Daily Bible Devotionals

“Are you so convinced you are right, that you say, ‘I am more just than God’? For you ask what advantage is it to you, ‘How do I gain from not sinning?’” Job 35:1-3 (CJB)

When my wife and I moved from suburban Chicago to Southern California years ago, we were amazed at how many varieties of fruits and vegetables could grow in our backyard.  In Chicago, we only grew icicles. In the 1950s, my old So-Cal neighborhood was a fruit orchard; many of those original fruit trees were still scattered throughout the neighborhood. As a result, everyone in my neighborhood had more than enough oranges, lemons, walnuts, limes, pomegranates, etc., than they knew what to do with! The reason that the neighborhood has fresh fruit today is that someone planted seeds a long time ago.  

In today’s passage, Elihu rebukes Job for asking, “How do I gain from not sinning?” Job asks an honest question, especially if one cannot pinpoint the reason for their suffering. We have the benefit of flipping to the end of Job’s story.  From our perspective, we say, “Hold on, Job! It won’t be long until God restores even more than He allowed to be taken away.” But poor Job couldn’t see how his conditions would turn out. He was literally living on faith and trying to hold on to God’s Word, even when it didn’t feel right.

We would like to believe our faithfulness would be rewarded immediately by the way some sustained level of personal comfort or success. But sometimes, that faithfulness is never realized, at least in our lifetimes. Sometimes, we have to enlist the faith of a “patriarch.” That is, our faithfulness should set into motion habits and patterns of faithfulness that our children or grandchildren will implement. And they will see a level of blessing we only hoped to achieve. This is the story of Israel, leading up to Joshua’s leading Israel into the land of Canaan.

So, what does this all have to do with the fruit trees in my neighborhood and Elihu’s rebuke of Job’s question, “How do I gain from not sinning?” When we faithfully follow the Lord, He guides us by His Spirit. Our faithfulness is like good soil and His Spirit planting the good seed of God’s Word in us. If we continue in faith, God’s Word will develop roots, produce shoots and leaves, and, eventually, bear fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (HCSB)

The benefit of holding on to God’s Word, even when it isn’t comfortable, is that God truly does reward faithfulness, just not always in the ways or time frame we expect. But the more we wait faithfully, the more we experience God’s faithfulness, which builds our endurance and deepens our trust in His Word. That deepened trust manifests itself in love, peace, patience, kindness, etc. It takes soil, seed, water, manure, and time. In time, Job’s faith was realized. That is what Job gained from not sinning in the midst of his suffering. Faith isn’t fact until it’s tested, so hold on and let faith work!

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Job 34. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“So, Job, please, hear my speech; listen to all my words. Look, I am opening my mouth; the words are on the tip of my tongue. I will say exactly what is on my mind; what my lips know they will speak sincerely. It is the Spirit of God that made me, the breath of Shaddai that gives me life. So refute me, if you can; organize your words, take your stand! Look, before God, I’m the same as you; I too am fashioned from clay. You don’t need to be afraid of me; my pressure on you will not be heavy.” Job33:1-7 (CJB)

Over the past few years, I have noticed a bumper sticker on more and more cars. It is a sticker that reads “coexist,” and the letters are made up of religious symbols: Muslim crescent & star, Satanic pentagram, “e” from the theory of relativity, yin-yang, Karma wheel dotting an “I,” and of course, the Cross. The problem with this bumper sticker is that these religions can’t coexist! If you study the teachings of these religions, devout followers of each would always be trying to kill or convert the others. Given these religions’ various conflicting claims to truth, it is a naive notion that they could ever live in harmony.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12 (NKJV)

We should indeed be respectful to all mankind, remembering that all life is a gift from God. At the same time, we must be certain that the object of our worship is the one that leads to eternal life.

“Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 (NIV)

The young Elihu claimed to speak from the Spirit, which was breathed into him by God and gave him life. But just because he was alive, that was no grounds for Elihu to be an emissary of God’s saving grace. Satan is obviously speaking lies through this young man.   Notice how Elihu’s promise of lightening Job’s spiritual burden mimics the words of Jesus. The best heresies are those which closely resemble the real thing. They claim the same God to divine new revelations from the same Spirit, and they bend God’s Word to mean the opposite of its intended message. “From such, turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5b (NKJV)  

“All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:27-30 (NKJV)

While we are all called to share the gospel, ultimately, it is Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Who reveals the Father to the unbeliever at the soul level.

“Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said: ‘I am young in years, and you are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not declare my opinion to you. I said, “Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.” But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me, I also will declare my opinion.’” Job 32:4-10 (NKJV)

In today’s chapter, we are introduced to Elihu. Elihu has been silently present for all the conversations leading up to this point. Perhaps because he was young, he felt the voices of age-old wisdom should speak. Not only did the old guys fail to put Job in his place, but Job ended up silencing them by proclaiming the truth of God’s Word. Job’s older friends’ failure to coerce a confession teaches us two important lessons about departing from God’s Word: 1) You lose your moral ground, and 2) You eventually lose your followers!

“Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.” Proverbs 29:18 (NIV)

Elihu casts off his restraint. Because there was no Godly leadership and clear direction from God’s Word, Elihu lost his faith in the establishment. A youth movement was born.  We see that same scenario developing in the Church at large today, and often for obvious reasons. Many young people are frustrated with the hypocrisy and inefficiency they have experienced in the Church. But some of the assumptions put forth from certain emerging strains are just as off base as Elihu’s rebuke of Job! The way to combat a lack of Godliness in the establishment is not just to be more creative and mysterious but to be adherent to God’s Word.

There is nothing wrong with youthful passion or even rebuking the establishment as long as one is meek. “Meekness” is power under submission, and Godly meekness for young people means submitting all that youthful energy to the authority of Scripture and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Contrast Elihu’s words with Paul’s exhortation to Timothy:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Timothy 4:12-13 (NIV)

The source of Elihu’s boldness was nothing more than old-fashioned, youthful, rebellious gut feelings: “The spirit in a person.” But Paul reveals how a young person can be justified in boldly leading people much older than himself: By being an example in all that he is & does through reading, preaching, and teaching the Bible.

“I wish I had someone who would listen to me! Here is my signature; let Shaddai answer me! I wish I had the indictment my adversary has written! I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me like a crown. I would declare every one of my steps; I would approach Him like a prince.” Job 31:35-37 (CJB)

In today’s chapter, every curse/judgment that Job calls upon himself (in the event he is found unrighteous) is found in the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was called to communicate God’s certain judgment if Israel remained unrepentant. Of course, Israel refused to repent, so many years later, Jeremiah reported how God fulfilled everything that was prophesied through Isaiah.  

Reading the opening lines of today’s passage, I am thankful that we have someone who will listen to us! Jesus is the advocate before God for all believers, defending us as the Adversary accuses us. In the days of the priesthood, the high priest wore two black stones on the shoulders of his garment. These black stones represented the sin of Israel and symbolized the priest’s duty to atone for them, literally “shouldering” the sin and guilt of the people.

“Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel – six of their names on the one stone and the six remaining names on the other, in the order of their birth. An engraver should engrave the names of the sons of Israel on the two stones as he would engrave a seal. Mount the stones in gold settings and put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the vest as stones calling to mind the sons of Israel. Aaron is to carry their names on his shoulders as a reminder.” Exodus 28:9-12 (CJB)

The inefficiency of the priesthood to provide lasting atonement for Israel was replaced by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.  Jesus “shouldered” the sin of the World.  

“Now every priest stands every day doing his service, offering over and over the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this one (Jesus), after He had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, sat down at the right hand of God, from then on to wait until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by a single offering He has brought to the goal for all time those who are being set apart for God and made holy.” Hebrews 10:11-14 (CJB)

Jesus paid the sin debt we owe, the same sin debt the Adversary accuses us of in his indictment against us before the Lord. But his accusation cannot stand because Messiah’s atonement has covered our sins, and God remembers it no more.

“But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,’ then He adds, ‘Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’” Hebrews 10:15-17 (NKJV)

“I call out to You God, but You don’t answer me; I stand up to plead but You just look at me. You have turned cruelly against me; with Your powerful hand You keep persecuting me. You snatch me up on the wind and make me ride it; You toss me about in the tempest. For I know that you will bring me death, the house assigned to everyone living.” Job 30:20-23 (CJB)

One of the hardest things for followers of Jesus to comprehend is the problem of pain and hardship in the lives of believers. It is easy to take the stance of Job’s friends whenever non-believers suffer. Perhaps we could say they earned it. But what about the suffering of the righteous? Is God not paying attention? Does He not have the power to save? Or worse, does He not exist after all? These questions can go through the minds of even the most ardent followers of Jesus when serious trials come upon them.

While it is unimaginable for me to answer the “why” of everyone’s individual troubles, at least it is comforting to know that Jesus can relate to whatever pain you may be going through. Job had it bad - but Jesus had it worse. This is primarily because Satan was ordered to stop short of killing Job. With Jesus, Satan was permitted to go all the way. Job may have felt close to the edge, but Jesus got pushed over it! In those final moments on the cross, Jesus cried out with words that seemed to come from Job’s own mouth.  

“Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Matthew 27:45-46 (NASB)

“Why?” It is not as if Jesus did not know God’s plan of salvation or His role in the salvation of mankind. You see, as Jesus was paying a debt He did not owe, He was also demonstrating the response (to God) of all who would die apart from His atonement. Furthermore, when we analyze the psalm Jesus quoted at that moment, we recognize His cry was also a song of hope, of enduring to the end. It was a hope based on the testimony of God’s Word concerning His faithfulness throughout the generations.

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning. My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You rescued them. To You they cried out and they fled to safety; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.” Psalm 22:1-5 (NASB)

Believer, are you suffering at the moment, wondering, “Why, God?” It is a logical human response. But be encouraged! Even if all hope seems lost and your present situation carries you to the grave, God’s promise of eternity with Him in Heaven endures. It was true for those believers who came before you and will be true for you.

“Job again took up his discourse and said, ‘Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; Just as I was in the days of my youth, When the protection of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was still with me, And my children were around me; When my steps were bathed in cream, And the rock poured out streams of oil for me!’”  Job 29:1-6 (NASB)

When I was a new believer, young in the faith, I was blessed to be invited to join a group of fiery young men bent on building the Kingdom through Bible study, fellowship, and personal evangelism. I’ll never forget the closeness of that community and how it seemed to come together organically without much effort on anyone’s part. Later in my life, I was involved in several ministry efforts that seemed forced and unnatural, but those early discipleship days for me were truly amazing. Each of us went on to pursue full-time ministry, and we have all been highly successful. That group of guys was a gift from the Lord to each of us, but as naturally as it came together, it fell apart. Each one of us heeded the Lord’s calling to other places, much like friends in Army boot camp must eventually be deployed to their areas of specialty for the good of the Army’s greater mission.  

I miss those early Christian days when heeding God’s call was more rooted in “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13) than “You will be hated by everyone because of Me.” (Matthew 10:22; John 15:15-18; Mark 13:13) In today’s chapter, Job is lamenting bygone days when “God watched over me…”.  But Job had a lesson to learn: God was as close as He had ever been or ever could be.  It is just that Job’s personal theology placed Job in the center of the world, not God.  God does not exist to accomplish our purposes; we exist to accomplish His through the power of His Spirit and to the glory of His Son, Messiah Jesus. How can I say that?  Because God’s Word teaches it.  In that idea, we share Job’s struggle to cling to God’s Word when the road ahead is dark and uncertain.

“Through Your precepts, I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments”.  Psalm 119:104-106 (NKJV)

We serve a God who never leaves or forsakes us, even when the valley darkens with the shadow of death.  (Hebrews 13:5 - Deuteronomy 31:6;8 - Joshua 1:5 – Psalm 23:4)  And our “job” (pun intended) is to take Him at His Word. Job may not have possessed a copy of the Bible as we know it, but God made His Word abundantly clear to Job, as He has to us, through His Spirit when we read the Bible. Not only did God have a lesson for Job, but He also used Job (as He sometimes uses us) to teach lessons to onlookers. Does your faith have the capacity to be used as a lesson on faithfulness?

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”  John 14:26 (HCSB)

“And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, And to depart from evil is understanding.’” Job 28:28 (NKJV)

I became a follower of Jesus when I was almost 21 years old. I was raised by parents who took me to church, but for some reason, religion didn’t seem to have worked on me. Some kids have drug problems. I was drug to church, and that was a problem for me!  When I reached 18, I left home and went to college on a track scholarship. For me, happiness was Fort Smith, Arkansas, in my rearview mirror.

When I got to college, I had three priorities: 1) Running track, 2) Looking for girls, and 3) Figuring out the meaning of life. Part of fulfilling  #3 was taking a World Religion course. At the time, I wasn’t real high on Jesus, so I was willing to swap religions if I found one that suited my needs better. Interestingly, a survey put out by UCLA a few years ago found that only 13% of college students search religion to find out what God requires of them. The vast majority only want to know what God can do for them as if He is some cosmic genie obligated to fulfill our wishes.

I will never forget my first day in World Religion class. The lady teaching the course stated that she was a devout Christian (an Episcopalian) but wasn’t convinced that Christianity was the only way to Heaven. Even as a non-believer, I thought that was an oxymoron: “Devout believer” who isn’t sold out! Nobody could question her knowledge of the Bible. She had memorized many long passages and knew certain nuts and bolts, but all her knowledge had not gained her wisdom. That is, she had not fully committed herself to the truth of God’s Word. She had read all about God but did not know Him personally. Because she did not know Him personally, she opened herself up to all sorts of non-Biblical ideas and life choices.

Biblical wisdom is a gift from God, and so is understanding. Wisdom & understanding must be spiritually enabled, so it is of utmost importance that people who seek God’s wisdom & understanding be filled with His Spirit. Now, the gift of the Holy Spirit is only available to those who believe in Jesus, yet it is immediately given to believers the moment we place our faith & trust in Him. Furthermore, wisdom & understanding are things the Bible recommends we seek & petition God for.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.’ James 1:5-6 (HCSB)

Godly wisdom brings about understanding as to Who He is and how the World works in relation to Him. Understanding is applied wisdom. Understanding says, “Based on what I know about God, I am making these specific changes to my life.” In short: fearing the Lord and shunning evil.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Job 27. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“But Job answered and said: ‘How have you helped him who is without power? How have you saved the arm that has no strength? How have you counseled one who has no wisdom? And how have you declared sound advice to many? To whom have you uttered words? And whose spirit came from you? The dead tremble, those under the waters and those inhabiting them. Sheol is naked before Him, And Destruction has no covering.’” Job 26:1-6 (NKJV)

After Bildad’s scathing “How can humans be righteous with God?” rebuke, Job snaps back with the response, “With friends like you, who needs enemies?”  

Speaking of “enemies,” Job pinpoints the source of Bildad’s argument as Satan. This information is not new to us. It was Elifaz who first revealed the enemy’s counsel.

“For a word was stealthily brought to me, my ear caught only a whisper of it. In passing thoughts flashing through visions at night, when sleep lies heavy on people, a shiver of horror came over me; it made all my bones tremble. A spirit passed in front of my face; the hair on my flesh stood on end. It stood still, but I couldn’t make out its appearance; yet the form stayed there before my eyes. Then I heard a subdued voice, ‘Can a human be seen by God as righteous? Can a mortal be pure before his maker? God doesn’t trust His own servants, He finds fault even with His angels; much more those living in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust.’” Job 4:12-19 (CJB)

Now that Job has established that he is aware of who is actually speaking to him, he goes on the offensive - not just against Bildad but also against the demon counseling him. Job recalls how God judged demonic influence in the days of Noah through the flood. How, then, could such counsel override God’s Word? Demons had already been proven subject to God’s power. Job’s insight should remind us of the true source of the Worldly, non-Biblical counsel we are often subjected to. Not only is it demonic, but more importantly, its demonic source has already been judged and sentenced to an ultimate Hellish end!

The concept that Job brings up, that “the ghosts of the dead tremble beneath the water with its living creatures,” was the source of a superstition prevalent in Jesus’ day. Many people held that demons lived at the bottom of large bodies of water. The idea behind the superstition was that since spirits are eternal, they must still live at the bottom of the seas, held over from when Noah’s flood subsided. This is most likely the source of the disciples’ exclamation upon seeing Jesus walking in the water in the midst of the storm.

“Around three in the morning, He came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost!’ they said, and cried out in fear. Immediately Jesus spoke to them. ‘Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’” Matthew 14:25-27 (HCSB)

“Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: ‘Dominion and fear belong to Him; He makes peace in His high places. Is there any number to His armies? Upon whom does His light not rise? How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman? If even the moon does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight, how much less man, who is a maggot, and a son of man, who is a worm?’” Job 25:1-6 (NKJV)

Whenever one steps away from God’s Word and attempts to establish righteousness apart from it, they eventually have to deal with two opposing factors: 1) God’s complete holiness and 2) man’s incurable spiritual inadequacy.

If we say mankind can earn his salvation through some system of good works, we exaggerate man’s righteousness and humiliate God’s holiness. If we say, God is holy and impossible for man to please, then mankind is hopeless. So, here is humanity’s dilemma: How can imperfect people commune with holy God? Every major religion errs in one of these two perspectives.  

So, what distinguishes the follower of Jesus in such a way that we can confidently say, “We are saved!”? The distinguishing factor is God’s grace and mercy. Grace, in that He offers humanity a salvation we could not afford and do not deserve.  

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 (CSB)

Mercy, in that God offers to not give us the punishment we deserve for our sins.

“…But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Romans 5:8 (HCSB)

In today’s passage, which is actually the entire 25th chapter, Bildad’s theology contradicts his earlier arguments, along with those of his friends. Up to this point, the arguments have been simple: If a man is righteous, God will bless him; if he is unrighteous, God will judge him. Today, Bildad says it is impossible for anyone “born of a woman” to be considered righteous before God! That’s what we call a flip-flop, which is always the ultimate intellectual end of religion, apart from God’s Word. Only in the Bible do we find a God who imputes righteousness on the basis of faith, as opposed to works. Only in the Bible do we find a Messiah who is fully God and fully man, who becomes our sin offering and offers salvation, free of charge, to all who would accept it.

Satan’s argument (spoken through Job’s friend Bildad) cuts to the righteousness and deity of Jesus. Notice his language, “How can those born of a woman be clean?” The fact is that Jesus was born of a woman; the Word made flesh. And He walked among us in human form. (John 1:14) God bridged the gap between Himself and mankind through the God-man, Jesus, distinguishing as “saved” those who follow His Son.

“Yet God keeps pulling the mighty along – they get up even when not trusting their own lives. However, even if God lets them rest in safety, His eyes are on their ways. They are exalted for a little while; and then they are gone, brought low, gathered in like all others, shriveled up like ears of grain. And even if it isn’t so now, still no one can prove me a liar and show that my words are worthless.” Job 24:22-25 (CJB)

Job has been suffering the insults & accusations of his friends, who hold to a “theology” that claims God only punishes those who do evil, and He only rewards those who do good. Amid such a caustic environment, Job (in today’s chapter) gives evidence to the contrary of his friends’ beliefs.

“Men are groaning in the city, the mortally wounded are crying for help, yet God finds nothing amiss!” Job 24:12 (CJB)

Job points to the apparent injustices in their midst, where men who do wicked prosper, and the righteous suffer. But Job goes further to suggest a reckoning is coming.

“Yet God keeps pulling the mighty along – they get up even when not trusting their own lives. However, even if God lets them rest in safety, His eyes are on their ways. They are exalted for a little while; and then they are gone, brought low, gathered in like all others, shriveled up like ears of grain.” Job 24:22-24 (CJB)

Yes, we will all die someday. Both the righteous and unrighteous must face death. To be honest, I am not afraid to die. That’s not to say I want to suffer! It’s just that believers should not fear death. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Job says that what is to be feared is to be absent from the body but not in the Lord’s presence! True, the wicked may die with millions in the bank, healthy children, and smiles on their lips, but then there is judgment and eternal separation from God.  

People who believe in Heaven do so by faith. But the same is true for those who believe in Hell. Interestingly, those who reject the Bible’s description and requirements concerning salvation also reject its claims of judgment. One can reject the notion of God, Jesus, the need for salvation, Heaven, and Hell - but rejecting those truths does not mean they don’t exist. Job is telling his friends that a reckoning is coming, believe it or not.

“And even if it isn’t so now, still no one can prove me a liar and show that my words are worthless.” Job 24:25 (CJB)

Are you ready for the reckoning?

“If I head east, His isn’t there; If I head west, I won’t detect Him, if I turn north, I don’t spot Him; in the south He is veiled, and I still don’t see Him. Yet He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My feet have stayed in His footsteps; I keep to His way without turning aside. I don’t withdraw from His lips’ command; I treasure His words more than my daily food.” Job 23:8-12 (CJB)

Because I have taught the Bible in coffeehouses, I am always on the lookout for a new cool location. On one occasion, I stumbled onto a vibey coffeehouse, almost hidden in a downtown neighborhood. The shop’s owner told me he considered his business to be a ministry, so I began thinking we had another Bible study location. But when I asked him to define what he meant by the word “ministry,” the owner told me he was a “universalist Christian.” What?  Oxymoron. Basically, he believes all religions lead to Heaven, and no specific religion has a corner on the complete truth.

Now, if “Christian” means “follower of Christ” (lit: follower of Messiah), how could this fellow deny the words of Jesus?

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life: No one comes to the Father except  through Me.” John 14:6 (ESV)

According to Job, God cannot be found in the “discipline-without-personal-relationship” philosophies that define Eastern religion. God also cannot be found in the “Liberty-without-accountability” philosophies that define Western religion. Go to the North or South, and you won’t find Him there, either. God can only be fully found in His Word, as Job admits at the end of today’s passage.

Can we honestly say, as Job professed, that our feet have stayed in the path of Jesus’ footsteps? He is, after all, the Word made flesh.  

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” John 1:14a (ESV)

Can we say that we have kept His way and not strayed to the right or left (east or west) of it?

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law My servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7 (NIV)

If you are undergoing a personal “trial,” remember to stay faithful to God’s Word, the Bible, and be faithful to the “Word-made-flesh,” Jesus. When your season of testing is over, you shall come forth as gold. I love God’s promises!

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: ‘Can a man be profitable to God?  Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.  Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless? Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you? Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities. For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing. You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it. You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed. Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you, or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.’” Job 22:1-11 (ESV)

Are you bored with the monotony of these arguments from Job’s so-called “friends”? You should be; that is precisely why the Lord keeps confronting us with their arguments. We must endure the repetitiveness of their arguments because they are the same arguments Satan uses against us today! When we hear worldly counsel from well-intended yet Biblically context-ignorant church friends, we are intended to respond, “Oh, I’ve heard that argument before, and it is not of the Lord!”

Eliphaz is still convinced that Job is being judged by God, as opposed to being tested by Him, by allowing Satan’s divinely limited attack. Eliphaz argues that Job’s good works have not allowed him to escape God’s judgment of secret sin. That is, Job’s righteousness is of no profit to God. And that counsel is Biblically accurate in that we can never accrue enough good works to say that God OWES us anything. In fact, Jesus compared believers to servants who owe everything to their master who redeemed them and shouldn’t assume He owes them anything for their service.

“So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” Luke 17:10 (NKJV)

But when taken out of Biblical context (Eliphaz did not include in his operational theology that God would test His servants to such an extreme as Job endured), otherwise Biblically correct counsel can turn people to despair as opposed to repentance and restoration. In Job’s case (where he committed no sin, which led him to such horrible circumstances), Eliphaz’s words extend no hope that Job could hang his faith.

No, our good works do not profit God. He does not need us, yet He chooses to call, equip, and use us to build His kingdom. The calling, equipping, and kingdom are all supplied by Him, but the choice to participate is ours. And therein lies the love of God: while our righteousness is of no profit to Him, our faith brings Him pleasure.  And the faithful should strive to hear Him proclaim, “Well done!”  (Mathew 25:21-23)

“Why do the wicked go on living, grow old and keep increasing their power? They see their children settled with them, their posterity assured. Their houses are safe, with nothing to fear; God’s rod is not on them.  Their bulls are fertile without fail, their cows get pregnant and don’t miscarry. They produce flocks of babies and their children dance around. They sing with tambourines and lyres and rejoice to the sound of the pipe. They spend their days in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. Yet to God they say, ‘Leave us alone! We don’t want to know Your ways. What is Shaddai, that we should serve Him? What do we gain if we pray to Him?’” Job 21:7-15 (CJB)

I once heard Dr. Adrian Rogers say, “For the non-believer, this World is as close to Heaven as they are ever going to get, so they had better get all they can while they are here! But for followers of Jesus, this World is as close to Hell as they have to get.” Don’t worry about getting cheated here. Eternity in the Lord’s presence awaits you!

In a passage that could have been lifted from the book of Ecclesiastes, Job laments that, sometimes, the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. It all seems futile, and it would be, were it not for the promise of Heaven. If we could keep an eternal perspective, we would realize this World is but a passing vapor.

“For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Romans 8:18 (ESV)

“For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond comparison…” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NASB)

“Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.” 1 Peter 4:13 (HCSB)

Nobody wants to suffer, but the believer knows their suffering is also an opportunity to give reason for the hope in them. The hard-hearted non-believer does not want to hear that sort of gospel! They want to “get all they can and can all they get.” To God, whose tremendous and holy plan would include suffering, they say, “Leave us alone!” This World is their “heaven,” and it is as close to the real one as they will get. They only want to know God for what He will do for them, not so they can know what He requires of them.

In today’s passage, the name “Shaddai” comes up in the original Hebrew. Often misinterpreted as “God Almighty,” Shaddai actually means “All-Sufficient One.”  “Shad” in Hebrew means “breast.” As a mother’s milk provides an infant with all the nutrition it needs, God provides His children all they need in this life and the next. Those who reject God feel they cannot live on His provision alone, so they must provide for themselves what the Lord is either unwilling or unable to do for us Himself.

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Job 20. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“He has made my brothers keep their distance, those who know me are wholly estranged from me, my kinsfolk have failed me, and my close friends have forgotten me. Those living in my house consider me a stranger; my slave girls too – in their view, I am a foreigner. I call my servant, and he doesn’t answer, even if I beg him for a favor!” Job 19:13-16 (CJB)

As we move into the second half of the book of Job, the Messianic imagery gets more identifiable to the narrative of Jesus’ suffering. It is as if Job had heard the story of Jesus. Try reading today’s chapter alongside Isaiah 53.

Moving on to today’s passage, it is as if we are transported to Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin at Ciaphas’ home. Earlier, Jesus predicted that his close followers would abandon Him when he began to suffer persecution leading up to His crucifixion.  

“‘You will all fall away,’ Jesus told them, ‘for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’” Mark 14:27 (NIV) (Their abandonment was also prophesied in Zechariah 13:7)

Specifically, Jesus told Peter (who was declaring he would follow Jesus, even unto death) that he would deny Him outright.

“Peter declared, ‘Even if all fall away, I will not.’ ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.’” Mark 14:29-30 (NIV)

There is an interesting twist in today’s passage. Nestled in the midst of Job’s lament that his friends have abandoned him, Job mentions that his slave girls consider him a foreigner. Consider the dialogue between Ciaphas’ servant girl and Peter, as he was warming himself by the fire in the high priest’s courtyard, afraid to identify with Jesus:

“As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, ‘You also were with Jesus of Nazareth.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘I neither know nor understand what you are saying.’ And he went out on the porch, and a rooster crowed. And the servant girl saw him again, and began to say to those who stood by, ‘This is one of them.’ But he denied it again. And a little later those who stood by said to Peter again, ‘Surely you are one of them; for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it.’” Mark 14:66-70 (NKJV)

Hebrews 4:14-16 describes how Jesus is our superior “High Priest.” That being the case, shouldn’t the high priest’s home have been Jesus’ home? And shouldn’t the servant girl of the high priest have been Jesus’ servant girl, strictly in principle? Yet, she considered Jesus a “Nazarene” when, in fact, He was actually a Judean by birth. In Israel’s history, the Galilee region was part of the northern kingdom of Samaria, known for idolatry. So, the servant girl’s mention of Peter’s accent was also a strong racial slur.

“Bildad the Shuchi said, ‘When will you put an end to words? Think about it – then we’ll talk! Why are we thought of as cattle, stupid in your view? You can tear yourself to pieces in your anger but the earth won’t be abandoned just for your sake; not even a rock will be moved from its place.’” Job 18:1-4 (CJB)

In today’s chapter, we hear from Job’s friend, Bildad, again. Bildad’s name means “son of contention,” and that is exactly what he is. Bildad is the most aggressive in his accusations against Job.

It is important to note that Job’s friends all hold to the “prosperity” gospel, which is itself not the gospel. In a nutshell, the prosperity gospel holds that God brings prosperity to people who follow Him rightly and adversity to those who follow Him wrongly. It is a divine “quid pro quo” tit-for-tat scenario. Therefore, in the eyes of the “prosperity” belief, if you are successful, you must be right with the Lord. Conversely, if you are undergoing a season of trial, it must have been brought on by your sin. Obviously, the people who put forth this “gospel” aren’t seriously considering the book of Ecclesiastes.

While each of his friends holds to the same theology, they each approach Job from different angles. Eliphaz is more spiritual and mystic; Tzofar claims Job’s problem is his lack of wisdom or judgment. Bildad’s approach is humanistic, with his action-oriented “save yourself” speeches. What is scary about their counsel is that, when you put their arguments together, Job’s friends distort God’s Word to send a clear message: “Job, you can be your own Judge, define your own truth, and save yourself.”  

By the way, “Judge,” “Revelation of Truth,” and “Salvation” are the ministries of the Father, Spirit, and Son. Job’s friends are “clinging to a ‘form’ of godliness, but denying the power, thereof.” (2 Timothy 3:5). Essentially, they are counseling Job away from relying on all three persons of God. Interestingly, 2 Timothy 3:5 exhorts believers, “from such people, turn away.”

Toward the end of today’s passage, Bildad evokes images of Jesus’ prophecy concerning the future of the Temple in Jerusalem.

“Some of His disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, ‘As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.’” Luke 21:5-6 (NIV)

Also interesting is how Jesus’ accusers used this same prophecy against Him during His trial: “Finally two came forward and declared, ‘This fellow said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.” Matthew 26:60b-61 (NIV)

Shortly after this accusation, Jesus testified (again) that He was the Son of God. (See also: John 10:30-33)

“He has made me a byword among the peoples, a creature in whose face they spit. I am nearly blind with grief, my limbs reduced to a shadow. The upright are perplexed at this, the innocent aroused against the hypocrites. Yet the righteous hold-on to their way, and those with clean hands grow stronger and stronger.  But as for you all, turn around!  Come back! – yet I won’t find a wise man among you.”  Job 17:6-10 (CJB)

Job 17 is a continuation of Job’s answer, beginning in the 16th chapter. True to the form, Job 17 is full of Messianic imagery, which those familiar with the New Testament will recognize. We see substitutionary atonement: “Be my guarantor yourself! Who else will put up a pledge for me?” (v. 3)

In today’s passage, we see a parallel between Jesus’ persecution and Job’s. Job describes how his suffering condition led him to become a byword among the people, to the point of being spat upon:  

“Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists. Others slapped Him and said, ‘Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?’” Matthew 26:67-68 (HCSB)

Not everyone who observed Job’s condition threw insults at him. Job said that the righteous were “perplexed” and that his state aroused the innocent against the hypocrites.  Surely, Job was the talk of the town as everyone commented about Job and tried to reckon his suffering with their personal theologies. The whole scene is reminiscent of how James exhorted followers of Jesus to consider the trials they were facing as the result of obedience to God.

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, being double-minded and unstable in all his ways.” James 1:2-8 (CSB)

Through it all, Job held firm to his faith. He pleaded with his friends to turn from their sin. Perhaps the best indicator that we truly believe the gospel is our willingness to suffer to share it and to share it in the midst of our suffering. Job also knew that a reckoning was coming. Just because the Lord has not judged your sin yet doesn’t mean that He won’t.  Still, He gives us the opportunity to repent beforehand.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

“My enemies look daggers at me. Wide-mouthed they gape at me; with scorn, they slap my cheeks; they gather themselves together against me. God delivers me to the perverse, throws me into the hands of the wicked. I was at peace, and he shook me apart. Yes, he grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target – His archers surrounded me. He slashed my innards and shows no mercy, he pours my gall in the ground. He breaks in on me again and again, attacking me like a warrior.” Job 16:9b-14 (CJB)

I have read the book of Job several times, and this is the first time that I noticed how “messianic” many of Job’s statements are. Chapters 16 and 17 are especially messianic and relay specific instances that Jesus suffered. Job can be considered (along with Biblical figures like David, Joseph, and Daniel) as a “type” of Messiah.

Some of the images of Jesus’ suffering are found in Job 16: Prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene (v.v. 15-17), Jesus as our High Priest (v.v 18-22)

In today’s passage, the first image is of the suffering of Jesus before the Sanhedrin at Ciaphas’ home:

“My enemies look daggers at me. Wide-mouthed they gape at me; with scorn, they slap my cheeks; they gather themselves together against me. God delivers me to the perverse, throws me into the hands of the wicked.” Job 16:9b-11 (CJB)

“Meanwhile, the men who were holding Jesus made fun of Him. They beat him, blindfolded Him and kept asking him, ‘Now, prophesy!  Who hit You that time?’ And they said many other insulting things to Him.” Luke 22:63-65 (CJB)

The second half of today’s passage paints a graphic image of Jesus’ suffering on the Roman cross:

“I was at peace, and he shook me apart. Yes, he grabbed me by the neck and dashed me to pieces. He set me up as his target – His archers surrounded me. He slashed my innards and shows no mercy, he pours my gall in the ground. He breaks in on me again and again, attacking me like a warrior.” Job 16:12-14 (CJB)

“The soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been put on the cross beside Jesus, then the legs of the other one; but when they got to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they didn’t break His legs. However, one of the soldiers stabbed His side with a spear, and at once blood and water flowed out.” John 19:32-34 (CJB)

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: ‘Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge, and fill himself with the east wind? Should he reason with unprofitable talk, or by speeches with which he can do no good? Yes, you cast off fear, and restrain prayer before God. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, And you choose the tongue of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; yes, your own lips testify against you. Are you the first man who was born or were you made before the hills?  Have you heard the counsel of God? Do you limit wisdom to yourself? What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not in us? Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, much older than your father.’” Job 15:1-10 (NKJV)

Envy is pride, wounded in competition. Whenever someone is envious of you, regardless of whether you sense any degree of competition with them, just know that they are in competition with you and they feel endangered of losing. Envy is a negative defense mechanism that many people use when they feel threatened by competition. Envy’s goal is always to crush its competitor to the degree that they never rise up in competition again. Envy’s tactics include gossip, misinformation, and false counsel. Envy is what we observe from Eliphaz the Temanite’s conversation with Job, and the competition stemmed from Job’s former status of being “the greatest of all the people of the East.” (Job 1:3b)

When you read the first chapter of Job, did you not sense a bit of competition with Job yourself? When I read that Job was blameless & upright, that he feared God and shunned evil, had a big happy family, the respect of his peers, and great wealth, I compared my life to Job’s. I assumed the difference in our lifestyles must be related to my lack of righteousness to some degree. Just being honest. So, when God allows Satan to come at Job so hard, it rocks our life expectations because we must all admit that (to some degree) we hold to a theological paradigm of “quid pro quo” blessing for righteousness. Job forces us to stop comparing our lives & lifestyles with those of others.  Comparing lifestyles (based on blessing-for-righteousness) is actually a form of competition that is an open door for envy. We should not compare ourselves to others but rather to God’s standard, as He has articulated in His Word, the Bible. Then, our appreciation for Messiah Jesus’ atonement is elevated because we realize we can never earn enough to merit His favor. Our purpose in life is to seek Him and share Him with others, regardless of lifestyle reward.

In his envy, Eliphaz wrongly rebukes Job by attacking his 1) Personal experience, 2) Ability to receive God’s counsel, and 3) Going against the tradition of the elders. When the theology is off, the diagnosis is off; thus, the suggested road to recovery and expectations of healing never pay off. We seek God’s Word so we can weigh counsel. Bad counsel comes from bad theology, which leads to competition & envy.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1(NKJV)

“I wish You would hide me in Sh’ol, conceal me until Your anger has passed, then fix a time and remember me! If a man dies, will he live again?  I will wait all the days of my life for my change will come. You will call, and I will answer You; You will long to see what You have made again. Whereas now You count each step of mine, then You will not keep watch over my sin. You will seal up my crime in a bag and cover my iniquity.” Job 14:13-17 (CJB)

In today’s passage, Job introduces the idea of resurrection. More than simply bringing up the subject, Job professes to believe in the certainty of resurrection: “If a man dies, will he live again? I will wait all the days of my life, for my day will come”, “You will call, and I will answer,” and “Whereas now You count each step of mine, then You will not keep watch over my sin.”

It has been put forth by some so-called “experts” that the idea of “the resurrection” is not consistent with Judaism. Well, we see here that the belief in the resurrection predated even the call of Abraham! Furthermore, several generations before Moses, people held to the ideas of sacrifice and atonement for the removal of personal sin and guilt. I love how Job describes God sealing up Job’s crime in a bag and covering his iniquity!

Of course, the resurrection of the dead is an actual occurrence and a promise that followers of Jesus hope for. It allows us to endure suffering to follow the Lord.

“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 (NIV) (See also: Romans 6:4-11, John 5:21, John 6:39-54…)

It is comforting for believers to know for certain that we will be resurrected to everlasting life in Heaven. But did you know that non-believers will also be resurrected?

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them; and they were judged, each one of them according to their deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 (NASB)

What makes the “good news” of the gospel so good is that the “bad news” is so bad. The reality is that salvation is offered to all who would receive it, free of charge, paid in full by Jesus. Have you accepted His free gift of eternal life? If so, are you sharing the “good news” with others so they, too, can turn to the Lord and be saved?

Grab your Bible & experience the Groundworks Ministries Podcast as Steve Wiggins leads us through the full chapter of Job 13. Click the links below to watch or listen now!

“Job responded: ‘No doubt you are the only people that matter; and when you die, so will wisdom. But I too have a brain, as much as you, in no way am I inferior to you. Besides, who doesn’t know things like these? Anyone who calls on God, and He answers him, becomes a laughing stock to his friends – they make fun of an innocent, blameless man.  Those at ease have contempt for misfortune, for the blow that strikes somebody already staggering. The tents of robbers prosper, the homes of those who anger God are secure, those who carry their gods in their hands.” Job 12:1-6 (CJB)

Today’s chapter begins with Job answering Tzofar’s merciless rebuke with a bit of country sarcasm. Amid such condescending counsel, Job defends his intellect. Any follower of Jesus who has sat in a secular university classroom has felt Job’s pain! Many in the “intellectual” community believe that believing the Bible means checking your brain at the door!  

Having departed from God’s Word, the World has developed a “wisdom” and “knowledge” of its own, based on observations made from presumptions based on their non-Biblical worldview. Then, they look back at Christians and openly mock them for believing ancient “myths” devised before science could prove them wrong. Many young believers, weak in Scriptural knowledge, have fallen prey to the arguments of such “authority figures.” Scripture predicts the natural downward moral progression of those who depart from God’s Word.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!” Psalm 1:1 (NASB)

When a believer departs from following God’s Word, they begin to distance themselves from it by allowing the advice of the wicked to lead them astray. Over time, they find their pursuit has led them to adopt a belief system that is, at best, partly Biblical. They are now standing firm in the way of sinners, and the Bible calls it “wicked.” Then, looking back at the true believers they have distanced themselves from, they mock them as “unenlightened,” “bigoted,” and “self-righteous.” They have exchanged the truth of God for lies.  Believing themselves enlightened, they mock the faith of true believers.  

This is exactly the case with Job’s friends. They had departed from God’s Word and followed the advice of the wicked. (Job 4:12-21) Now, claiming to be enlightened experts on God, they are mocking righteous Job. Have you ever been graced by such “believers”?  I have, and they always seem to show up when I need wise counsel! They are like mirages in the desert: They promise refreshment but leave us ever unsatisfied.

Job’s friends’ heresy was centered on prosperity. Think of it as Christian Karma: Good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to the bad. The pride of such “theology” refuses to recognize that God’s ways are not always so predictable. Prosperity is not always the merit of the believer or under the control of the faithful. God has His purposes, and man has his obligation to faithfully follow God through His Word.