Who gave the horse its strength?

Lately, I find myself reading a chapter of the Bible called Job. A little background on Job. He was a follower of Adonai (The LORD God) who had many blessings in the standards of the world. God gave Job the blessings, family, land, material things.

However, one day, the Adversary (devil) asked Adonai if Job really was a follower of Him, and in challenging trials, would Job be able to stand up under the pressure?

I chose the Complete Jewish Bible as the resource for today. Iyov is the Hebrew word for Job.

Job 1:6-12 It happened one day that the sons of God came to serve Adonai, and among them came the Adversary. Adonai asked the Adversary, “Where are you coming from?” The Adversary answered Adonai, “From roaming through the earth, wandering here and there.” Adonai asked the Adversary, “Did you notice my servant Iyov, that there’s no one like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil?” The Adversary answered Adonai, “Is it for nothing that Iyov fears God? You’ve put a protective hedge around him, his house and everything he has. You’ve prospered his work, and his livestock are spread out all over the land. But if you reach out your hand and touch whatever he has, without doubt he’ll curse you to your face!” Adonai said to the Adversary, “Here! Everything he has is in your hands, except that you are not to lay a finger on his person.” Then the Adversary went out from the presence of Adonai.”
‭‭Iyov (Job)‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬-‭12‬ ‭CJB‬‬

So God allowed trials and challenges to be a part of Jobs’ life. I challenge you to read the Book of Job!! Job ended up losing family members to death, his wealth in livestock and property diminished, losing prosperity by world standards and his friends questioned whether God was really with him anymore.

In chapters 38 and 39, the LORD ( our personal Creator God named in Genesis) speaks to Job. The Lord asks Job who made all things on earth, in the skies and heavens? The LORD reminds Job who He is as Creator God.

“Then Adonai answered Iyov out of the storm: “Who is this, darkening my plans with his ignorant words? Stand up like a man, and brace yourself; I will ask questions; and you, give the answers! “Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Do you know who determined its dimensions or who stretched the measuring line across it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
‭‭Iyov (Job)‬ ‭38‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭CJB‬‬

I love when I read scripture and find a new insight or instruction in new ways. I found the following description on horses, hawks and eagles.

Job 39:19-30 The Lord said, “Did you give the horse its strength? Did you clothe its neck with a mane? Did you make him able to leap like a locust? Its majestic snorting is frightening! It paws with force and exults with vigor, then charges into the battle; mocking at fear, unafraid, it does not shy away from the sword. The [rider’s] quiver rattles over it, [his] gleaming spear and javelin. Frenzied and eager, it devours the ground, scarcely believing the shofar has sounded. At the sound of the shofar it whinnies; as from afar it scents the battle, the roar of the chiefs and the shouting. “Is it your wisdom that sets the hawk soaring, spreading its wings toward the south? Does the eagle fly up when you say so, to build its nest in the heights? It lives and spends its nights on the cliffs; a rocky crag is its fortress. From there it spots its prey, its eyes see it far off. Its young ones suck up blood; wherever the slain are, there it is.””
‭‭Iyov (Job)‬ ‭39‬:‭19‬-‭30‬ ‭CJB‬‬

What I am trying to express in this post today? Just like Job, when we are going through trials it can seem our Adonai ( personal Lord God) has left us. Perhaps a better reflection would be remembering our LORD may be teaching us something about His promises and there can be deeper relationship with our Father Creator God, our Adonai, our Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit developed when we are open to growth.

Spending time to rediscover and grow our faith in a God who sees all things, created all things, knows the future and loves unconditionally is powerful, life changing and eternal.

Jamie MacDonald has a great song, Desperate that describes well the need to be restored by the Lord. Praise Him in the trial.

Prayer: Father God, Adonai, please forgive our human desire to be independent and falsely believe we can do life alone. All things are possible through You LORD. Show us through the trials what You want us to learn about Your love and promises. Just like Job, the sifting of our trials can be a place of deepening faith in You. Thank you for loving unconditionally and being our personal LORD. We need You, in Jesus mighty Name, Amen!

Motives

Each step we take can lead us to beautiful peaceful paths or to strenuous detours. We are selfish by human nature. Even the most gentle person can have an underlying motive for their actions.

Think of a toddler, he or she sees a new object and seeks to explore and learn its use. Toddlers want to hold a ball without wanting to share it.

What is your motive in life? Is it to climb over others to get to some imaginary pinnacle of success? Is it the pride of knowing everything but sacrificing relationships as you seek to best another person by being the one who is always right? Is it towering over peers in materialistic things or career ladders? God wants our life to be directed by Him, period! Not glory to us but glory to Him.

Whether it is a school aged child, who wants others to take notice of his or her abilities in sport or drama. We all have a need to be seen and spoken well of by family and friends. We all want to feel admired. God is who I want to please above all else.

Proverbs 12:14 MSG
Well-spoken words bring satisfaction; well-done work has its own reward.

I want to hear from Jesus “Well done , good and faithful servant!” Don’t you?

Matthew 25:21 AMP
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’

Words of encouragement spur all humans to try harder, to achieve next level ability. However words of criticism take down the desire to try again and motivation slows.

When we commit our actions to Gods’ plan things are always best and amazingly beautiful.

Proverbs 16:1-9,13,15-21 NLT
We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. [2] People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. [3] Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. [4] The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster.

When we seek the spotlight for our own glory, there is a consequence. Our pride can sink us. Pleasing God by humility ( not weakness) is a key.

Proverbs 16: [5] The LORD detests the proud; they will surely be punished. [6] Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil. [7] When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them.

May we strive to seek godliness over selfishness. Unfortunately human nature can lead to impulsive words and actions unless we let God be the authority in our daily lives.

Proverbs 16: [8] Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. [9] We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. [13] The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.

May we choose to be a person of honesty, over gossip and comparison.

May we want the King of Kings, Lord of Lords to smile and our lives to count by His standard.

Proverbs 16:15 When the king smiles, there is life; his favor refreshes like a spring rain. [16] How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! [17] The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe. [18] Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.

Humility with Godliness is attainable when I can lay my agenda down and seek to trust the Lord for His future.

Proverbs 16:[19]Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. [20] Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful.

I know I need to make some better choices on my words and actions. May we want to be known as a person of understanding and reflect Jesus to others especially when experiencing challenging relationships. Can you relate?

Proverbs 16: [21] The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive.

Prayer prompt: Father God, please transform our lives for Your glory. Please help our words and actions to represent Your ways over our selfish impulsive demands. Help us to seek You first every morning and ask You to give us words of understanding so Your unfailing love can be seen in our actions. We want all people to come to know you, Our King of Kings and the Almighty One true God! In Jesus mighty Name Amen!

Photo credit By H Wisemen

Unshakable

There is so much swirling in the skies, heavens and around the world. Something’s are seen with our eyes and heard with our ears. Unfortunately, many things are at work unseen by human eyes.

These cloud formations were above our country home, what does it look like to you? As a child my imagination would say, God is sending angels coming to say hello? As an adult, I wonder the same thing but perhaps to help His children on earth.

Our God is unshakable! When we are in relationship with Our Father,His Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit we are able to remember our peace is not on this earth. Our peace is in trusting Him by faith.

It is not easy placing our lives in the hands of God and our futures in His plan. But there is no other solution. Noah in his time was thought of as crazy building a boat to protect in a rainstorm of exponential levels. But Noah stood with Gods directions!!

Our time is now to trust in faith of God over our need to know the future.

Hebrews 11:1 NLT
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

Hebrews 11 is filled with multiple stories of Gods’ children from Noah, To Nehemiah, to Rahab having faith in an unseen future. We can learn to do the same, put our faith with God in the place of fear!!

We have the luxury of reading our Bible for the stories of trials to Gods deliverance. God is faithful even today.

Joshua 24:15 NLT
But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.”

Choose today who you will serve! Man or God!

Our faith in God must be unshakable not only for us but for the legacy of our families.

Hebrews 12:1-3,26-29 NLT
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. [2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [3] Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. [26] When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he makes another promise: “Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also.” [27] This means that all of creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things will remain. [28] Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. [29] For our God is a devouring fire”.

Pray for our nation and other nations of the world to seek Jesus and love as He calls us to love.

No matter what we see, God is a devouring fire! Call to Him before it is too late. Seek a relationship with Jesus now!