Bible Chapter: Job 21 & 22

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Job took his turn to speak, telling his companions that they should bear with him, then they could mock him again.  His big concern here was why the wicked seemed to be getting away with so much sin and not being punished for it.  They grow old and powerful.  They see their children and grandchildren grow up.  They live without God’s punishment.  Their cattle breed and make them even wealthier.  This is an age-old question.  Why do heathen people prosper when they tell God to leave them alone?  Job wasn’t thinking about the eternity of God and that at the time of judgement God will make everything right.
    Then it was Eliphaz’s time to reply and attack.  Is God rebuking you because you are so righteous?  Isn’t it because of your great wickedness and endless sins?  You, Job, have done so many things to hurt people, you deserve punishment.  Eliphaz was getting it wrong.  He was equating material prosperity with God’s blessing.  Satan accused God of this, saying that the only reason why Job served God was because of his immense prosperity.  God was in the process of proving that was not true.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    It is common for people to grab on to what is popular and appealing and promote it.  I remember when it seemed as if all I heard was that God wants to make all His children rich and famous.  We should never have a problem and if you are sick or struggling in any way, there is something wrong with you.  It became a very accusatory religion that brought much agony to people who were suffering.  That was the theme of the day.  The concept sold very well, it was an appealing doctrine. Yet, what we see here in Job is that this is not biblical.  God’s eternal judgement has not happened yet.  So, I must keep my focus on God and let Him take care of the details of life.

3.  How can I help someone?
    Eliphaz told Job that if he would return to the Almighty (Job never left) then he would be restored.  He said Job needed to submit to God and prosperity would come to him.  I want to help people see that we need to submit to God and let God take care of us.  Don’t consider the fact that what you are driving or where you are living is a sign of God’s pleasure or displeasure with you.