July 21st | Job 1

The story of Job is a remarkable tale of his continued trust in God, despite everything being taken away from him. Yet, we can often make this book about Job while the main character is actually God. God’s justice and power are on display in this book, and we see that He is worthy of our worship, whether He chooses to bless us or not. 

Often, I will hear from my kids, “That’s not fair!” This statement usually comes after a sibling has done something to them or has received something that they didn’t. “They got a toy. I should get one too!” “They got to go do something, and I didn’t, so I’m going to complain!” You see this often in kids, and there is a sense of justice. Things need to be fair and equal. While I believe in justice and fairness, we must also recognize that life is not always fair, and that we aren’t always deserving of the things we think we are. 

My kids often think they are entitled to good gifts, blessings, and other things simply because they are my children. Yet, if I’m honest, they aren’t always deserving of such things. This self-deception isn’t just found in my kids, but also in adults. We come to God, and we have deceived ourselves into thinking we are deserving of His blessings. Yet the truth is we are not. We claim we want God to be fair to us. We want the blessings that we see others have, and when we don’t get them, we often claim, “That’s not fair!” D.A. Carson talks about how we do not want justice from God when he says, “Do you want nothing but totally effective, instantaneous justice? Then go to hell.” (Secret Church, 2013). 

Job was a righteous man who loved God. He knew his condition, and he saw God rightly, and he saw himself rightly. Job had received plenty of blessings from God, but when those blessings were taken away, Job didn’t curse God. 

Job 1:20-21, “20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” 

Job realized that he didn’t come into the world with anything, and he will leave the world just the same. Any blessings God had given him were a gift of grace alone. When we recognize our deep sin and God’s holiness, we quickly see that any good thing in our life is a complete and total gift from God. Life is not fair. Fairness would be judgment for us, but God has chosen grace for us time and time again. Praise God that He gives grace and mercy in Christ rather than instantaneous judgment for our sins. 

Today, would you see God rightly? As a holy, perfect, and full of grace and mercy. Would you see yourself rightly as a sinner deserving just punishment from God? As these two things come into focus, praise God for HIs generous grace in your life.