EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON--GOD'S REASON.
- Key Verse
- "Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south? Does the eagle soar at your command and build his nest on high?" (Job 39:26-27)
READ THE CHAPTER
Central Truth
God is all-knowing (omniscient) and all-powerful (omnipotent).
Reflections
Have you ever wondered how God, who is the very essence of love and grace, could allow His children to suffer? I have wondered that often throughout my life.As I have grown in my relationship with God, I realize that everything has a purpose--God's purpose. As we have been reading about Job, we see that he does not understand why this suffering is happening to him. He feels like he has been given a raw deal. As a firefighter, I see people who are going through their worst day. Many have the same lost and confused look that I imagine Job had. It is hard not to question God and His intentions. What I have realized is that God wants us rely on Him. God wants to be our anchor. All we have to do is let Him. We must learn to stop questioning and start trusting God.
God is all-knowing and all-powerful. We may not initially see God's purpose in our situation, but we know that "[G]od works for the good of those who love Him..." (Romans 8:28a). Isn't it great that God loves us that much?
Discussion Questions
1. What point was God making to Job?2. Do you think that God is in complete control of the circumstances surrounding us?
3. What are some ways God brings good from suffering? (read John 15:2)
Comments
The views expressed under “Comments” are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Hill Country Bible Church NW.
Mark Sutton
April 22, 2010 04:32 AM
Hunter, Thanks for the devotion. Yes, God does use suffering to draw us into relationship with him. I am reminded of Romans 8:1 "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."
David Redding
April 22, 2010 07:45 AM
Hunter, thanks for your log this morning. I love these chapters in Job where God starts to ask Job questions that he can not answer. God demonstrates his power and authority to Job in a very real way. I'm comforted by this. Blessings,
Betsy Doolittle
April 22, 2010 08:23 AM
Hunter- Thank you for your thoughts on this passage! When I try to think about God being omniscient and omnipotent, it becomes overwhelming to me. I looked at a picture of an ostrich and thought, why God would make one who "treats her young harshly and cares not that her labor was in vain?" Why didn't he give her wisdom? It doesn't make human sense, except for me to see that God is GOD, and like you said, we may not see his purpose, sometimes not even in ourselves or our situations.
Eric Hoehn
April 22, 2010 09:59 AM
Great devotional, Hunter. This was one of the hardest things I had to face. Somehow I believe that if I did the right things, it would always go well with me. God taught me He is bigger than any circumstance I must face and that He uses suffering in our lives.