Job is about Faith

Job, says Philip Yancey in "The Bible Jesus Read", is NOT about suffering. It's about faith.

Will Job trust God, or deny God in the midst of intense suffering? Job spends his time trying to figure out: "Why me? Did I do something wrong? What is God trying to teach me?" Questions that people in pain ask.

These are right questions. I believe that if we're in a fix, it's helpful to go through this list:

A. Perhaps I did something wrong. God, please search me.

Very often, it is our fault. And when we change, the situation changes. Problem solved.

B. God, are you trying to teach me something? God, please show me.

Then we get on with life & leave it to Him to show us. This often works too.

C. And then, there are those bad things that happen to good people. To children, even. And that stun you and me. And there are no answers. And it's definitely not our fault.

Job belonged to Category C. And I'm very sure that we have all belonged -- or are going to belong -- in that category, one time or other in our lives.

And my caution is, that we don't immediately lob all those who're in difficulties in Categry A. Be aware that Category C exists.

Only with careful prayer & discernment & a real setting aside of our own prejudices & pet theories will we be able to be a real friend to one in need, not a Job's friend.

God chose Job as the best example of one who had selfless motivations in following Him. Satan disagrees, saying that people serve God out of self-serving motives and a cosmic struggle ensues, with Job as the guinea pig, to put it bluntly.

In the end, I believe that while it's a test of Job's faith in God, it's also about God's faith in Job. God had faith that Job would pass the test.

We could be in the difficult situation we're in right now, because God has faith that we're going to make it. Even if we don't get any answers. Just like Job.

God's invitation

Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together,'
says the LORD"...

I love this invitation to reason together. God is approachable, He invites us to approach Him & just...talk...argue...grumble (you may grumble to God, but not ABOUT God -- there's quite a difference there!) I've complained TO God a few times, and the wonderful thing about this is, not only does He hear, He responds.

Recently, I complained to Him about a friendship that I felt wasn't really working out --and I sensed sadness as I spoke to Him. The God of all creation was empathising with me. In a gesture of release, I gave the burden to Him. Perhaps 15 minutes later, He gave it back to me, together with a deep conviction in my spirit to call my friend & sort it out. And so, I did. And it was really a miscommunication. The friendship was restored, better than ever.

Some weeks before, I complained to Him about another friend, and gave Him the burden. He took it. It never came back.

Through these experiences, I'm learning to trust Him more & more; learning His ways more & more; trusting Him to judge, and trusting His judgments.

He isn't a one-size-fits-all God. I've learnt through the years that pat answers from the Bible isn't what it's all about. But rather, a constant abiding in Him & in His Word, and a trust that He'll work things out.

Timing is everything

Esther 5-7

1 Chronicles 12:32
...men of Issachar, who understood the
times and knew what Israel should do

When I first read Esther, I wondered why she didn't just up and ask for what she wanted -- Haman's head. After all, it was an urgent situation and the lives of her Jewish people were at stake.

But, when the King was ready to give her anything during the first banquet she threw, she doesn't ask for what she wants but invites them (the King and Haman) to attend a second banquet instead.

Was there a sensing of God's restraining her? We don't know, and the bible doesn't say. But the subsequent events prove her right.

In the interval, Haman prepares a gallows, ostensibly for Mordecai the Jew, whom he hates. Then, the King has insomnia and asks for the kingdom's records to be read to him, during which he realises that the very same Mordecai has never been rewarded for saving his life. Subsequently, Mordecai is rewarded for his service, and Haman, who is forced to honor him, is humiliated.

At the second banquet, Esther boldy reveals her requests, Haman is executed in the very same gallows that he built and the Jewish people are saved from massacre.

Timing, is everything. As a new Christian, I had prayed that I discern God's timing and seasons like the men of Issachar. That led to a new level of learning to discern His timing and His purposes and subsequently, a closer walk with Him. That, after all, is the goal of all prayer.

The perfect host

John 14
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus, our friend, is hospitable. He prepares a place for us to stay, and He's also part of the welcoming committee! Because we are His friends, He wants us to stay close to Him. We'll be His neighbours, and can pop in on Him at anytime, and be assured of a welcome! He won't be too busy to see us, or too tired to entertain us. Jesus is our perfect host.

In fact, after His resurrection, He even prepares a barbecue breakfast for His friends, who obviously would be very hungry after a night and day of hard work. How considerate, anticipating our every need.

What a friend we have in Jesus!

Being Jesus' friend

John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.

I was reading Jack Deere's book, "Surprised by the Voice of God," and a chapter on being Jesus' friend intrigued me.

What is a true friend? A true friend is one who delights in you, alone; who enjoys your company; whom you can call anytime; whom, you can go to their house & it's okay to help yourself to what's in their fridge -- and they can do the same at your house. And who, when she rings up, just wants to catch up -- and not because she wants to ask you a favour.

True friendship, he says, is one where the motive to use the other is purged. We are friends, not because of what we can get from one another, or what we fear will happen if we don't give in to the other -- but we are friends because we just enjoy one another, as is.

Are we truly Jesus' friend? Do we go to him only if we have a need? Otherwise, we ignore him? Or, do we obey out of fear of what will happen if we don't?

Singaporeans, a person from the evangelism team said, tend to bring the "pai-sun" mentality to Christianity. We want something in return for our worship. We want Jesus and the good marks. We want Jesus and the career. We want Jesus and the dream spouse.

Guess what? He tests us by NOT giving us what we want. And in doing so, He exposes the intent of our hearts.

Are we content to abide in Him, even if we don't get anything from Him?

Your attitude

1Kings 11:9 The LORD became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. 10 Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD's command. 11 So the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you..."

What stood out for me was the phrase "since this is your attitude"... How often we need to watch our attitudes!

Solomon had everything he wanted, more than anyone in this planet, except perhaps Bill Gates. (But Solomon is one-up on BG though. BG can't have 700 wives, not allowed under law...)

It was the wives and concubines that undermined him. Imagine the 700 wives and 300 concubines all pulling at him, in the unconscious, spiritual realm -- 1000 soul-ties in all, clamouring at this one man. And each woman, worshipping different idols and channelling their influence over his mind and heart. No wonder he couldn't survive.

So the wise man became foolish. His attitude towards God lapsed. And judgement came.

PRAYER:
Father, help us to watch our attitudes. Alert us to the subtle influences of the world, the flesh, the devil, undermining our attitude towards You. Give us all, repentant hearts. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Sycamore tree

We are near a sycamore tree, said to be 2,000 years old. Of course, we can't be sure it's THE sycamore tree that Zaccheus actually climbed on, although urban legend claims that it's so. Near the tree is some artwork that depicts the Luke 19 scene.