God’s Ways Are Unpredictable

God’s Ways Are Unpredictable

Date: Apr. 18, 2023

Passage

Job 12:1-25 (ESV)

1 Then Job answered and said:

2   “No doubt you are the people,
    and wisdom will die with you.
3   But I have understanding as well as you;
    I am not inferior to you.
    Who does not know such things as these?
4   I am a laughingstock to my friends;
    I, who called to God and he answered me,
    a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
5   In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
    it is ready for those whose feet slip.
6   The tents of robbers are at peace,
    and those who provoke God are secure,
    who bring their god in their hand.
7   “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
    the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
8   or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
    and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
9   Who among all these does not know
    that the hand of the LORD has done this?
10   In his hand is the life of every living thing
    and the breath of all mankind.
11   Does not the ear test words
    as the palate tastes food?
12   Wisdom is with the aged,
    and understanding in length of days.
13   “With God are wisdom and might;
    he has counsel and understanding.
14   If he tears down, none can rebuild;
    if he shuts a man in, none can open.
15   If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16   With him are strength and sound wisdom;
    the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17   He leads counselors away stripped,
    and judges he makes fools.
18   He looses the bonds of kings
    and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
19   He leads priests away stripped
    and overthrows the mighty.
20   He deprives of speech those who are trusted
    and takes away the discernment of the elders.
21   He pours contempt on princes
    and loosens the belt of the strong.
22   He uncovers the deeps out of darkness
    and brings deep darkness to light.
23   He makes nations great, and he destroys them;
    he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
24   He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
    and makes them wander in a trackless waste.
25   They grope in the dark without light,
    and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 12:10

In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind.

Tell me something I don’t already know! Job’s friends didn’t provide any wisdom or insight that he didn’t already have. Although Job was a righteous and blameless man, he had become a laughingstock to his friends. Job observes that it is easy to look down on the misfortunate. When we see someone struggling in life, we often attribute it to poor decisions, effort, or upbringing. We shouldn’t do that. Job realizes that the arguments of his friends are faulty. Sometimes the righteous do suffer and the wicked actually prosper in this world. Look at the marauders. They are living in peace! Look at those who provoke God. They are secure! Even the animals are wise enough to know that our lives are in God’s hands, and he does with them whatever he pleases.

Job credits God with all wisdom and power. Who can undo anything he does? He brings low the mighty and robs the elders of their wisdom. He humbles the kings and pours contempt on the nobles. He causes nations to rise and fall. He enlarges them and scatters them. His wisdom and ways are unfathomable to us. They are unpredictable and beyond our comprehension. Job knows that God has sovereignly allowed all the calamities in his life to happen. It was not due to sin, however. God had other reasons.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, help us to always trust in your ways.

One Word: One Word: Our lives are in God’s hands?

Peter Reports to the Church

Acts 11:1-18

Key Verse: 11:14

he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’

Today's Question

What is the third commandment?

See answer and references

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT