In this story of Job there is a one friend who has yet to speak: Elihu. His reasons for holding off his "wisdom" previously related to his lack of age, but Elihu decides that ultimately wisdom can be known by any person. Though he claims to have good intentions, I have found in my own life that there are people who desire to "give me a word ... [Continue Reading]
The ultimate treasure hunt (Job 24-28)
As a kid I loved pirates. We grew up with a donut place called "Jolly Pirate Donuts," and my favorite part about their donuts was the cardboard treasure chest that they came in. My brothers and I found pleasure in hiding the treasure chest in the yard and searching for it. There's something strangely romantic about buried treasure, and it still fascinates me. In many ... [Continue Reading]
Karma (Job 29-31)
As I read through this section in Job I couldn't help but think of the Hindu and Buddhist belief in karma. Ultimately, karma is the cause and effect belief that what goes around comes around. If you cut someone off in traffic, then you will get cut off in traffic. If you stiff a waiter at a restaurant, then you will get stiffed. I'm so ... [Continue Reading]
Where is God? (Job 21-23)
There are times in life when God seems absent and we want to ask Him, "Where were you with that one, God?" Five years ago this month my cousin was killed in a car accident on his way to an amusement park with his girlfriend; they were going there to celebrate his birthday. In his mid-twenties, his life was taken from him, and it left the rest of the ... [Continue Reading]
Loneliness (Job 17-20)
When I was a freshman in college I experienced a loneliness that I had never experienced before in my life. About two months into my first semester I found myself surrounded by lots of people but feeling incredibly alone. Don't misunderstand me: I knew A LOT of people. Being the extrovert that I am, I knew a least a couple hundred people on campus ... [Continue Reading]
Until you walk in my shoes… (Job 14-16)
A weakness in my own character is that I quickly judge situations before realizing what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes, and I think the same flawed character is present in Job's friends. It never ceases to amaze me at how strictly I can withhold grace from others when all the while I demand it for myself. I can't help but think that ... [Continue Reading]
What if I can ‘ t keep up?
I have had several people mention to me that they're not sure whether or not they'll be able to keep up with the year-long readings. I have a few thoughts on that issue: First, it's okay if you get behind. When I read through the Bible last year, I was behind during the busy summer and was able to catch back up later. Secondly, I believe that God ... [Continue Reading]
The greatest hope (Job 9-13)
There is sure a good glimpse into God's character in these words from Job. We are reminded that He holds strength, wisdom, power, and authority beyond any other. We are also reminded that He is the source of our hope. Despite all of Job's experiences, it's really incredible to me that he can say, "Though [God] slay me, I will hope in ... [Continue Reading]
The great misunderstanding (Job 6-9)
I can't help but wonder sometimes if God listens to our ramblings from up above and finds amusement in our nonsense. As readers of Job, we have the benefit of knowing why Job has faced such difficult life circumstances. Unfortunately for him, he thought that the adversity was a result of his own actions. The reality, however, is that his adversity ... [Continue Reading]
Bible Reading Plan
If you would like to join me in studying God's Narrative over the next year, please download this reading guide to keep up. I was told that the reading guide is in chronological order and that it covers the majority of the Bible. Also, I encourage anyone and everyone to comment on my posts. You can comment by clicking on the "Comments" link ... [Continue Reading]
Connect with Me