Category: Job

Now My Eye Sees You – Job 42 – 2025 Day 85

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Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Job 42; Psalm 53

“And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.
And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters.”

Job 42:12-13 ESV

In Job 1, we read that Job had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen and 500 female donkeys. Here at the end of his life, Job has twice as many of these animals. Yet in Job 1, we read that Job had seven sons and three daughters and now at the end of his life, he once again is given seven sons and three daughters. Why was the number of his children not doubled?

Let me share with you my thoughts: When Job’s first animals were wiped out and he got new animals, he no longer counted the ones he had earlier in his life … but children, they are different. Our children are made in God’s image and are given eternal souls. Our children are irreplaceable. If your child passes away, they remain your child. I have two children who have gone to heaven before me and I have four children here on earth, therefore I have six children.

Job began his life with ten children and he ended his life with twenty. The Lord had indeed given him a double portion.

The pain of losing all of your animals is great, but the pain of losing all of your children is immeasurably greater. But may I encourage you with this word: the pain is great because your love is great.

Job was a righteous man with a deep love for God, but Job grew to know and love God more intimately and personally as a result of his great pain – and so can we. Earlier we read the words of Job, “Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it.” (Job 13:1 ESV) But now at the end of this book, Job says, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;” (Job 42:5 ESV)

I remember all too well how much the Lord grew and transformed me through the pain of losing a baby. I pray that whatever trial you are going through now or have gone through in the past, that you will keep your eyes wide open to see God as He walks with you through this dark valley.

Heavenly Father, please grow our faith. Help us to see Your hand guiding us and blessing us every step of the way as we walk through this valley. You are always good and always right. You are all-knowing and all-powerful. We need You every hour.

We pray that we will know how deep and high and long and wide is Your love toward us as Your children. We pray that we will see You in our lives and see You in Your living and active Word because we know that You are there. In the Name of Christ Jesus our Lord we pray, Amen.

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You Are So Good to Me – Mac Powell
Watch my testimony for more on how I came to see God more clearly after losing a baby.

The Lord Reigns – Job 40-41 – 2025 Day 84

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Job 40-41, Psalm 52

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?”

Job 40:6-9 ESV

Every spring our area has terrible storms. The wind blows. The rain pours down. The heavens are alive with flashes of lightning and cracks of thunder. Tornadoes are a very real danger. It feels terrifying and utterly out of control.

But, friends, it isn’t. Even the wind and the seas obey Him. He rules over all of creation from the smallest critter to the mightiest beast, from the sunniest sky to the loudest thunder.

If God was a cruel, impetuous, reckless God, like the idols of man-made religions, we would all be in big, big trouble. But God! The one true God Jehovah, the Great I Am, reigns with grace and mercy and justice and wisdom. He is worthy of our trust.

Heavenly Father, You hold the whole world in Your Mighty Hands. Nothing is too hard for You. All of creation obeys You. Who are we to question your goodness and power? Thank You for Your mercy and grace. Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to die in my place and raising Him from the grave! In His Almighty Name we pray, Amen.

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The Lord Almighty Reigns – Keith and Kristen Getty
“When God Ran” – Phillips, Craig, and Dean

“Were You There?” Studying Creation Science – Job 38-39 – 2025 Day 83

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Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Job 38-39; Psalm 51

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

Job 38:1-4 ESV

“Were you there?” is a question that young earth creation scientist Ken Ham encourages people to ask when discussing the theory of evolution. The reality is that no man has witnessed the evolution of molecules to man, because it didn’t happen.

Yet, no man witnessed God creating the earth, sun, moon, and stars. I wasn’t there and neither were you. But there was someone who was there: God. And God has given us an account of the events of creation in the Holy Scriptures.

God’s Word is true and trustworthy. I hope you will put your faith in God and in every word that He has preserved for us. Take some time to study the science behind the creationist worldview. The Christian young earth creationist worldview is scientifically reasonable and defendable. Studying it will strengthen your faith and help you to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you!

For those of you who are parents, please invest the efforts necessary to teach your children about creation science. Young minds are impressionable. They will either be shaped by a godless culture or a god-centered one. If you’re afraid to indoctrinate your children into the Christian faith, just know that the world is busy indoctrinating them for you. I know. I was there.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father, You were there when the foundations of the earth were laid by the power of Your Word. You were there when the sea burst forth for the first time. You were there when the sun, moon, and stars were hung in the vast space of our universe. Before the beginning of time, You were there.

Thank You, Father, for preserving Your Word for all of these years, so that we could know You. Thank You for speaking to Job and for speaking to us. You know all things, and by Your will they have come into being.  Help us to trust You in all things – in the daily stresses of life and in training up our children in the way they should go.

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Suggested Creation Science Resources:

Creatures that Defy Evolution video – This is just the first video of a series.

It Couldn’t Just Happen book – Aimed at ages 10-14, but I found it so profitable for me, too.

Answers in Genesis – A website full of great creation information.

Creation – This link is especially for Answers in Genesis’ Creation specific info.

Jonathan Park Audio Dramas – My kids grew up on these!

Creation Museum – A great place to visit and learn in person! Our family went over ten years ago – I think it’s time to go again!

Noah’s Ark Replica – This is located near the creation museum. It wasn’t built yet when we went to the creation museum. Like I said, we need to go again!

Creation Website in Chinese – For all my Chinese speaking friends!

The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel – For me as an atheist, faith in an invisible God was harder than faith in Jesus as God’s Son. The Case for Faith was instrumental in growing my faith. I also love More than a Carpenter by Josh McDowell, but it isn’t so focused on creation.

Ken Ham – Bill Nye Debate – Sometimes how you speak is almost as important as what you say. The Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but patient and kind. Pay attention not only to what is spoken, but how. The ultimate goal isn’t to win the debate. The ultimate goal is to win the soul and ultimately this is in God’s hands. Trust Him.

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Creation Sings – Stuart Townend

What Can I Give Him? – Job 34-35 – 2025 Day 81

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Read Through the Bible in 2 Years: Job 34-35; Psalm 49

This morning I woke up singing “Good and Gracious King” by City Alight. It begins like this, “I approach the throne of glory, nothing in my hands I bring, but the promise of acceptance, from a good and gracious king.” Such incredible beauty and depth in those few words.

So, reading Job 34 and 35 these words jumped out at me –

“If you have sinned,
what do you accomplish
against him?
And if your transgressions
are multiplied,
what do you do to him?
If you are righteous,
what do you give to him?
Or what does he receive
from your hand?”

Job 35:6-7 ESV

It’s like this quote from Jonathan Edwards, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.”

Heavenly Father, We have sinned so much in thought, word, and deed. We have sinned against You and sinned against the men and women that You have created in Your own image, and yet You remain immoveable and unchanging.

You don’t need us, and yet You love us. You own the cattle on a thousand hills, and yet You bring us into Your family and Your kingdom. What is man that You are mindful of us? How can we ever repay You for all that You have so graciously given to us?

We give You our praise, and we give You all of our lives. It’s all we have to give, and we give it with hearts full of gratitude. In the name of Jesus who is our Savior, Lord, and Hope we pray, Amen.

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Good and Gracious King – City Alight

Compelled to Speak – Job 32 – 2025 Day 79

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 32, Psalm 47

Have you ever overheard someone slander or misrepresent your mom or dad, your brother or sister, your husband or child or friend? Did you speak up to defend them, to correct the false information?

That is kinda the situation that Elihu is in here, except this time the person being misrepresented is God Himself. Elihu has listened carefully and patiently long enough, and now he’s got to speak up.

For I am full of words;
the spirit within me
constrains me.
Behold, my belly is like wine
that has no vent;
like new wineskins ready to burst.
I must speak,
that I may find relief;
I must open my lips and answer.

Job 32:18-20 ESV

We, too, must know when to wait patiently in silence, but we must also know when to speak up! May we not give way to cowardice under the guise of humility. Rather, we must courageously, gently, respectfully speak the words that the Spirit gives us to speak.

As a child of God, we should feel compelled to speak up when our Heavenly Father’s character or His Word are misrepresented. How dare we stand idly by and let our Lord’s Name be sullied or spoiled! Like Peter and John said when they were commanded to stop telling people about the risen Christ, “We cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:20)

Truly, my love for Christ – and His love for me – compels, controls, constrains me to implore others to be reconciled to God. I hope you feel the same way. Let me encourage you to take a few minutes of your time right now to read 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 to learn more about being an ambassador for Christ.

Will you pray with me?

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your loving kindness and mercy towards me, a sinner. I pray that I would be an ambassador for Your kingdom, sharing the good news of reconciliation that Your Son made possible by His blood.

Help me to be gentle, respectful, humble, and patient… And help me to be bold and courageous, not giving way to fear and cowardice. May my love for You compel me to speak up when You are slandered and may my love for others compel me to tell them their desperate need for a Savior. In the Name of Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord I pray, Amen.

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“I will sing of my Redeemer” – Fernando Ortega

Sins of Commission and Sins of Omission – Job 31 – 2025 Day 78

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Job 31, Psalm 46

In this chapter, Job makes his final defense against his friend’s accusations. Again and again, Job says, “If I have…,” e.g., “I haven’t!”

Today I was struck that mankind’s propensity toward sin hasn’t changed all that much since Job was alive several thousand years ago. We still lust after women and wealth. We still lie and deceive. We still cheat the poor and forsake the widow and orphan.

I was also thinking about how often we only think about the sin of things that we do, sins of “commission,” yet Job also talks about the things that we leave undone, sins of “omission.” Have you ever considered the fact that not helping the poor, the outcast, the widow, the fatherless, might actually be a sin?

I wonder how often we, as the body of Christ, have sinned in turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to the poor. How have we abdicated our responsibility to help the needy, expecting the local, state, and national government to do what God has charged the church to do?

Heavenly Father, please give us wisdom, day after day, that we might be Your hands and feet here on earth until we’re taken to heaven. Help us to see those areas where we are falling short, sinning in what we are failing to do. May we not hide behind our church attendance or time spent in Your Word, thinking that gives us some kind of a free pass to not actually do the works that You’ve called us to do. Make us willing ambassadors for Your kingdom, both in what we do and what we don’t do. Keep us free from the love of money. Keep our hearts free from lust and jealousy and envy and deceit. Make us neighbor-lovers and Savior-servers. Make us pipelines of the grace that we have abundantly received from You. In the Almighty Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Instruments of Peace

Secondary Effects of Loss – Job 29-30 – 2025 Day 77

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 29-30, Psalm 45

“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, as I was in my prime, when the friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!”

– Job 29:2-6 ESV

“But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.”

– Job 30:1 ESV

Job once enjoyed the praise of men. He was once the helper of the afflicted. But now he must endure the disdain even of the “rabble,” the common people, of his community. I’m afraid that is a very common secondary effect of loss, the loss of praise (and companionship) from those around you.

The grief-stricken often feel abandoned by whoever has passed, whether their husband or child or parent or sibling, but they also must wrestle through feelings of abandonment by God. To then experience the loss of their place in their community or “friend circle,” is to heap grief upon grief.

In reading through Job, I want to apply what I’m reading to how I treat my friends who are going through loss. I want to be better at reaching out and walking with them. How about you?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank You for all of Your grace. You are impartial. You do not love us better when we are enjoying the praise of man. You do not love us better when our houses are full of children and laughter. You are with us in the dark and trying times. I pray that I would go and do likewise. Help me to draw near to the brokenhearted, to be close to those who are in times of deep distress. Help me to hear these words of Job and apply them to my own life. In the name of Christ I pray, Amen.

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“Nearer my God to Thee” – Acapella

Where Can Wisdom be Found? – Job 28 – 2025 Day 76

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 28; Psalm 44

I remember one time when I was playing hide and seek with my 20-month-old granddaughter. It wasn’t hard to spot her crouching next to the oversized arm chair in the living room with her thin, blond, wavy hair peeking up over the back, and her mauve hiking boots sticking out under the seafoam curtains in her bedroom. But what about wisdom … Where can wisdom be found? Like Job wrote in today’s passage of Job 28.

But where shall wisdom
be found?
And where is the place of understanding?

Job 28:12

As an atheist, I prided myself in my own intellect as well as my open-mindedness. I see now my shortcomings in both. I didn’t really research what Christians had to say. In fact, I’d never even really studied the Bible. How could I be so sure that Christianity was just a myth made up by simple-minded people when I didn’t really even know what they believed? And I was anything but open-minded. I had already made up my mind – I was right and they were wrong.

True wisdom will never be found by searching the hearts and minds of men. True wisdom – knowing what is right and knowing the best way to reach it – is only found in the mind of God. God’s wisdom is totally unlike man’s wisdom. If you want to be wise, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Job 28:28)

1 Corinthians 1:17-2:16 is a gold mine on this topic. I especially love 1 Corinthians 1:20-24.

Where is the one who is wise?

Where is the scribe?

Where is the debater of this age?

Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:20-24

Heavenly Father,

I need Your divine wisdom to fill my heart and mind and to guide me in all my ways. I pray that I will trust in You with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding. I pray for the many people I know who have not yet surrendered their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ, turning away from their sins and trusting in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins. This does, indeed, sound foolish to the natural man, but, Father, Your ways are so much higher and better than ours.

You are God and God alone. Grow our faith and make us courageous messengers for the good news of the gospel! Make us heralds of Your gospel that many will know You and glorify Your name!

In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

“Christ our Wisdom” – Sovereign Grace

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Praise the One who Gives Me Breath – Job 26-27 – 2025 Day 75

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Read through the Bible in 2 years: Job 26-27, Psalm 43

Let’s just ponder this one verse from today’s reading.

With whose help
have you uttered words,
and whose breath has come out from you?

Job 26:4 ESV

On the sixth day of creation, the Lord breathed into the first man, Adam, the breath of life (Genesis 2:7) and He’s been doing it ever since. Why are we so prideful, so self-sufficient, thinking that we are independent creatures who don’t need God? Truly, what do I have that I haven’t been given? Even the very breath in my lungs is a gift from God.

And to think of the gift of language, of thinking and speaking and communicating – with God and with others – oh, what a gift! As an educator for the deaf, I witnessed first-hand how desperately children and parents desire to communicate, whether using gestures or sounds or facial expressions. My 100-lb Aussie-Labradoodle moose-dog is about as smart as animals come, but he can’t communicate nearly so well as my 20-month old granddaughter. God has given mankind a unique gift in the gift of language, so that we can hear from Him and speak to Him like none of the other creatures He has made on earth.

Psalm 150, the final psalm, is a psalm of praise, praising God with trumpets and harps and strings and pipes, praising Him with dancing and loud crashing cymbals, but oh the gift of singing words of praise and making declarations of spoken praise, telling of His mighty deeds! The Lord has put breath in my lungs and with it I will praise Him! As the final verse of the final psalm says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6) Will you join me in declaring aloud His greatness?!

Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth, giver of life and breath, You are worthy of all our praise! You created the sun and moon and stars by Your will and by Your word. You hung the earth on nothing. You created the seas and everything in them. You created the earth and the sky and everything that fills them. What is man that you are mindful of us?

You are worthy of every word of worship, every song of praise, every beat of the drum, every blast of the trumpet, every clang of the cymbal. You are worthy! You are holy and mighty and good. All your ways are right and all Your ways are just.

We worship You in the glory of Your presence. We ask that You would make us vessels of Your glory and grace. We ask that You would make us declarers of Your praise! Use us, Lord! By the sacrifice of Your Son, we have been made temples of Your Holy Spirit. Make us pure and holy vessels for You.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and our Lord, we pray. Amen.

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Great are You Lord

Redeeming Love – Job 25 – 2025 Day 74

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Read through the Bible in 2 Years: Job 25, Psalm 42

I hope your Bible is open as you’re reading this. If it is, you’ll notice that Job 25 is only six verses long, yet it’s so rich that I just let it take me on rabbit trails rather than continuing to read further in Job. In fact, I pretty much studied just one verse.

How then can man be
in the right before God?

How can he who is born
of woman be pure?

Job 25:4 ESV

I opened my trusty Blue Letter Bible app. If you don’t have it, I would highly encourage you to get it. It is free to download and absolutely chock-full of great tools and resources.

First, I looked at cross-references – there was a list of over a dozen. Read through these and let them sink in.

Cross-referenced verses from Job 25:4

Then I used the interlinear feature to study the words “right” and “pure.”

I noticed that “right” – sadaq – can mean to be just, righteous … or to be made just or declared righteous, while “pure” – zaka – can mean to be clean, pure … or to be made clean and pure. And then I noticed that zaka – “pure” – is also used in Psalm 119:9, so I went there!

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes!

Psalm 119:9-12 ESV

Whew! I found so much meat and encouragement by chasing all those rabbit trails from just one verse. Don’t be afraid to do that. You never know where the Lord will lead you.

Let’s pray!

Heavenly Father, thank you for making me pure and making me clean. Such were some of us … such was I, but I have been washed and cleansed in the blood of Jesus.

Lord, I pray that I would keep my ways and my mind pure by keeping them in accordance with Your Word. May I be careful where my feet walk. Help me to think about what I’m thinking about.

Thank You for the purifying, redeeming, cleansing, justifying blood of Jesus Christ, Your only Son and my only Lord and Savior. It is in His name that I pray. Amen.

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Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
Psalm 42 (Loudest Praise) – Shane and Shane