Anderson Hills

With God, every significant event is preceded by a time of intense preparation. Mark tells us that God sent John the Baptizer to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John proclaimed the need for spiritual cleansing in preparation for the Messiah and His kingdom. Jesus, Himself, is prepared for ministry through baptism and temptation, orienting Himself, and the reader, to two great realities—a Father who elects and loves, and an enemy who hates and destroys. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts so God can work through us to serve Him.

With God, every significant event is preceded by a time of intense preparation. Mark tells us that God sent John the Baptizer to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John proclaimed the need for spiritual cleansing in preparation for the Messiah and His kingdom. Jesus, Himself, is prepared for ministry through baptism and temptation, orienting Himself, and the reader, to two great realities—a Father who elects and loves, and an enemy who hates and destroys. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts so God can work through us to serve Him.

The lesson of Job mimics the Passion of Christ, who remained faithful to God even as He was being betrayed, mocked, tortured, and crucified. These seven days are called Holy Week because without the crucifixion, there would have been no Resurrection Sunday. Had Christ not hung on the cross, taken on our sins, and defeated Satan’s power, His rising again would not have been as meaningful. We know how the story ends, but try not to jump ahead in your mind and heart. Each day, put yourself in the moment and take the place of Jesus, of the disciples, of the Roman soldiers and, if you dare, of Judas. Live it as it unfolds.

The lesson of Job mimics the Passion of Christ, who remained faithful to God even as He was being betrayed, mocked, tortured, and crucified. These seven days are called Holy Week because without the crucifixion, there would have been no Resurrection Sunday. Had Christ not hung on the cross, taken on our sins, and defeated Satan’s power, His rising again would not have been as meaningful. We know how the story ends, but try not to jump ahead in your mind and heart. Each day, put yourself in the moment and take the place of Jesus, of the disciples, of the Roman soldiers and, if you dare, of Judas. Live it as it unfolds.

God finally shows up and reminds Job of everything he does not know about Him. Through a series of questions, He reminds Job of the type of God He is— incomprehensible, all-knowing, all-powerful, and the ultimate arbiter of good and righteousness. He is beyond all comprehension, and He deserves our trust and praise. This is the God Job came face to face with and the God we come face to face with, too. Hearing our God who speaks, should humble and remind us that we do not need to know the answer to everything but to trust that He is good and that He is for us! Our God is totally incomprehensible, but he is intimately knowable; we have met Him through Jesus. He died our sinner’s death that we might know God.

God finally shows up and reminds Job of everything he does not know about Him. Through a series of questions, He reminds Job of the type of God He is— incomprehensible, all-knowing, all-powerful, and the ultimate arbiter of good and righteousness. He is beyond all comprehension, and He deserves our trust and praise. This is the God Job came face to face with and the God we come face to face with, too. Hearing our God who speaks, should humble and remind us that we do not need to know the answer to everything but to trust that He is good and that He is for us! Our God is totally incomprehensible, but he is intimately knowable; we have met Him through Jesus. He died our sinner’s death that we might know God.

The search for wisdom has been a constant in mankind’s history. It is in almost every one of our religious texts and many of our stories, and it is a running question throughout Job. Job does not know why he is suffering. His friends do not know why he is suffering. And everyone wants an answer. Job’s encroaching cynicism has led him to dwell on questioning the source of wisdom and he rightly concludes that it is found in God. Job proclaims that fear of the Lord is wisdom. When we “fear” the Lord as Job says, we rightly revere and honor a God who embodies all wisdom. God Himself is wisdom, and knowing Him means we can know wisdom.

The search for wisdom has been a constant in mankind’s history. It is in almost every one of our religious texts and many of our stories, and it is a running question throughout Job. Job does not know why he is suffering. His friends do not know why he is suffering. And everyone wants an answer. Job’s encroaching cynicism has led him to dwell on questioning the source of wisdom and he rightly concludes that it is found in God. Job proclaims that fear of the Lord is wisdom. When we “fear” the Lord as Job says, we rightly revere and honor a God who embodies all wisdom. God Himself is wisdom, and knowing Him means we can know wisdom.

God is Job’s hope for vindication against his friends lambasting his integrity. God is Job’s hope for restoration of community. God is Job’s hope for the redemption of everything that sin, death, the curse, and Satan have broken, stolen, and destroyed in his life. Though God’s redemptive plan for His people includes provision and protection to those who seek Him, it also includes propitiation for those who sin against Him, provoking and deserving His wrath. Out of His great love for us, God poured out His wrath on His perfect Son, who gave Himself for us so that we could have fellowship with God. God’s plan of redemption for His people finds its full meaning and full power in the sacrifice of Christ.

God is Job’s hope for vindication against his friends lambasting his integrity. God is Job’s hope for restoration of community. God is Job’s hope for the redemption of everything that sin, death, the curse, and Satan have broken, stolen, and destroyed in his life. Though God’s redemptive plan for His people includes provision and protection to those who seek Him, it also includes propitiation for those who sin against Him, provoking and deserving His wrath. Out of His great love for us, God poured out His wrath on His perfect Son, who gave Himself for us so that we could have fellowship with God. God’s plan of redemption for His people finds its full meaning and full power in the sacrifice of Christ.