Job asks powerful questions

The Book of Job Chapters 24 & 25

In Chapter 24, Job is responding to Eliphaz's last speech and says that his complaint is still bitter and he tries hard not to groan aloud. If only, he says, he knew where to find God, he would go to his throne and talk with him there. He would lay out his case and present arguments, then listen to God's reply and understand what he says. Job thinks that God would give him a fair hearing because fair and honest people can reason with God and so God would acquit him.

Job continues to say that he has searched but cannot find God, yet has not departed from his commands, but treasured God's word in his heart. But still God's mind is unchanged and he does whatever he wants. God controls my destiny, Job says, no wonder I am terrified in his presence. God has made my heart faint, darkness is all around me.

In chapter 24, Job asks why the Almighty does not open court to bring judgment? Why must the godly wait for him in vain? Evil people steal land by moving boundary markers, steal sheep and steal from the poor and fatherless. Like wild donkeys in the desert, the poor must spend all their time getting enough to keep body and soul together. Job continues to talk about the plight of the poor and how they suffer, yet God does not respond to their moaning.

Job talks about the wicked, how they kill the poor and break into houses at night and sleep during the day. But they disappear from the earth as quickly as foam is swept down a river. Death consumes sinners. But God drags away the rich and lets them rise high, but have no assurance in life. The rich may live in security, but God is always watching and in a moment they may be gone like all the others.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: In chapter 23, Job questions saying that if there was a sin he could repent, he would do it. He is trying to show his friends that questions about God are not as simple as they seem. In chapter 24, Job sounds like he is arguing on his friend's side, but he was confused and not arguing that in every case God rewards the wicked and punishes the righteous, no he was asserting that in his case, a good man was suffering.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don't even know about because God's standards are so high and we are imperfect. But if we are true believers, then all our sins are forgiven because of Jesus dying on the cross. The Bible teaches that even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20). His forgiveness and cleansing can overrule our nagging doubts.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is out of rehab after many months for a crushed leg and doing well and being cared for by her ex. Pray for Gabe and Wanda. Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.