Year 1, Week 4, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 4, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Job 42, Genesis 12-13.

Today’s reading completes the Book of Job and then returns us to the Book of Genesis. The historical account of Job reaches a closure, both in how Job’s sufferings and struggles are resolved, but also in how his fortunes are restored. The historical account of Abram begins on the heels of the nations being forged, but also with an introduction to the LORD’s plans to bless Abram as He also blesses the nations through him. 

One of the things that today’s two readings share in common is the theme of blessing. The Book of Job closes with the LORD’s blessing upon Job: “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). Job’s blessings were restored as the Book opened with a note of God’s blessing on Job: "Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (Job 1:10). We are introduced to Abram in the context of the LORD’s blessings upon him and through him: “Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3).

What struck me from today’s reading was how God is revealed as a God who’s primary intention is to bless. The LORD knows how to curse, and certainly when the LORD does curse it is ever consistent with His goodness and justice. But the LORD’s deepest and most original purposes involve blessing: “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them.” (Genesis 1:27-28a). As the Scripture unfolds, the experience of God’s blessings comes through reliance upon the LORD: "Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:12b). In fact, the ultimate line of demarcation as to whether blessing or cursing is experienced is through faith: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD…Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5,7).

The LORD’s blessings experienced through reliance upon Him is often a faith that is mercurial and yet, by God’s grace something that matures. Abram will illustrate an unsteady and yet steadying faith. In spite of God’s extensive and comprehensive promises of blessings, Abram, although he does reflect some measure of reliance upon the LORD as demonstrated by his departure from Haran en route to Canaan, soon resorts to self-reliance through a self-protective strategy of, "Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.” (Genesis 12:13). The LORD will restate His promises (and commands) as a means of developing Abram’s trust in the LORD. By the time we get to Genesis 22, we will be able to trace the spiritual maturation of Abram’s faith.

The LORD’s blessings experienced through reliance upon Him is at other times a faith that is worked out in the context of mysterious confusion. Sufferings assault us, and our hearts can waver as we don’t understand what is happening. And yet, by God’s grace, our faith perseveres: “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11). Job had been, “afflicted in every way…perplexed…persecuted…struck down” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9); but he still looked to the LORD to make sense out of what had unfolded. Job’s reliance upon the LORD shines through his response to the LORD’s interrogations: "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted…Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know…I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2-6). Job’s faith was a tested and thus a refined faith: “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe