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GOD IS IN CONTROL
TUESDAY, APRIL 26
Job 12:1-10

Psalm 46:1-7

 

“God is in the midst of her;

she shall not be moved…”

 

GOD IS IN CONTROL
 
When we are constantly under attack, it is sometimes easy to slip into a non-Christian attitude. Job’s suffering continued and he was very discouraged. He was now out of patience with the attacks of his friends. He replied them in a sarcastic and angry manner. Obviously, said Job facetiously, his three friends represented all the wisdom of the ages. However, in fact, Job remarked, he was also intelligent and could reason things out (Job 12:1-3). Job now looked at his situation as the world saw it. Before his problem, he called on God, and his Creator answered. He lived a just and holy life, careful not to sin, but he had now become a laughing stock. Many, no doubt, ridiculed his religious devotion (Job 12:4).
 
Those who are prosperous condemn and shun those whose fortune has fallen. Failure is looked on like a lamp and is a torch that may ignite others. There was evidently a belief among the ancients that failure was somehow contagious, so such men were to be avoided (Job 12:5).
 
Job proved that Zophar’s teaching was false. One only has to look at God’s creation to see His power and know that, ultimately, He controls all things. Despite this, a person’s righteousness does not guarantee freedom from suffering nor does wickedness necessarily result in pain and hardship. Therefore, God must at least allow these things to happen (Job 12:6-10).
 
Job, looking at the wonders of creation and seeing the power of God, broke forth and called God by His name Jehovah. This is the only time this name of God occurs in the book of Job (Job 12:9). Job may not have understood this tribulation but he knew for sure that God was in control.
 
The ideas of Job’s friends, like much human teaching, show that their philosophy was not based on facts and Job pointed out the fallacies in their ideas. He might have still been confused about his situation but he recognised proper reasoning when he saw it. May we, too, be wise to see the false premises in human philosophy and teaching.
 
THOUGHT: In what way did Job see God’s power?

PRAYER: Father, I believe Thou art the Creator and Ruler of the universe.

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