant with God. As a pastor and a member of the church who has made promises in worship, I can relate to Joshua. How many people have in front of God and the congregation made the promise to support the church with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness, yet do not followed through? How many have promised to love the LORD, but put others interests first? Do we as God's people take our words and relationship with God so lightly? Joshua is warning us also choose whom you will serve; make your lives match your words.
Judges 1-9: The book of Judges is a warning of what happens when people do whatever they want. The people of Israel have entered the promised land both peacefully and violently. Once they settle, "they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them." What we read is people experiencing the consequences of doing wrong and not worshiping God only. During the times of the judges there was peace, when they followed their own ways turmoil and persecution. I found the parable in 9:7-15 to be quite interesting. What I read into the parable is we called to be what God created us to be. God has given each of us unique gifts and talents and abilities. God has designed each of us to bear fruit for the Kingdom, to do less is to be less than what God created.
Job 32-28: Elihu, a young man, gets into the dialogue. He criticizes both Job and Job's friends saying they both are mistaken. He informs them and us that age doesn't necessarily make us wise, but the breath of God within us. He does state that justice and judgment are in God's hands. 34:11 "for according to their deeds he will repay them and according to their ways he will make it befall them." Does this statement agree with the Christian message of salvation through faith in Jesus? Is salvation a gift or will we be judged according to our deeds? Finally is chapter 38, God begins to talk. God speaks by questioning Job, who has been questioning God all this time. I wonder are there questions God has for each of us that we are too busy talking to hear? Today might be a good day to stop and listen.
Judges 1-9: The book of Judges is a warning of what happens when people do whatever they want. The people of Israel have entered the promised land both peacefully and violently. Once they settle, "they would relapse and behave worse than their ancestors, following other gods, worshiping them and bowing down to them." What we read is people experiencing the consequences of doing wrong and not worshiping God only. During the times of the judges there was peace, when they followed their own ways turmoil and persecution. I found the parable in 9:7-15 to be quite interesting. What I read into the parable is we called to be what God created us to be. God has given each of us unique gifts and talents and abilities. God has designed each of us to bear fruit for the Kingdom, to do less is to be less than what God created.
Job 32-28: Elihu, a young man, gets into the dialogue. He criticizes both Job and Job's friends saying they both are mistaken. He informs them and us that age doesn't necessarily make us wise, but the breath of God within us. He does state that justice and judgment are in God's hands. 34:11 "for according to their deeds he will repay them and according to their ways he will make it befall them." Does this statement agree with the Christian message of salvation through faith in Jesus? Is salvation a gift or will we be judged according to our deeds? Finally is chapter 38, God begins to talk. God speaks by questioning Job, who has been questioning God all this time. I wonder are there questions God has for each of us that we are too busy talking to hear? Today might be a good day to stop and listen.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Acts of the Spirit in the Apostles
Yes, I know the book in the Bible is called Acts of the Apostles, but with careful reading one might want to title the book Acts of the Holy Spirit. Through these reading we see lives changed. People willing to face persecution, stoning, death. All for the privilege of following and knowing the risen Christ. It was dangerous to be a disciple(still is in many places in the world). A disciple was putting his/her live on the line for Jesus. I wonder if my faith is that strong. Do I share how God has worked in Jesus and in my life? Do I endure everything for the sake of others who need to hear the gospel? Then I remember that it is by the power of the Holy Spirit that these people acted. The power of the Holy Spirit gives the words, the strength, the passion to be faithful in all circumstances. In Antioch the followers of the way of Jesus were first called Christians. They endured hardship, but the church continued to grow, because they never stop sharing Christ with others. In my community there are still many who need to hear about Jesus yet the challenge is to share Christ even if we don't face hardship and persecution. The challenge is to share Christ even when not our lives but our feelings are on the line. My prayer is for the Holy Spirit to empower me for this challenge in this time.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Joshua continues
Reading Joshua is difficult. It does help me understand the on-going problems in the Holy Land. Land has always been a priority to Israel. "Not one of all the good promises that the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass." 21:45. According to the book of Joshua the promises were around land and conquest. I find uncomfortable the stories of fighting, pillaging, and dividing of the land. The God I know in Jesus teaches another way.
I do like the blessing of Joshua to the people, "Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." 22:5 How does the destruction and the blessing in Joshua match your understanding of the teachings of Jesus?
I do like the blessing of Joshua to the people, "Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." 22:5 How does the destruction and the blessing in Joshua match your understanding of the teachings of Jesus?
Sunday, April 25, 2010
April 24-May 1 Bible study
The readings for this week are Job 25- 31, Joshua 9-22, and Acts 10:34-14
Job continues to defend himself and cry out to speak to God. He believes in his innocence and integrity. Job longs to understand why his suffering continues. Job allows us to struggle with the theology of God blesses with prosperity and curses with suffering, with the theology of the good get blessed and the sinner gets suffering in this life. The cries of Job are surely the cries of many. He feels abandoned by God and does not understand why. How do we share God's goodness with those who are suffering and feeling alone? How do we redefine blessing to not include prosperity?
Job continues to defend himself and cry out to speak to God. He believes in his innocence and integrity. Job longs to understand why his suffering continues. Job allows us to struggle with the theology of God blesses with prosperity and curses with suffering, with the theology of the good get blessed and the sinner gets suffering in this life. The cries of Job are surely the cries of many. He feels abandoned by God and does not understand why. How do we share God's goodness with those who are suffering and feeling alone? How do we redefine blessing to not include prosperity?
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