Job: An Encounter with God

I ponder.  A lot.  And I have pondered the book of Job for a long time.  I have never completely understood it.  So this time, as I read through it, I asked God to please reveal to me what I have been missing about this book.  A couple of days ago, as I finished reading, one verse popped off of the page at me.  Job 42:5 says, "I have heard of  thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees thee;  Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."

I think there is more to the book of Job then God proving to Satan that Job would not curse God even if all of his blessings were taken away.  I believe God was using this opportunity to have a personal encounter with Job.  Here Satan was roaming around the Earth, looking to kick up hell somewhere, and God said, "have you considered Job?"  It doesn't make sense to me that the God of this universe would really need to have a challenge with Satan to prove a point.  God is more powerful than Satan.  God knows this.  Satan knows this.  End of the contest.  I believe God was up to something else, bigger than a dare.  I am not saying that God did not use this to prove His power.  He was proving and showing His power, not only to Satan, but also to Job.

Job was upright, blameless, and feared God.  He revered Him.  Job lived a life of obedience to God's law because he desired to honor Him.  God picked Job, because He knew and understood Job's nature and his integrity.  I believe God also picked Job, because He wanted to come face to face with Job.  He wanted to reveal Himself to Job in a very personal way.

The first part of Job 42:5 says, " I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear".  Job knew of God because he  had heard about Him.  Through hearing, Job had believed.  He made a choice to walk away from sin and live in accordance to the law of God.  The second part of the verse says, "but now my eye sees thee." Something changes in Job's relationship to God.  The tragedies in Job's life, resulted in Job crying out to God . . . on a very personal level.  God had been one to be revered and worshiped, but now God had brought Himself face to face with Job.  Job never cursed God, but he did question God.  He appealed to God and begged for relief.  The doors were wide open for God to speak directly into Job's heart and his mind.

Romans 10:10 says,"for with the heart man believes,resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."  Job had believed in his heart which resulted in a life of righteousness.  When Job confessed he found salvation and a personal relationship with God.

Isn't that what God does for us too?  He allows opportunities in our lives so that He can have a personal encounter with us.  He desires to be more then worshiped from afar.  Jesus desires to be intimate with us.  He desires to show us who He is.  He desires a relationship. 

I am His

I am His.  I have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  I have value and worth.  I am His daughter; His princess.  My worth does not hinge on my accomplishments, how well spoken I am, my talents, or what I do today.  My worth is found in Jesus Christ.  I do not have to gain my worth.  It has already been given to me.  I am His!  If I fail, I am still His.  If I fall, I am still His.  He loves me in my weakness and becomes my strength.  I do not have to prove anything to Him.  He is my high priest and my advocate.  All He desires from me, is me.  He desires my relationship.  He desires my heart and my love.  He wants me!  He wants all of me, just the way I am, pouring myself into Him.  Head pressed against His chest, arms wrapped around Him, leaning on Him, trusting Him, listening to Him, loving Him, communing deeper and deeper with Him, walking with Him.  Not in front of Him, not behind Him, but beside Him.  He is my portion forever and I will trust Him.  He is the lifter of my head and in Him I will place my hope.  He is my oasis in a dry and weary land.  He is refreshment to my soul.  I love Him!

And you, this is not just for me!  This is for you too!

You are His.  You  have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  You have value and worth.  You are His daughter; His princess.  Your worth does not hinge on your accomplishments, how well spoken you are, your talents, or what you do today.  Your worth is found in Jesus Christ.  You do not have to gain your worth.  It has already been given to you.  You are His!  If you fail, you are still His.  If you fall, you are still His.  He loves you in your weakness and becomes your strength.  You do not have to prove anything to Him.  He is your high priest and your advocate.  All He desires from you, is you.  He desires your relationship.  He desires your heart and your love.  He wants you!  He wants all of you, just the way you are, pouring yourself into Him.  Head pressed against His chest, arms wrapped around Him, leaning on Him, trusting Him, listening to Him, loving Him, communing deeper and deeper with Him, walking with Him.  Not in front of Him, not behind Him, but beside Him.  He is your portion forever.  Trust Him.  He is the lifter of your head.  Put your hope in Him.  He is your oasis in a dry and weary land.  He is refreshment to your soul.

If you struggle with depression,  low self-worth and value, please contact me.  I want to be praying for you.  If you do not know Jesus as your personal saviour, contact me.  I want to tell you more about Him.  He loves you!  He desires you!  So many years it has taken for me to understand my worth in Him.  There is freedom from the bondage of depression and lack of self-worth.  That is not His desire for you.  He desires that you find rest in Him and a life of joy that is made complete in Him.  Come to Him.  Listen.  He is calling your name.

"Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28