Sunday message= disruptive moments

This was actually the title of Dr Jeremiah's message (which I listened to Saturday at 4 AM), and a very good one.  He focused his message on I Corinthians 12 and Hebrews 12; but when it comes to moments like these, I have my own go-to place.  Moments like what?  C'mon, we all have them.  I have a friend who is having one with her husband right now; another with his health; others with life choices.I have a hand that is totally having one with typing this morning, but that's neither here nor there.  Point is, we all have them.  Look at Job.


Job certainly had one- he lost everything, with the exception of a wife he probably wished he could trade in.  The reaction of Job and his friends- and God to them- teach us the dynamics of these disruptive moments in our lives.

For you see, there are three possible spiritual reactions to these times.  One was evidenced by Job's friends, who were about as much comfort as his wife,  They said, "Surely this has happened due to sin in your life."  There you go, the disruption is totally YOUR fault.  You have done something, not done something, about to do or not do something, haven't said the proper magic prayer words.  God isn't leading you or teaching you, He's punishing you.  And as a result, you run around yelling at God, "WTH did I do?"

Now Job, he started out knowing he had not sinned; but unfortunately, the more his friends told him he must have, the more he said, "NO I DIDN'T!"  And that caused Him to wonder what God thought He was doing to Him in this catastrophe.  "Knock it off, God, I haven't done ANYTHING to deserve this"- AKA it's totally GOD'S fault.  He is just capriciously letting this happen, standing back and letting Satan have at you for no good reason.  And as a result, you run around yelling at God rather than listening to Him.

Which brings us to Elihu, who tries to explain to the stubborn Job and the misguided friends that God HAS His reasons for the disruptive moment.

Job 37:11  Yea, he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture; He spreadeth abroad the cloud of his lightning: 
Job 37:12  And it is turned round about by his guidance, That they may do whatsoever he commandeth them Upon the face of the habitable world, 
Job 37:13  Whether it be for correction, or for his land, Or for lovingkindness, that he cause it to come. 
Job 37:14  Hearken unto this, O Job: Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 

See, Elihu is telling Job that God's reasons may be beyond him now, but they ARE there.  Whether it is for correction (as the friends would suggest), or to create a change on the earth and it's people, or just to give people the opportunity to show God's mercy to others, there is a reason.  Are you going to get it 100% of the time?  Hah, better to pray for once in a while.  But you'll have no chance if you are playing the blame game and not listening to what God might be saying.

But, that wasn't the end of the story, oh, no.  Because then God Himself had three points to make.  The first one was, "Have you done what I have done?"  God spends the next 71 verses asking Job that.  Where were you when I built all this?  In other words, don't assign motives you understand to God whom you do not.  Then, he goes on to tell Job, " Let's see you do what I CAN do:"

Job 40:10  Deck thyself now with excellency and dignity; And array thyself with honor and majesty. 

Job 40:11  Pour forth the overflowings of thine anger; And look upon every one that is proud, and abase him. 

Job 40:12  Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; And tread down the wicked where they stand. 

Job 40:13  Hide them in the dust together; Bind their faces in the hidden place. 

Job 40:14  Then will I also confess of thee That thine own right hand can save thee. 

He then goes on to preach to Job about Behemoth and Leviathan (which I will not distract you here with my theories on), creatures that are beyond the harms of man.  Things Job had no hope of controlling of himself.

But then, God seems to shift in His discussion of Leviathan.  It is more than just a simple creature from 41:12 on:

Job 41:15  His strong scales are his pride, Shut up together as with a close seal. 

Job 41:16  One is so near to another, That no air can come between them. 

Job 41:17  They are joined one to another; They stick together, so that they cannot be sundered. 

Job 41:18  His sneezings flash forth light, And his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. 

Job 41:19  Out of his mouth go burning torches, And sparks of fire leap forth. 

Job 41:20  Out of his nostrils a smoke goeth, As of a boiling pot and burning rushes. 

Job 41:21  His breath kindleth coals, And a flame goeth forth from his mouth. 

Job 41:22  In his neck abideth strength, And terror danceth before him. 

Fire breathing dragon, much?  And who else is known as a Dragon in the Bible?

Job 41:33  Upon earth there is not his like, That is made without fear. 

Job 41:34  He beholdeth everything that is high: He is king over all the sons of pride. 

See, God has, at verse 12, shifted into a description of Satan, our adversary.  And He makes clear to Job that, not only is he the antagonist of the story all along, but that Job- and we ourselves, without God- stand no chance against Him.

With this, God has shown us a fourth reason for trials that Elihu left out:  To bring us to God, that He might fight our battles for us.  It should not be lost on us that it took 42 chapters of Job defending himself to get him there... how stubborn will you be?

In epilogue, Dr Jeremiah made one very BIG point near the end of his sermon:  that perhaps our response to the disruptive moment should be to thank God, 

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin: 

Heb 12:5  and ye have forgotten the exhortation which reasoneth with you as with sons, My son, regard not lightly the chastening of the Lord, Nor faint when thou art reproved of him; 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, And scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

Heb 12:7  It is for chastening that ye endure; God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father chasteneth not? 

Heb 12:8  But if ye are without chastening, whereof all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

because you, if you receive them, must surely be His son or daughter.