Job 42:5–6: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

January 6th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

After God answered Job, Job said that he had heard great things about God but now, after his face-to-face encounter with God, he realized he had been arrogant and sinful. God had earlier called Job a righteous man, but when Job actually saw the living God, he could only think about one thing: repentance. If a righteous man needs to repent when he comes to speak with God, how much more the rest of us when we come to Him in prayer.

Job’s confession and repentance finally took place, but he still didn’t know why he had suffered. However, he no longer complained about it; it didn’t matter to him anymore because he’d been brought to a place of complete submission and humility, even without getting answers to his questions. What God had revealed about Himself to Job eclipsed all questions and all suffering. Here at the end of the book, Job quietly bowed before his Creator and admitted that God was sovereign.

We find at least 3 lessons in Job that we can apply to our own lives:

    1. We should not try to figure out someone else’s situation in our own wisdom.

 

    1. We must have compassion for others who are in desperate predicaments, being helpful and not critical.

 

  1. We can expect our own suffering to have a joyful end; if not here, then at least in eternity.

“LORD, You alone are God and the source of all wisdom. Please give us Your wisdom today as we try to help others along the pilgrim’s pathway.”