Day 4

Today introduces us to the book of Job. We may be familiar with the story, I am, but no spoiler alerts. We are reading a day at a time. It’s the first I am reading the book thoroughly and not just picking a few versed here and there. My reflections:

1:5 — Job interceded on behalf of his children by offering sacrifices on their behalf. This shows love and also may indicate that Job was really worried on his children’s behalf that they may have done something that would make God angry and perhaps lose their lives. Was that one of the reasons why he said what he feared the most came upon him in Chapter 3:25?

1:20 — Despite his pain, Job worshipped God. It was his first response to all the ill news he had just heard. Wow! This shows me it is possible to worship in one’s lowest moments.

2:3 — Why did God allow himself to be incited by Satan? Why did he indulge Satan?

2:12 & 13 — Job had friends that mourned with him in silence for seven days. The first spoke after Job had aired his mind in Chapter 3. We should endeavor to make ourselves available for those dear to us. We should be great listeners and allow people to grieve in the way they know how to. We shouldn’t interfere while they are speaking or airing their minds. This is an excellent example of how silence is golden. Our presence is sometimes enough.

4:2 — Though Eliphaz spoke out of assumption, which was not ok, I noted he asked if he could talk without Job being impatient, and I wondered why. We’ve always heard that we should surround ourselves with the right people — those we have given the permission to advise, admonish and hold us accountable. Could this have been the case here, and why Eliphaz spoke the way he did in Chapters 4 &5?

We’ll find out as we move along in the story.