Day 139

By
Bildad's Perception

Scripture

May 18—Job 8-10: Job's First Answer from Bildad

Observation

Bildad, the second of Job's three friends to speak, relies more on tradition than experience in his arguments. He goes back to the "wisdom of the past" to prove his contention that God is just, concluding that only those who pursue godlessness such as Job are in line for God's chastening hand. Job responds that he is innocent—a claim that God cannot deny (10:7)—but he is nonetheless unable to explain why God would therefore single him out for suffering.

Application

Inequities in life just don't make much sense. For instance, the speeding car gets away and you get ticketed for a burned-out headlight. The new employee gets the promotion while you get passed over. The unsaved family next door has three new cars while you can barely make the payments on your "lemon"!

But how do the inequities in your life stack up against those Job faced in the first ten chapters? Character assassination by Satan; loss of family, fortune, and health; false accusation from friends who presume his guilt; and worst of all total silence from the only One who can right the record and verify his innocence.

Bildad's answer to Job's despair is that Job must be harboring some horrible secret sin. The solution? "Confess your sins, Job, and God will remove the suffering." But how do you confess a sin that never existed in the first place?

Let James 1:1-12 guide you to a better answer. God is committed to developing patience in your life—and one way he accomplishes that is through the crucible of problems. Remember the Hebrew boys: Faith in the furnace is faith that is being refined, strengthened, and deepened.

Prayer

Dear God, we know that trials are blessings especially when we can bless you for our trials. I pray that you will increase our faith in your ability to accomplish anything. What is impossible for man is possible with you. Glory to your name, in Jesus name! Amen!

Bless God for Trials!






© Odessa Mathis about my Father's business! 2020

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