Category: 2025 Bible Reading Plan

Family Isn’t Everything

Genesis 20-23

I have never seen a beautiful piece of wall art with the words “Family Isn’t Everything”.  I’ve never seen it on a Mother’s Day mug or bookmark, t-shirt, keyring or tombstone.  Rather, we are all very familiar with the motto “Family IS Everything”.  Whether it’s from the Walmart aisles, Etsy and Pinterest sites or President Biden’s farewell address, we’ve seen it, we’ve heard it, we’ve lived it.  It’s a societal norm or expectation.  Those who can’t say Family Is Everything might have really really bad families or really screwed up priorities.  OR – they just might be listening to and obeying God and working hard at keeping God and God alone first place in their life.  I have a feeling we wouldn’t find Abraham wearing the “Family is Everything” t-shirt.  And God blessed him for it. 

No doubt Abraham loved and cherished the family that God gave to him.  Can you imagine waiting 100 years for the child you could keep?  Today’s reading also describes his heartache over losing/sending away his firstborn son Ishmael.  Being a parent is hard.  Being a godly parent is also not easy.  But I am reminded, perhaps as Abraham was, of the purpose God had in giving Abraham a child which was recorded in yesterday’s reading.  In Genesis 18:19 God said, “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”  In teaching Isaac to keep the way of the Lord, Abraham needed to live it out himself – not by doing what the world says is right (“family first”), but listening to and following through with what God says, even when we don’t understand why. 

And Abraham did.  When God said “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” – Abraham did – “and he rose early in the morning” and got moving. (Genesis 22:2,3 ESV).  I admire not only his actions but his speed and timing in listening and obeying.  He got going and followed through.  He also had a three day journey in which he could have changed his mind, turned around and decided family is everything.  But he didn’t.  He continued onward to the exact place that God told him to go.  At the start he knew he was heading toward the region of Moriah and God would tell him which mountain to go to.  I read online that some say the mountain God sent Abraham to was Golgatha, in case you are looking for more foreshadowing and similarities between what God was asking Abraham to do and what He Himself (the loving, righteous and just God) would do for us with His only son whom He loved.  Thankfully God did not let His perfect love for His perfect Son keep Him from offering Jesus up to save the guilty condemned, you and I.  God’s t-shirt would not say “Family is Everything” but maybe more along the lines of, “I gave everything for my adopted family”. 

But, one more point about this mountain that God sent Abraham to…for it was there that God had a great surprise hiding – a ram caught in the thicket by his horns.  And it was there that God provided for Abraham and Isaac in a very big way. If you haven’t read Genesis 22 yet today, please do. I am guessing God didn’t place a ram stuck on every mountain nearby just in case Abraham decided to end up at a different mountain than the one God told him to go to.  Similarly, if we are looking for God to provide – let’s show up on the mountain He tells us to go to. 

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What does it look like when we live by “Family is Everything” and put family before God? What does it look like when we love the family God gave us dearly and set an example for them of being righteous before God and putting God first?
  2. Is there anything you have tried to withhold from God? What does it mean to you that God did not withhold His Son?
  3. Have you ever been upset God didn’t provide as you wanted Him to – and then realized you were in the wrong place to receive what He had all prepared and ready to give? Does it count to do most of what God says if you aren’t prepared to do all of what God says?
  4. What do you think of Abraham? How do you think he earned the title “Friend of God”? Would you like to be known as a friend of God – could you honestly wear the “Friend of God” t-shirt? What specifically can you do today, this week, month and year to grow more and more like a true friend of God?
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He Sees and He Can

Genesis 16-19

Husbands – don’t always listen to your wife – she doesn’t always know.  Younger sisters – don’t always listen to your big sister – she doesn’t always know.  What trouble we can get into when we follow the advice and direction of those who are trying to solve matters on their own without patiently relying on God’s perfect way and timing.  Our reading today of Genesis 16-19 both opens and closes with women deciding how to take matters into their own hands (or into their maidservant’s hands) when they felt there were no other options available to get what they wanted – a child to carry on the family line and receive the family inheritance.  Perhaps Sarai figured God needed her help to fulfill the promise God made that Abram would have a son.  Maybe she thought she was wiser and knew the best way to get to the desired end result on her timetable.  I don’t even want to guess about Lot’s daughters. 

At the same time, I realize I am sometimes quick to judge and point fingers, when I sometimes don’t know the whole story and I am not chosen by God to be the judge and jury.  For example, Lot’s willingness to offer up his virgin daughters to the lewd and dangerous mob at the door has always bothered me greatly.  And maybe it should.  And yet…in his second letter Peter writes that God, “rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard)” (2 Peter 2:7.8).  Peter is giving Lot a bit (or a lot) more credit than I would have.  And then I just read a study note in my ESV Archaeology Study Bible that “Lot may have been attempting to bring down the law on the heads of the culprits” (p39) as in many cultures of that day the punishment was death for a man caught lying with a betrothed virgin.  I certainly hadn’t considered that possibility before. 

Perhaps sometimes I am not as smart as I thought I was.  Perhaps sometimes I work a little too hard to find a bad guy in the story?  And yet, I DO need to try to be discerning.  I do need to read God’s word to know more and more about who God is and who He wants me to be.  So, what are some take aways that can help me know God and who He wants me to be? 

Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed as an example of what happens to the ungodly.  (Peter says that, too, in 2 Peter 2).  Don’t be Ungodly.  There is a right way and a wrong way to live and there are consequences for both which God will bring about in His time and His way. 

Humble Hospitality is Huge.   Old man Abram is running to get dinner prepared with the finest ingredients for the visitors and then stands while they eat (your guests might think that part is weird – you can sit).  Lot won’t take no for an answer and brings the visitors to his home to spend the night and is prepared to protect them with all he’s got.  How can you practice some humble hospitality? 

Our God is a God who sees.  Hagar is right.  God not only sees her and hears her but He speaks to her, He encourages her and He shows mercy and care for her AND for her unborn child.  I do find it interesting it is not recorded that He tells Sarai what she did wrong (like I did) but there are several verses here devoted to making sure we know that God saw, heard, encouraged, directed and cared for Hagar and her child.  Maybe the lesson for myself is don’t be so busy finding the wrong that you don’t do the right.   Who does God want me to see so I can encourage, care for and point them in the right direction?

God’s promise to Abram which we talked about yesterday continues to grow – now it is added that from Abram will come nations and kings, and even better, God will be their God and also Sarah (notice the little name change) will be blessed and from her will come her very own son and nations and kings. There is also that part about circumcision and Abraham walking faithfully, and being blameless and chosen to command his children and household to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice. These are tied to God’s promises to His people. What does God want you to do to show that you are His?

Perhaps MOST importantly in these chapters and in our lives is the realization and understanding that there is NOTHING too hard for the Lord!  In this case they are talking about 90 year old Sarah having a child with 100 year old Abraham.  It seems impossible, because normally it is, but our God is not a human, He is not normal.  He specializes in the impossible!  Your needs are not too big for Him.  Your case is also not too insignificant for Him.  He is the God who sees and the God who has never and will never run into a project too hard for Him. 

– Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you felt seen by God? When did He show that nothing is too hard for Him? What problems are created when we don’t believe God sees or God can?
  2. What does God want you to do to show that you are His? What does He promise to do for you?
  3. Who does God want me to see so I can encourage, care for and point them in the right direction?
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Show Me the Land

Genesis 12-15

The first 9 verses of Genesis 12 hold SO much promise!  In fact, we’ve all heard of a lie that starts out small but just grows and grows – that’s bad.  But, what about a TRUE promise from the Lord Almighty that starts out in verse one and just grows and grows and becomes one of the largest and very best promises in the world?  Sometimes this is referred to as the Abrahamic Covenant. 

In Genesis 12:1 the Lord calls Abram (whose name will be changed to Abraham in chapter 17) to leave his country and father’s house and family to go to a land that God himself will show to Abram.  God is telling Abram to leave the known and comfortable and so much of what has been important to him thus far.  But God says when Abram does this, God Himself will show Abram the land that God has already picked out and reserved for Abram.  In the next two verses we see 7 promises given to Abram:

  • I will make of you a great nation
  • I will bless you
  • And make your name great
  • So you will be a blessing
  • I will bless those who bless you
  • And him who dishonors you I will curse
  • And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.     (Genesis 12:2-3 ESV)

That’s a lot of promising promises!  He is going to bless Abram in some big ways so that Abram can be a blessing to others, even to all the families of the earth!  And God’s not done – He’s got even more good news for Abram.  But first, Abram has to get moving.  He has to believe the promise enough to start acting on it. 

And he does.  75 year old Abram leaves his comfortable couch in Haran and starts out, not knowing where he is going or what the land will look like or when he will get there or what he will have to pass through to get there, but believing that when the Almighty gives His Word He is good for it and good will come of it.  So, he moves out in search of the land God will show to him.  I love that part!  Sometimes decision making is hard and we find ourselves overthinking or second guessing so we don’t move at all.  But God told Abram you get moving and I will show you the land!  Maybe that means you go through some lands that aren’t the right fit and isn’t what God is saving up for you, maybe you try some ministries that give you more experience and empathy but aren’t where God is going to plant you.  It is okay.  It is part of the journey.  You keep moving.  You keep trusting your faithful God to show you when THIS is the land He chose for you.

Can you imagine all the feelings old, childless Abram who got moving and has just travelled about 550 miles from Haran and was now passing through the land of Canaan would experience in verse 7?   “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ’To your OFFSPRING I will give THIS land.’”  The promise just exploded and got so much larger!  Not only was he now SEEING the land God had said He would show him, but now he also heard that he would somehow, someway yet have offspring?!?  Abram’s response – he built an altar to worship the Lord, which also acts as a witness to others.

Sometimes we question God’s timing of the fulfillment of His promises.  Is it now, God?  When God showed Abram that this was WHERE, the question became WHEN.  It wasn’t time for him to settle there, yet.  But it was then also promised to his offspring, yet another great part of the promise. 

It is good news for us that God does not take back his promise from Abram when Abram is less than perfect (telling less than the truth to try to protect himself in Egypt).  In fact, it is after this that the promise has yet another amazing addition with some incredible implications for you and I.  Genesis 13:14-16 (ESV) says:  “The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, ‘Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted.’”   Did you catch the NEW piece of the promise?  It’s a little 7 letter word that never ends!  This land would be given to Abram and his (as of yet non-existent) offspring that would become as numerous as the dust of the earth FOREVER!  Abram’s response – he builds an altar to worship and witness and he settles into the land that God had promised and God had shown! 

As beautiful as those chapters are – don’t miss chapter 15.  Abram is having some doubts.  How could all this be?  Sure, it sounds great, but he still doesn’t have any offspring! How long God until your promise is fulfilled?  The word of the Lord comes to Abram and it is the first recorded time the beautiful, comforting, often repeated phrase, “FEAR NOT!” appears in the Bible.  Why do we fear not?  Because God tells us HE is our shield and our very great reward!  HE has given a very great promise and He is working out the details.  He has chosen the land and He will show it to those who believe enough to get moving and in His perfect timing we will settle there and in His perfect timing we will see and cherish our offspring as numerous as the stars.  Verse 16 is quoted 3 times in the New Testament:  “And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.” He believed.  It doesn’t say he understood.  He didn’t have to engineer the plan.  He had to believe, and move, and let God show him the land. 

Dear Lord, thank you for your promises that are always true and that just keep getting bigger and bigger. Please show me the land You have chosen for me to settle in – both now and when Jesus returns to set up Your Kingdom on this land. Help me get moving in the direction You have laid out. Thank you for the offspring you have blessed me with, help me also see and care for the spiritual offspring you have given. Help me worship You and be a witness to all You have already done and all You have yet to do. Thank you for being my shield and very great reward! Help me remember this so I do not fear but always believe in you and Your great Son. Thank you for your Word, and for keeping it FOREVER!

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

1.When was the last time you made a covenant, a promise, or gave your word?  Can your word be trusted?  Can God’s word be trusted?  How do you know?  (Notice that God gave an example in Gen 15 of how trustworthy His word would be when he foretold the 400 years in Egypt and the exodus.  Who do you think God included this information for?)

    2. In what ways has God blessed you so that you can bless others?

    3. What might have happened if Abram would have declined God’s offer and promise to show him a new land?  Maybe he was just too comfortable in Ur, and then Haran?  Maybe he had a project he wanted to finish?   What if he loved his family too much to leave?  What might be holding us back from setting out to find the land (or purpose or ministry or Kingdom) God has reserved for us?  What might we miss out on if we stay where we are known and comfortable? 

    4. What similarities and differences can you find between God calling  Abram which begins the Abrahamic Covenant and 2,000 years later Jesus calling the disciples at the start of the New Covenant?  How are the two covenants connected?  Now, 2,000 years after Jesus’ call, what do you feel you are being called to do?  What part(s) of the Abrahamic and New Covenants are still being worked out by a faithful God?  What land has God already shown you and what land are you waiting for your shield and very great reward to show you? 

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    I Am Nothing

    Job 40-42

    Our reading in Job is coming to a conclusion with these chapters. Yesterday we heard God show Himself in the power and breath of creation.   In chapters 40-41 we see that now God Himself is answering Job about His power and majesty and challenges him to answer.  Job is completely overawed by God and finally sees the folly of his positions and arguments.  He reacts as the lesson teaches us that God is everything, all power, all majesty, all strength and all knowledge.  We in all our human strength and knowledge are nothing compared to God, and this is Job’s confession that turns the whole narrative. 

    Job 40:1-5(NLT) Then the LORD said to Job,
    2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
    You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
    Job Responds to the LORD
    3 Then Job replied to the LORD,
    4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers    ?
    I will cover my mouth with my hand.
    5 I have said too much already.
    I have nothing more to say.”

    Proverbs 1:7(NKJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge

    Fear here is not that of a frightened mind, but an overwhelmed, overawed understanding of the power of God and the feeble strength of man.

    Our ministry today is to explain to a fallen world what the message of God is, showing others the way to the truth.   Our message is now in the cross of Christ and what God has done for us in Jesus’ life and death.  Our responsibility is to show an Invisible God to a hurting world. 

    1 Corinthians 1:18-25(NLT) The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.” 20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

    Job 40:6-11(NLT) The LORD Challenges Job Again
    6 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
    7 “Brace yourself like a man,
    because I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them.
    8 “Will you discredit my justice
    and condemn me just to prove you are right?
    9 Are you as strong as God?
    Can you thunder with a voice like his?
    10 All right, put on your glory and splendor,
    your honor and majesty.
    11 Give vent to your anger.
    Let it overflow against the proud.

    Job 42:1-6(NLT) Then Job replied to the LORD:
    2 “I know that you can do anything,
    and no one can stop you.
    3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
    It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,
    things far too wonderful for me.
    4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!
    I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them.’
    5 I had only heard about you before,
    but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
    6 I take back everything I said,
    and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

    Then we come to the end of the book.  In only a few short verses with little explanation or elaboration we see Job pray for friends and then he is restored to life, health and position.  Even double the wealth that he had before.  What brings this amazing turnabout?

    Job 42:8-10(NLT) My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. 10 When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!

    The ”miserable comforters” do a sacrifice where they lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, transferring their sin to the animals.  Then Job changes from self-justification and promotion to making humble prayer for the friends.  When we are right with God then He is able to bless us because of His decision to do it, not because of our merit, works or traditions.

    What is the conclusion of the matter?

    With God I am everything, Without God I am nothing!

    James 5:10-11(NLT) For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions for Reflection:

    Did you have fun reading the book of Job and the lesson in it?

    Has the reading changed your thinking about the “Oldest Lesson in the World”?

    Has your heart changed about who God is and who we are?

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    When God Answers with Some Questions of His Own

    Job 38-39

    Acts 17:24-27(NLT) He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve his needs—for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. 27 “His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.

    God answers Job

    In our chapter reading today we come to the point where it shows us that God Himself challenges Job and his friends.  How this happens, in audible words, or an angelic herald, we don’t know because it doesn’t say.  Remember that this is an epic poem which is told as verbal story to people at that time.  It is to give us understanding of who God is and how He deals with us in our lives.  God starts by challenging Job with the majesty of the physical creation and how Job not only has nothing to do with it but does not begin to understand it.

    God is Greater than Man

    God starts first with the geological and astronomical pages of creation. 

    Job 38:1-7(NLT) The LORD Challenges Job
    ​1 Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
    2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom
    with such ignorant words?
    3 Brace yourself like a man,
    because I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them.
    4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know so much.
    5 Who determined its dimensions
    and stretched out the surveying line?
    6 What supports its foundations,
    and who laid its cornerstone
    7 as the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels shouted for joy?

    Job 38:19-21(NLT) “Where does light come from,
    and where does darkness go?
    20 Can you take each to its home?
    Do you know how to get there?
    21 But of course you know all this!
    For you were born before it was all created,
    and you are so very experienced!

    Now in chapter 39 God shows the majesty of the work of His creation in the zoological and botanical realms. 

    Job 39:1-4(NLT) “Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
    Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?
    2 Do you know how many months they carry their young?
    Are you aware of the time of their delivery?
    3 They crouch down to give birth to their young
    and deliver their offspring.
    4 Their young grow up in the open fields,
    then leave home and never return.

    Job 39:19-21(NLT) “Have you given the horse its strength
    or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
    20 Did you give it the ability to leap like a locust?
    Its majestic snorting is terrifying!
    21 It paws the earth and rejoices in its strength
    when it charges out to battle.

    The object of most religious teaching today is to bring mankind to a better moral and ethical point in their lives.  This is not God’s teaching.  God’s teaching is that we need to come to Him and believe, and that the way to believe Him is through the lord Jesus Christ.  When we confess Jesus as lord we are saying in our hearts that I am no longer the god of my life, I am no longer the one who decides good and evil, that I am subject to a different ruler than my own heart.  We must confess the sinful nature of our hearts to get to this point.  Not to just confess the individual sins we may have committed. 

    True Christianity is our relationship with Jesus our lord and God our Father, not in trying to fix the sins of our lives.  This is truly the greatest lesson from the book of Job that we can learn.  Stop looking at the morality of this world and events here and look to our Father who is He that has set it all in motion.  Our strength is in Christ not in our own arm and power.

    Our true ministry is to convey to others the God of grace that we have experienced and walked with.  This is to be like Christ in what we do and speak.

    I pray as we come to the end of this study of Job that it opens our hearts to hear God as we will see Job hear God.

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions for Reflection:

    Do you truly believe that God has created the heavens and the earth and all that is here? 

    Have you grown in your understanding of the confession of Jesus as lord?

    Do you better see the difference between religion and Christianity?

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    The Mighty Almighty

    Job 35-37

    In this section today Elihu stops chastising Job and his friends and begins the transition to the next section by speaking for God. He begins to put a God-view perspective on all that has happened to Job and all that has been said.  He is still wresting with the question which is “how does man relate to a Just and Righteous God”.  Elihu absolutely schools us in the mind set we should have about the God that has created the heavens and the earth and all that is therein.  Read with me and we will learn of God’s great position, works, and power.

    Job 35:4-8(NLT) “I will answer you
    and all your friends, too.
    5 Look up into the sky,
    and see the clouds high above you.
    6 If you sin, how does that affect God?
    Even if you sin again and again,
    what effect will it have on him?
    7 If you are good, is this some great gift to him?
    What could you possibly give him?
    8 No, your sins affect only people like yourself,
    and your good deeds also affect only humans.

    Shows us what our works really are in our relationship with God compared to our trust in His Word.

    Job 36:1-6(NLT)  Elihu continued speaking:
    2 “Let me go on, and I will show you the truth.
    For I have not finished defending God!
    3 I will present profound arguments
    for the righteousness of my Creator.
    4 I am telling you nothing but the truth,
    for I am a man of great knowledge.
    5 “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!
    He is mighty in both power and understanding.
    6 He does not let the wicked live
    but gives justice to the afflicted.

    God wishes for all to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth of His Word.

    Job 36:22-24(NLT) “Look, God is all-powerful.
    Who is a teacher like him?
    23 No one can tell him what to do,
    or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
    24 Instead, glorify his mighty works,
    singing songs of praise.

    So we can only praise the name of the LORD our God.

    Job 37:19-24(NLT) “So teach the rest of us what to say to God.
    We are too ignorant to make our own arguments.
    20 Should God be notified that I want to speak?
    Can people even speak when they are confused?
    21 We cannot look at the sun,
    for it shines brightly in the sky
    when the wind clears away the clouds.
    22 So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.
    He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
    23 We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty;
    but even though he is just and righteous,
    he does not destroy us.
    24 No wonder people everywhere fear him.
    All who are wise show him reverence.”

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions for Reflection:

    Has this section changed your thinking about how to approach our God?

    Will this change how you tell others about how to approach God?

    Does evil in the world stop God from being truly just and righteous? Why?

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    God is >

    Job 32-34

    Now in these next 6 chapters we have a new character that changes the whole narrative.  His name is Elihu, and he has not been mentioned so far in the book.  He is by his own admission a younger man than the others and so has waited to speak.  The presence of his speeches in the center of narrative gives us a true focus of the book of Job.  It then transitions the book from the negative message of the first 31 chapters to positive of the last 7 chapters. 

    Elihu is a wise beyond his years speaker and proceeds to speak I believe as inspired words from God.  He brings a true God perspective first to the arguments of Job, then to the replies of the comforters.  Finally he speaks from God the perspective that we should have.  This prepares us to hear from God Himself in the next section. 

    Job 32:1-10(NLT) Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

    Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.
    2 Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. 3 He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. 4 Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. 5 But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. 6 Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said,
    “I am young and you are old,
    so I held back from telling you what I think.
    7 I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,
    for wisdom comes with age.’
    8 But there is a spirit within people,
    the breath of the Almighty within them,
    that makes them intelligent.
    9 Sometimes the elders are not wise.
    Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.
    10 So listen to me,
    and let me tell you what I think.

    Job 32:17-20(NLT) No, I will say my piece.
    I will speak my mind.
    18 For I am full of pent-up words,
    and the spirit within me urges me on.
    19 I am like a cask of wine without a vent,
    like a new wineskin ready to burst!
    20 I must speak to find relief,
    so let me give my answers.

    See how I think he is speaking by the prophetic spirit of God within Elihu?

    Job 33:8-13(NLT) “You have spoken in my hearing,
    and I have heard your very words.
    9 You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;
    I am innocent; I have no guilt.
    10 God is picking a quarrel with me,
    and he considers me his enemy.
    11 He puts my feet in the stocks
    and watches my every move.’
    12 “But you are wrong, and I will show you why.
    For God is greater than any human being.
    13 So why are you bringing a charge against him?
    Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints

    Elihu in one sentence destroys all of Job’s arguments “God is greater than any human being”.

    Job 34:7-15(NLT) “Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job,
    with his thirst for irreverent talk?
    8 He chooses evil people as companions.
    He spends his time with wicked men.
    9 He has even said, ‘Why waste time
    trying to please God?’
    10 “Listen to me, you who have understanding.
    Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin!
    The Almighty can do no wrong.
    11 He repays people according to their deeds.
    He treats people as they deserve.
    12 Truly, God will not do wrong.
    The Almighty will not twist justice.
    13 Did someone else put the world in his care?
    Who set the whole world in place?
    14 If God were to take back his spirit
    and withdraw his breath,
    15 all life would cease,
    and humanity would turn again to dust.

    For all Job’s accusations of God Elihu says that God is righteous and can do no wrong.  Job cannot accuse God of being unjust.

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions for Reflection:

    Who is this masked man named Elihu?

    Does he build a bigger picture for you of who our God is?

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    A Great Story about Man and God

    Job 26-31

    The section we are reading today is the last of the back and forth with the three miserable comforters.  The whole first part of Job until the end of Chap 31 is a negative lesson to us.  Job continues to justify himself as “blameless and upright”.  The comforters continue to reason with him from human logic about God, which is that we receive what we deserve.  The book is coming to a central point which will be the focus of this oldest lesson.  Read with us today and don’t give up on this great story about man and God.  It may take reading this several times in order to see the message in the speeches.  Remember that this story probably predates the written Word that we take so for granted.  It was told as an epic poem and speech where the speaker told the story to the hearers to give them understanding of the God that they could not see.

    The other rich pictures in this book are the geographical, astronomical, zoological, metallurgical, gemology, oceanography and other knowledge that we hear that we seldom give the people of that time credit for understanding.  Our modern scientists and methods are not as advanced as we think ourselves. 

    Job 26:1-4(NLT) Job’s Ninth Speech: A Response to Bildad
    ​1 Then Job spoke again:
    2 “How you have helped the powerless!
    How you have saved the weak!
    3 How you have enlightened my stupidity!
    What wise advice you have offered!
    4 Where have you gotten all these wise sayings?
    Whose spirit speaks through you?

    Job 27:1-6 Job’s Final Speech
      ​1 Job continued speaking:
    2 “I vow by the living God, who has taken away my rights,
    by the Almighty who has embittered my soul—
    3 As long as I live,
    while I have breath from God,
    4 my lips will speak no evil,
    and my tongue will speak no lies.
    5 I will never concede that you are right;
    I will defend my integrity until I die.
    6 I will maintain my innocence without wavering.
    My conscience is clear for as long as I live.

    Job 28:1-12 Job Speaks of Wisdom and Understanding
    ​1 “People know where to mine silver
    and how to refine gold.
    2 They know where to dig iron from the earth
    and how to smelt copper from rock.
      3 They know how to shine light in the darkness
    and explore the farthest regions of the earth
    as they search in the dark for ore.
    4 They sink a mine shaft into the earth
    far from where anyone lives.
    They descend on ropes, swinging back and forth.
    5 Food is grown on the earth above,
    but down below, the earth is melted as by fire.
    6 Here the rocks contain precious lapis lazuli,
    and the dust contains gold.
    7 These are treasures no bird of prey can see,
    no falcon’s eye observe.
    8 No wild animal has walked upon these treasures;
    no lion has ever set his paw there.
    9 People know how to tear apart flinty rocks
    and overturn the roots of mountains.
    10 They cut tunnels in the rocks
    and uncover precious stones.
    11 They dam up the trickling streams
    and bring to light the hidden treasures.
    12 “But do people know where to find wisdom?
    Where can they find understanding?

    Job 28:27-28  Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
    He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
    28 And this is what he says to all humanity:
    ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
    to forsake evil is real understanding.’”

    Job 30:20-23 0 “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer.
    I stand before you, but you don’t even look.
    21 You have become cruel toward me.
    You use your power to persecute me.
      22 You throw me into the whirlwind
    and destroy me in the storm.
    23 And I know you are sending me to my death—
    the destination of all who live.

    Job 31:33-35 33 “Have I tried to hide my sins like other people do,
    concealing my guilt in my heart?
    34 Have I feared the crowd
    or the contempt of the masses,
    so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?
    35 “If only someone would listen to me!
    Look, I will sign my name to my defense.
    Let the Almighty answer me.
    Let my accuser write out the charges against me.

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions to Consider:

    Are you starting to see the focus of this book on the relationship of man and God?

    Do you see how it grapples with the question of why bad things happen to good people?

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    Searching for Cause and Effect

    Job 21-25 (NLT)

    The book of Job is poetry not narrative and in the English it does not necessarily read as well as it could.  Try reading this epic poem in a version of the Bible like the New Living Translation which I am quoting here, as it gives the speeches and poetry more flow. 

    We don’t know who wrote the book but it is probably not Job himself.  Maybe Elihu?  Or Moses?  What about Solomon?  We don’t know if the record is exactly what the people involved said or is it the gist of their arguments?  Holy men of God wrote what God showed them to write and the scene in heaven at the beginning argues for someone who is very conversant with God and the Hebrew scriptures.  Remember that the timeframe of this book predates the Law of Moses and the OT writings, but is very complimentary with them.

    In today’s chapters Job continues to proclaim his innocence, and the comforters continue to reason with him from their human logic and understanding of God.  Job does not disagree with their logic, but protests that he does not deserve God’s punishment because he has not sinned.

    Job 21:1-6(NLT) Job’s Seventh Speech: A Response to Zophar
    ​1 Then Job spoke again:
    2 “Listen closely to what I am saying.
    That’s one consolation you can give me.
    3 Bear with me, and let me speak.
    After I have spoken, you may resume mocking me.
    4 “My complaint is with God, not with people.
    I have good reason to be so impatient.
    5 Look at me and be stunned.
    Put your hand over your mouth in shock.
    6 When I think about what I am saying, I shudder.
    My body trembles.

    Job 21:34 34 “How can your empty clichés comfort me?
    All your explanations are lies!”

    Job 22:1-5(NLT) Eliphaz’s Third Response to Job
    ​1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:
    2 “Can a person do anything to help God?
    Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
    3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous?
    Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?
    4 Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you
    and brings judgment against you?
    5 No, it’s because of your wickedness!
    There’s no limit to your sins.

    Human logic demands that there is cause and effect in this life, even in our relationship with God.  We continue to try to justify our own selves by pointing out to God all the good and minimizing all the evil of our hearts.  Human nature causes us to want to earn our salvation and position because this is how we do it in the world.  Our positions and wealth, family, friends, and possessions are a result of our hard work and shrewd dealing.  Even if we are Christian we usually see it that God is the giver of all that is good, but I must deserve it because I have served Him so well. 

    Job 22:26-30(NLT) “Then you will take delight in the Almighty
    and look up to God.
    27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you,
    and you will fulfill your vows to him.
    28 You will succeed in whatever you choose to do,
    and light will shine on the road ahead of you.
    29 If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’
    God will save them.
    30 Even sinners will be rescued;
    they will be rescued because your hands are pure.”

    Job 23:1-5(NLT)  Job’s Eighth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz
    ​1 Then Job spoke again:
    2 “My complaint today is still a bitter one,
    and I try hard not to groan aloud.
    3 If only I knew where to find God,
    I would go to his court.
    4 I would lay out my case
    and present my arguments.
    5 Then I would listen to his reply
    and understand what he says to me.

    Job 23:10-13 (NLT) “But he knows where I am going.
    And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
    11 For I have stayed on God’s paths;
    I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
    12 I have not departed from his commands,
    but have treasured his words more than daily food.
    13 But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?
    Whatever he wants to do, he does.

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions for Reflection:

    What are the true motivations of your heart for the things that you do?

    Are we trying to earn our way to the grace that God gives freely?

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    When Human Understanding Fails

    Job 16-20

    Job 16:1-6(NLT) Job’s Fifth Speech: A Response to Eliphaz
    ​1 Then Job spoke again:
    2 “I have heard all this before.
    What miserable comforters you are!
    3 Won’t you ever stop blowing hot air?
    What makes you keep on talking?
    4 I could say the same things if you were in my place.
    I could spout off criticism and shake my head at you.
    5 But if it were me, I would encourage you.
    I would try to take away your grief.
    6 Instead, I suffer if I defend myself,
    and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak.

    Bildad then answers Job back again reasoning from human understanding and tradition that he has observed.   If Job is being punished by God then there surely must be a reason for it. 

    Job 18:5-14(NLT) “Surely the light of the wicked will be snuffed out.
    The sparks of their fire will not glow.
    6 The light in their tent will grow dark.
    The lamp hanging above them will be quenched.
    7 The confident stride of the wicked will be shortened.
    Their own schemes will be their downfall.
    8 The wicked walk into a net.
    They fall into a pit.
    9 A trap grabs them by the heel.
    A snare holds them tight.
    10 A noose lies hidden on the ground.
    A rope is stretched across their path.
    11 “Terrors surround the wicked
    and trouble them at every step.
    12 Hunger depletes their strength,
    and calamity waits for them to stumble.
    13 Disease eats their skin;
    death devours their limbs.
    14 They are torn from the security of their homes
    and are brought down to the king of terrors

    Job continues to say “I” have done this, “I” have done that, or “I” have said, showing that he has not grasped why the situation that he is in has happened.  All the arguments that the miserable comforters expound are based on a human viewpoint, not on the righteous requirements of a just God.  We want the outcomes of our lives to be based on the good things that we do, not on the grace which God only can give us.  Without God we would all perish instantly with the Adversary able to accuse us just as Job with consequences ending in death.  If God was not good and gracious all would perish from the earth.

    In Job 19 the section of his discourse includes these cherished words:

    Job 19:23-29(NLT) “Oh, that my words could be recorded.
    Oh, that they could be inscribed on a monument,
    24 carved with an iron chisel and filled with lead,
    engraved forever in the rock.
    25 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,
    and he will stand upon the earth at last.
    26 And after my body has decayed,
    yet in my body I will see God!
    27 I will see him for myself.
    Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
    I am overwhelmed at the thought!
    28 “How dare you go on persecuting me,
    saying, ‘It’s his own fault’?
    29 You should fear punishment yourselves,
    for your attitude deserves punishment.
    Then you will know that there is indeed a judgment

    Job speaks absolutely the truth about judgment coming for all.  The revelation that there will be a Redeemer on the earth, and that this is his deliverance is amazing.  Bodily resurrection is also foreshadowed here which also lights up the Word to our eyes. 

    Remember as we read the book of Job that the overriding theme is that this is the oldest lesson in the world.  Man cannot justify or give himself righteousness.  Only God is righteous and we can receive it from Him by His grace.

    -Tom Siderius

    Questions for Reflection:

    Have you ever used the logic of the comforters using human experience to explain God’s works?

    Are the speeches and answers helping you to understand the futility of our human mind to explain our life experiences?

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