Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Jun 14 2019 - Job 42 – Job restored and blessed

We have read the final chapter of the Book of Job, no doubt pleased that it is a story with a happy ending. But that is not the most important lesson of this chapter.

Job had been granted an audience with God, but the result was not as he had expected. In the presence of God's glory, might and power, Job has been humbled and silenced. He recognised that when it came to his complaint against God's providence, he spoke of things he did not understand (v.3). His understanding of God, the universe and everything has proved pitifully infantile.

In particular, Job confesses that he thought he knew what God was like – perhaps he felt he could have gained a doctorate in Theology; but now he confesses that he knew nothing (42:5-6):

My ears had heard of you
    but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.

Many philosophers have sought to prove the existence of God and to argue concerning the attributes of God. Many others have wrestled with the "problem of evil" that lies behind this wonderful book of Scripture. They may have come to their conclusions and written up their results for others to argue over in their turn. But there is no substitute for knowing God, for being able to say that we have "seen God." Knowing God turns all human speculation and philosophy into dust and ashes (v. 6). God was angry with the empty speculations and accusations of Job's "friends".

The most important question for us is, do we know God? We may have listened to many other people talking about God, we may have read the Bible and tried to understand what it says about God, but none of this is enough. Do we know God?

God has revealed himself most clearly in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul writes:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God… For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:4,6).

The Christian is one whose eyes have been opened to see the glory of God displayed in Jesus Christ. We have seen God, not as we shall see him, but we have come to know God in Christ as the one who loves us, has redeemed us and calls us his children. Our faith is not based on philosophical arguments, nor does it depend upon knowing how the universe works and why what happens has happened. Our faith is based on the person, work and promises of the Lord Jesus Christ. We own him as our Lord and Saviour and we are glad to trust him and follow him.

Having come face to face with the living God, Job's concerns are no longer for himself, but for his friends. Job prayed for his friends that their arrogance would be forgiven and that God would not deal with them according to their folly. We are told that, "the Lord accepted Job's prayer" (v.9).

God then, "blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part" (v.12). This does not answer the question of why bad things sometimes happen to good people; we know that many godly people see no end or answer to their suffering in this life. But it is a pointer to the hope that we have in Christ. We know that because he suffered death for us and is risen from the dead, the day will come when we shall share in his glorious resurrection. In the end, "All shall be well."

Father God, thank you that we have seen your glory in Christ and that we will one day share in that glory. Ours is a story with a happy ending. Help us to pray for our friends, that they too may know you.

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Jun 14 2020 - Romans 9:25-10:13 – Belonging

I asked how Jesus had made a difference to their lives. One woman said that previously she had not felt that she fitted in anywhere or that she belonged. She had come along to church and had come to know Jesus Christ and now felt that she belonged and was accepted. She now knew that there were people who cared about her and this made all the difference.

This is what Paul is talking about when he speaks about the way in which God has included in his saving embrace those who had no special claim to be his covenant people. He says (in the wonderful rendering of Romans 9:25-26 in The Message);

I'll call nobodies and make them somebodies.
I'll call the unloved and make them beloved.
In the place where they yelled, 'You're nobody!'
They're calling you 'God's living children.'

This is all because of Jesus. No one who calls on him is turned away; he embraces all who come to him in faith and gives them the privilege of being children of God. Paul writes that none who believe in him will be put to shame (Romans 10:11). Faith in Jesus is never misplaced. Jesus never lets us down and never disappoints.

I think of those who turned to him during his earthly ministry. Blind Bartimaeus called out to Jesus to help him. The crowds told him to be quiet but Jesus called him forward and restored his sight. Parents were bringing their little children to Jesus so that he might bless them. The disciples tried to shoo them away thinking Jesus far too busy to bother with children, but Jesus rebuked the disciples and welcomed the children. No one was turned away by Jesus.

Nor are any treated by him as second-class citizens. I think of the parable that Jesus told – the one we often call the parable of the prodigal son. The returning son hoped to be accepted back into his father’s house as a hired servant; he was looking only for the bare necessities to keep him from starving. But the father had been waiting with longing for his son to return. The son is embraced, clothed in the richest garments and the fatted calf is killed for him. He is welcomed back as a son. Jesus tells this parable to teach the Jewish leaders that in welcoming and eating with tax-collectors and sinners he reflects the open heart of his Father.

Paul is writing to a church in which there is tension between Jewish and Gentile Christians. He is reminding them that the Gospel breaks down all those barriers of race and background since God embraces all who come to him through the Lord Jesus Christ. Churches should be places where the Gospel is made visible as people from all backgrounds embrace one another and recognise that we belong together in the family of the people of God. They should be places where the barriers that divide people in our societies are broken down. They should be places where nobody feels a nobody and where everyone feels loved and valued.

Like the church at Rome, our churches often fail to be as welcoming as they should be. We need to learn more of the Father-heart of God and the unfailing grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are accepted and embraced; let’s be an accepting and embracing people.

Father God, thank you that, by his death and resurrection, Jesus has broken down the barrier of separation between us and a holy God. Thank you that I am accepted in your beloved Son. Help me to work at demolishing the barriers that we so readily build between one another. Help me to forgive as I have been forgiven, to love as I have been loved and to accept others fully as I have been accepted into your family. May the community of your people be a living advertisement for the power of the Gospel.

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Peter Misselbrook