JOB 9:1-12 – “Then Job answered and said: “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God? If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times. He is wise in heart and mighty in strength —who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?— he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger, who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars; who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea; who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south; who does great things beyond searching out, and marvelous things beyond number. Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him. Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’”

THEME OF THE DAY: IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WHO.   Coming to today’s scripture, we will find in the unfolding story of Job, that he is really hurting – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  This deep work of God in His child is just that, deep.  His so-called friends are now teaming up on him with harsh words implying Job is a hypocrite.

In today’s scripture is Job’s reply to Bildad who has called upon Job to repent.  Instead of proclaiming innocence Job asks the timeless question, and life’s most important question, “But how can a man be in the right before God?”

Job then begins a long response that is actually focused away from himself and Bildad.  Go back up and read his reply again and maybe mark or write down how often Job uses the pronoun who and what is the direction of its use.  I counted eight times with seven of them pointing to the Person of our God.  And with each one Job utters, one can feel the humility rising within our hearts.   Job is proclaiming the uniqueness of God, the majesty of God, the incomprehensiveness of God, the glory of God, the power of God, the infinity of God, the creativity of God, the mysteriousness of God, the transcendence of God, and the God who knows no rival.

In the Christian life, we get in all kinds of spiritual trouble when we forgot the Who (God) and make life all about the me (ourselves).  The most important virtue in the Christian life is humility, and humility is not just thinking less of ourselves and more of others.  No, humility is thinking more of God, and nothing of ourselves.  Humility only grows in our hearts by a vertical look, not horizontal.  It is in drawing our hearts and minds on all Job teaches us about the character of God than true humility blossoms.  If we only look horizontal, all we find is pride – in others and ourselves.  No spiritual growth occurs when pride is lodged deep in our hearts.

So, life. It is all about the Who.  May the Lord help us have hearts illuminated by the truth as it is in Him; the truth bringing us face to face with Him who loves us with an everlasting love and extends His heart of fellowship that we might behold and enjoy Him.

PRAYER: Father, help me always to make my life center on Who you are and not anything about me.

REFLECTION:  Humility is necessary for all spiritual growth and humility comes from knowing God.