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Gen. 44
How appropriate that Judah is the one who put up his own life as surety for His younger brother. Judah’s willingness to give his life as a ransom for Benjamin is indicative of what Jesus, God’s promised Messiah, did for us. And it is the line of Judah through which Jesus came. Isn’t God’s word amazing?
Mark 14
I’m thinking about Jesus’ prayer in the garden this morning. He said, “Abba! Father! All things are possible for you; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mk. 14:36). Jesus knew that God was able to relieve Him from what was to come. However I don’t think He intended His statement as a request. Though it is a fine line of difference, I think He made the statement as a means of surrendering His will to God. He acknowledged His human desire in order to lay it down at God’s feet. Jesus knew that God doesn’t just have the power to change our circumstance. He also has the even greater power to replace our human desires with His own.
Job 10
On the one hand we can say that Job’s suffering was not undeserved. After all, as he mentioned in yesterday’s reading, no one is righteous before God. On the other hand, though, Job did nothing to deserve his suffering. Which left Job with only one question – why? Why did God choose to pour out His wrath on someone who made such a great effort to fear God and shun evil while “[looking] favorably on the schemes of the wicked?” (Job 10:3c). Is it a fair question? From a human perspective, probably. Still, the truth remains that we have no justification before God on our own. Thus, an equally fair, though much less pleasant, question is, “Why not me?”
As I try to pay attention to the escalation in these back and forth arguments, though, I see something else going on that I want to note for myself. Job mentioned after Eliphaz’s initial comments that a friend should give kindness so the despairing man would not forsake the fear of God. Instead of that, I see Job’s friends goading him into his contention with God. Job may well have stopped at despising his life had not his friends insisted both that his suffering must have a reason and that there must be something Job could do to stop it. Notes to self – don’t poke people when they’re down, and don’t let the prodding of others push me in the wrong direction! That second part is easier said than done, I know, but all things are possible for God.