Job 42:1-3

Then Job replied to the Lord:

"I know that you can do all things;

no plan of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, 'Who is this that obscures

my counsel without knowledge?'

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

     We all know the story of Job, the righteous man, in whom God delights.  When God testifies to Job's righteousness before the Accuser, Satan attempts to prove that not only is Job's godliness self-serving and unreliable, (and therefore sinful) but that God will then alienate Himself from Job.  The intimate relationship between God and His creation will be irretrievably broken.

     For if Satan can get Job to show his true colors and only be righteous when it pays; and curse God when his suffering is undeserved; then the very godliness in which God takes delight is void of all integrity and honor.  If Satan can show that (for Job), the only value to righteousness lies in the blessings he gains, then God's whole plan for creation and redemption will be shown to be flawed, and God will be forced to sweep it all away in awful judgment. 

     Granted, Job's sufferings are monumental, and he does an awful lot of questioning and doubting; which I can certainly identify with.  And if he had listened to those closest to him, he would have cursed God for the unwarranted and unearned tribulations.  

     In light of what we face today, some may question God's justice and why He doesn't step in to make things right.  The suffering among the believers in Syria and Egypt goes unanswered, and Christians in South Africa are coming under severe persecution.  I find myself praying that God will recognize all of us who are on our knees in America, repenting for this nation's grievous sins; and that He will delay His judgment.  I know He sees our hearts and our faithfulness.  Surely He will not let us suffer unjustly.  

     But then I am like Job.  I dare to question God's plans and His thoughts.  Even within the posts of this blog, I have the audacity to try to explain His ways and how we can weather the upcoming storms. Deep down I know that I have limited understanding of all His ways.  My words are not His words; it is His counsel that is worthy, not mine.  

     Therefore, I end up proclaiming, just as Job did, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted."  I humbly acknowledge that God knows what He's doing, and it is my deepest desire to pledge my allegiance and faith to things I do not understand, and things too wonderful for me to know.

     I pray that when it's my turn to be manipulated by the Accuser, that I will endure and have the faith of Job; that I will not allow anyone or any power to tear apart my relationship with my God, who delights in me.  Whatever suffering or adversity lies in store for me, I know it has meaning and value to the God who created me, and will serve His divine purpose.