SSLS 2016-12-11
2016 4th Quarter
Lesson 12, December 10-16, Job’s Redeemer
Sunday, December 11
As God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind, His words are not for Job alone. What Job hears as addressed to his ears and for the edification of his faith is also heard by all present. And the fact that they are written in a book, according to Job’s plea, shows that God’s words are also for us. We can know this is true because we find throughout Scriptures words similar to what God spoke to Job.
“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” KJV, Isaiah 43:1-7.
We should ever keep in mind that God, as our Creator and Redeemer, is infinitely more loving, more just, more merciful, and wiser than us when it comes to our experiences–both good and bad. His purposes are higher than ours. His thoughts are higher than ours. His plans for us are infinite in number as He devises ways to win us to Himself by cords of lovingkindness. In this case, God wins Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar to Himself through the trial experienced by Job. They offer sacrifices of repentance and praise as they comprehend the blessing they receive from God when reproved and chastened by Him.
“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” KJV, Isaiah 55:6-11.