Job’s Confidence About Himself
I have been at a table in the exhibit area, making my book available. It has been great to connect with several friends to be able to share my book with those who have been familiar with my story. My table is close to Tom Scheffel’s. He is the attorney for Colorado Christian University and someone I have known for a number of years and person I count as a dear friend.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold.” Job 23:10 HCSB
This verse articulates the second “confidence” of Job. He was confidence in the Lord as his living redeemer and a future resurrection and revelation of “God in the flesh.” Job also expresses confidence in his own standing before the Lord.
Job knew that all is known by the Lord. The psalmist declared, “You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.“ (Psalm 139:2 NIV) All that could be known about Job, the Lord knew and Job was confident and comfortable with that reality.
Job was also confident that he would “pass the test.” In all of the questions of “why me?” “why this” “why now?” In all of the cursing the day he was born and all the accusations from his three friends, Job knew that end the he would emerge from the fire of testing as “pure gold.”
Here is the basis of Job’s confidence, “My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.” (Job 23:11,12 HCSB)
Job had been faithful to the Lord and he had confidence that the Lord would be faithful to him. There is no hint of “I haven’t done enough.” There was no indication of any “hidden sin.” Yet Job was not arrogant but humble before the Lord.
“But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him? He does what He desires. He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me, and He has many more things like these in mind. Therefore I am terrified in His presence; when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.” (Job 23:13-15 HCSB)
I believe Job demonstrates the Biblical idea of the “fear of the Lord.” He was confidence of his own standing before the Lord, but realized that the Lord’s ways and actions are of His doing and beyond human understanding.
We can thankful that our standing before the Lord is not based on our “perfection” before Him. But when there is a commitment of faithfulness to the Lord to the best of our ability we can have assurance of God’s purpose being fulfilled in our life as we emerge from the tests and trials of life.
Peter declared, “…you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 1:6,7 NKJV)
That is something that I have learned in my own life and from my experiences. It makes one more grateful for the love and mercy of our Lord.
Prayer for today…. “Lord thank You that You make it possible for us to emerge from times of trials and testing as “pure gold.” That may mean the “burning away” of all impurities. As difficult as that may be, allow me to realize that You always desire that which is best for me.”