Great Plains Daily Devotional for 3/5/2020

Job 1:1, 2:1-10 

There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes.

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Do you ever feel like God is trying to make an example of you? I've tried to imagine how Job felt.  Satan has God’s approval to test him. What!?

Every time I feel challenged by my faith or feel like everything is out of control I have a go-to movie -- "Bruce Almighty."

I can relate to so many scenarios in this story.  Passed up for a promotion? Check. Losing a job? Check. Things are crazy and out of control at home? Check. Life is crumbling around me? Check.

We watch as Bruce uses all of God’s might to get the things he wants in life. He is given every advantage, which he uses, in the beginning, only for himself. We read as Job loses everything he loves in life.  Still Job praises the Lord.  Bruce…well, it takes a good hour and 41 minutes to get him straightened out. Only after having phenomenal cosmic powers does he discover how difficult God's job is and how loving God truly is.

Job is who I want to me, praising God in the storm. In reality, I’m closer to Bruce asking why the almighty is picking on me. Bruce's line that God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I'm the ant. Also "Smite me, O mighty smiter!", ring in my head on occasion. Do I think Satan tests me? Absolutely. Do I fall down? Yes.

I hold on to my faith in God because I believe he has faith in me and that he is holding on to me tight through the challenging days.

Prayer for Reflection

Genesis 2: 15-17, 3:1-7
Psalm 32
Romans 5:12-19
Matthew 4:1-11