2023_01_13 Insight Post- Emma Keeton
This week’s reading- Psalm 19, 2 Corinthians 4, Job 38, Hebrews 1
“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.” Job 2:10
In Job 38, God shows his power and majesty as he addresses the problem of human suffering. Job was a good man with immense wealth who “feared God and shunned evil” Job 1:1. God permitted Satan to literally take away everything from Job to see where Job’s loyalties lay. Job had been calling out to God and questioning Him in his distress for 37 chapters. In chapter 38, God answers Job, but not in the way one might expect. God asks questions as he overlays Job’s story on the backdrop of creation.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” Job 38:4-7
Most of us have situations in our life that we can’t quite reconcile. If God is loving, why would he make a world where there is so much suffering? As humans we will never be able to fully answer this question, but God did make a perfect world at creation and at that time, man and woman were in perfect relationship with him. Sin entered the world in the garden, but God provided us a savior in Jesus. We are not immune though to the effects of sin on our broken world, and that’s a hard fact to swallow.
I once heard a very wise person say, “whatever is, is God’s will.” Sometimes when I hear of difficult stories that I have no answer for, I can question God and his goodness. My focus at these times is incorrect. Looking at the greatness of God and His majesty shows me that there are things I will never understand. We are not promised a world without trouble, but we can put our hope in our loving God.
Redeemer-Nicole C. Mullen (lyrics)
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
And who taught the ocean you can only come this far?
And who showed the moon where to hide till evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star.
Well I know, my redeemer lives. I know my redeemer lives.
All of creation testifies and this life within me cries.
I know my redeemer lives.
Emma Keeton
Prayer Team Lead