Jan 9 (Daily reading: Job 21-23) Job 21:9-13 describes an idyllic view of a person’s life. And then, as we say in French, “Ça y’est” (sah-yay), meaning, “that’s it; it’s over!” Job concluded, “They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.” Yet, this person neglects the most essential part of life. They say to God in their independence, “Leave us alone. We do not want to know Your ways; we do not want to serve You. We have all that we need, so what is the point of praying to You?” (my paraphrase of 21:14-15). But Job knew the truth: “But notice, the prosperity of the wicked is not in their hand (in their power)” (21:16, Amplified Bible).
Job knew that ultimately a man’s life depends on God. Even though Job did not understand his present circumstances, he had lived his life by acknowledging God, and he would not stop now, just because things were not comprehensible. He said, “Yet I am not silenced by the darkness” (23:17, NIV). He continued to put his case before God: “My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside” (23:11). Job had a deep desire for a personal relationship with God: “If only I knew where to find Him” (23:3).
Jesus summed it up with these words: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mk. 8:36). And then He said to those who, like Job, seek to find God: “Come to Me!” (Mt. 11:28). “I am the way!” (Jn. 14:6).
-Al Gary
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