Today’s Reading, Job 8-10
Focal Scripture: Job 10:3 “Is it good for you to oppress, to reject the work of your hands, and favor the plans of the wicked?”
When you are suffering this is a common question. You look around and don’t understand why it appears that the wicked prosper and you are suffering. Here Job is trying to figure out why all these bad things are happening to him. He is trying to wrap his mind around brokenness.
He is comparing his situation to others around him. Job is probably asking why his wicked neighbor hasn’t lost everything. Wanting to know why his trials are so great. Job is being truthful in his frustration. He is venting to his friends.
The lesson here is that suffering has a purpose for the believer. Job can’t see it yet but God is working in him to demonstrate to others what faithfulness looks like. He is our witness and our example of biblical faith in trials. He suffered to demonstrate how to suffer with integrity.
It is also us that asking questions about the wicked around us are normal. When you struggle you don’t want to feel alone. If we are honest we want wicked people around us to suffer, especially if you are following the Lord. I have faced this in the past and when I was going through a struggle I wanted the wicked people to suffer. It appeared that wickedness and sin were going unpunished. It can be frustrating when the evil people around you get a free pass. However, I have learned that evil and sin can be punished in a variety of ways. What I see as prospering is not what the Lord views as prospering.
So as I look back I am reminded that my suffering is not for them but for me. It is my trial and God will reveal to me at a later time why I have went through these trials. My job is to have integrity. Be faithful and true to his will.
If you have struggles God has you and he has me!
Tomorrow I plan on reading Job 11-13
