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.”

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Job 12 KJV

¹ And Job answered and said, ² No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. ³ But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?    ⁴ I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man islaughed to scorn. ⁵ He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. ⁶ The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly . ⁷ But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: ⁸ Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. ⁹ Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? ¹⁰ In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.   ¹¹ Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? ¹² With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. ¹³ With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.  ¹⁴ Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.  ¹⁵ Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. ¹⁶ With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. ¹⁷ He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. ¹⁸ He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. ¹⁹ He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. ²⁰ He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.  ²¹ He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.  ²² He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. ²³ He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.  ²⁴ He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. ²⁵ They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.