Job 12:10: “In whose hand is the life of every living thing, / And the breath of all mankind?”

December 7th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In chapter 12, Job responded to his “friend’s” simplistic formulas and bad theology. They had been berating him, telling him that he was suffering because he thought too highly of himself and that he was in sin. They believed suffering only happened because someone was in sin and God was punishing them. Job’s straightforward answer was that he understood that every life is in God’s hands. He had already said that God was holy and that he was not. Therefore, he didn’t need more theology and assumptions; he needed his friends’ support.

Believing friends need to be supportive and caring during the storms of life. We need to lead our struggling friends to the Lord in prayer, without trying to solve all the theological questions involved. To say, “I don’t know why this or that tragedy is happening” is not a cop-out. It’s even OK to say, “I don’t know anything better to tell you than God is good and He does not change.” The reality is that we often don’t understand God’s plans, but we can continue to believe that the plans He has for our lives are good. There is a process going on in every believer’s life. The apostle Paul said it this way: “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Once God begins a work in a person’s life, He will not stop until that work reaches completion.

The old hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” has been a source of great comfort to many since William Cowper wrote it in the 18th century. Yet few people know that throughout his life he struggled with long bouts of crippling depression. On more than one occasion he tried to commit suicide, only to be miraculously restrained by the hand of God. Knowing this gives greater weight to the words of his song:

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

. . .

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

“Thank You, LORD, for this day; we give it back to You in Jesus’ name.”