Grace to Endure

O. T. #1142  "Grace to Endure"
Jan 29, 2018
Job 18

LET IT GLOW

Here's the second round for Bildad. He sees this whole thing as a wearisome repetitious group of monotonous words. Clearly, the man is no longer interested in Job's pain. He's only interested in Job's shutting up and admitting that he's sinful. Period. (Swindoll)

But Job has no need to repent, for he had done nothing wrong to merit his situation. In Bildad's theology, a person is blessed with prosperity and good health when they are in God's will. On the other hand, if you are suffering, then you're out of God's will. This meant God wanted everybody well since He is sovereign and all powerful. But this is a flawed theology. If God wanted everybody well, they would be well. After all, he is God.

We understand that God does all things according to His purposes. He allows sickness, permits pain, even tests us. After all, He is in charge. We are not. If we pray for someone's healing, and it doesn't come, we shouldn't conclude that it is their fault. God doesn't want everyone well, for reasons only known to Him, sometimes. Maybe it takes a stroke, a disease, a loss of job, a loss of spouse to get one to turn to God in his time of need.

Do Job's friends think that if they press the issue long and hard enough, Job will finally admit his sin? Would Job be wondering by this time how he could shut up these guys?
I'm beginning to understand why we speak of the patience of Job. I thought it referred to his enduring the illness, and losses, but maybe it was his patience with his friends. He didn't kick dirt in their face and yell at them to leave.
I wouldn't have endured as long as Job did, listening to the second round of accusations in their long speeches. The first round would have been enough for me. How about you?

LET IT GROW

Paul encountered a thorn in the flesh for a while. He prayed, asking God to remove it 3 times. Did God remove it? No. Look at what Paul heard in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.
Then Paul said, Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

MacArthur writes that the present tense of the verb "is sufficient" reveals the constant availability of divine grace. God would continually supply Paul with grace to endure it.

I see people with a health problem, a disability, a situation that has continued for years in their life. They endure, make the adjustments required, continue on living for the glory of God. A couple of woman come to my mind.
Jennifer Rothschild made it through the questions of her loss of eye sight as a teenager. Joni Eareckson Tada has adjusted to being a quadriplegic in a wheelchair for more than three decades.
These ladies accepted God's will for a different life than they would have chosen. Yet their witness of faith in God is so strong and encouraging to us all. The key was surrendering to whatever God's plan was for them. If Jennifer had complete eyesight and Joni could walk, would they have the same effective ministry as they have had throughout their lifetime?

Paul was willing to accept the mystery of God's will in leaving him with the affliction after he had urgently prayed for relief three times! (Swindoll)

The weaker the person, the more they depend upon God's grace to endure.
Is Job there in this part of his life? I don't think so. So far, he is just defending himself, declaring innocence.

What about your situation, dear one? Are you in need of some divine grace to endure whatever you are going through? His supply is always available and continues to flow.

LET IT GO

Submit and accept God's will for my infirmities.
Depend upon His divine grace to get me through life with it.
Give God the glory for His strength to carry on.