For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Ex. 9
People gripe about God and His way of doing things. They question why He allows evil to exist. I think He gave us one answer to that question in this chapter. The answer comes in two parts. The first part is in what God told Pharaoh. “But, indeed, for this reason I have allowed you to remain, in order to show you My power and in order to proclaim My name through all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16). The second part is in Pharaoh’s reaction to the hail. While he was in that desperate situation, he recognized his sin. As soon as God removed the trouble, however, Pharaoh went right back to his old ways. The answer I see in all of that is that God allows evil to exist because without evil, we don’t see God.
Luke 12
It is foolish to fear man more than God…
- …because God knows even what you do and say in secret. No man can know you like God does.
- …because God has the power not just to take the life from your body, but to take it also from your soul. No man has control over your eternal existence.
- …because God cares for you far more than any man could. God serves those who serve Him, knows our every need, and even knows the ever-changing number of hairs on our head. Not even our closest friends or family know us as intimately and no one can or would give us what God does.
Job 27
No matter what happened to him, no matter who abandoned him, no matter what his friends accused him of, Job refused to turn away from God. Though he charged God with taking away his right and embittering his soul, still he knew that God was his only hope. Thus, he chose God over those who abandoned him. And he would not allow himself to believe the lies his friends said about him because believing lies is wrong. “Far be it from me that I should declare you right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.” (Job. 27:5).
The thought that believing the lies others tell about me, or even the lies I tell myself, is a sin really impressed on me as I read this morning. This seems obvious for someone hyping themselves up in pride. But it is no less true for someone tearing themselves down without cause. Job knew with certainty he had done nothing to deserve his current distress. To believe otherwise would simply have been a lie. This wasn’t about pride for Job. His concern was not with winning the argument. His concern was with holding fast to God. How do I know this about Job? Because if his intentions were otherwise, “[Would] he take delight in the Almighty? [Would] he call on God at all times?” (Job. 27:10). Job made his commitment clear when he said, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him.” (Job 13:15a).