November 2, 2011

Job 1:13-22 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
John 8:31-38, 2 Peter 1:16-21, Ezekiel 3-4

Journal Entry

Scripture

20Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21And 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." 22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. (Job 1:20-22)

Observation

Four messengers come to Job, announcing four disasters. In one day, he loses all his children and wealth in a series of calamities caused by nature and humans. But, Job’s reaction is not to blame natural events or human enemies (“the LORD has taken away”), not to forget God’s blessing (“the LORD gave”), not to close his eyes to reality (“has taken away”), but to praise God for both good and evil.

Application

Praise God for evil? I struggled with that concept, particularly during my college years when my philosophy professors attempted to brainwash me into believing that the existence of evil was proof that God didn’t exist. “If God were all-powerful and all-loving, wouldn’t he eliminate all evil?” they would argue. I would respond, “No, not if God has a good, loving reason to allow evil.” But, my problem was I didn’t know what God’s actual reasons were. And, I still don’t most of the time. I might be able to figure out reasons that God may have for some of the suffering in the world, but God has more reasons that I will never understand. However, I do trust that he, indeed, does have good reasons.

So, how do I praise God for evil? By believing GOD HAS GOOD REASONS I CAN’T UNDERSTAND.

God has given me all that I have, and if he chooses to take it away, so be it. I may not understand God’s actual reasons, but I trust in his goodness no matter what. Thus, I can bless him. As in the lyrics to Matt Redman’s song “Blessed Be Your Name:”

You give and take away,
You give and take away,
My heart will choose to say,
Lord, blessed be Your name.

Prayer

Father, increase my trust in your goodness. Enable me to praise you not only for good, but also for evil, for I know that you have good reasons that go beyond my capacity to understand. Whether you give or take away, may your name be blessed. In Jesus name, amen.

--P. Michael