Confession

Ok, time for confession.  Obviously, I didn't post a blog yesterday.  Yes, I did the reading, and had even begun my blog post early enough in the day (I thought) for my friends in the Eastern time zone.  Then I got sidetracked.  And now I sit here wondering what made me think I would have something to say every day.  And what made me think anyone would actually want to read it. And yes, there was definitely pride thinking I would somehow bless you all with my vast knowledge and wisdom.  And that people would flock to my blog.  Oh, well.  Better that those delusions of grandeur are crushed early and often.  Let's make one thing perfectly clear:  this blog is about God speaking to us from His Word.  "Great and Unsearchable Things" are what HE promises us when we ask, and when we search the pages of the Bible.  (See Jeremiah 33:2-3)  So, if you are still here on Day 4, good for you.  You are well on your way to hearing from Him. 

A couple of notes from Day 3 (Genesis 8-11):
The genealogies after the flood are designed to give us an overview of the peoples of the world.  All nations descend from Noah and his three sons, but there is one branch of the family tree that is particularly important:  the one from which the Savior will come.  The others are mentioned only for context.  The ones who will play supporting roles are mentioned here:  the descendants of Canaan (the Hittites, Hivites, Jebusites, Gergashites, etc.); Nimrod, the founder of Babylon; the Philistines.  These descendants of Ham will show up later in the story as enemies of Israel, the main branch of the family tree. 

Israel and ultimately the Savior descend from Noah's son Shem.  We are given a little detail about some of the peripheral lines, but the main focus is on the the line that extends from Shem to Abram.  You might find it interesting that there were 10 generations from Adam to Noah, spanning approximately 2000 years.  There are also 10 generations from Shem to Abram, but these generations span only about 600 years.  The average lifespan has decreased dramatically.  In fact, in these 10 generations, only one (Eber) outlives Shem.  Shem was still alive when Abraham was born and, in fact, is still living after Abraham dies!  Even Abraham's son Isaac could have heard the account of the flood firsthand from Shem. 

So....why on Day 4 do we move to the book of Job (chapters 1-5)?  There are a couple of clues from Genesis 10.  One of the descendants of Shem that is NOT part of the Messianic line is Jobab, son of Joktan, son of Eber (Gen.10:29).  Some scholars think this is the one we know as Job.  Job lives in the land of Uz, and Uz was one of the sons of Shem's son Aram (again, not part of the Messianic line -- see Gen.10:23)  So, Job fits here in the chronological view.  He comes after Noah but before Abraham.  Even though his story is categorized with the books of poetry (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) it fits here in the chronology. 

Just a few observations:

1. Satan is spending his time walking on the earth.  After Adam and Eve sinned, the Serpent was cursed to crawl on his belly in the dust.  That is essentially what he is doing here.  He doesn't enter the presence of God unless summoned. 
2. Job, like Noah, is blameless but not sinless.  He believes God and offers the acceptable sacrifices for his sin, and for this reason is counted righteous.  Satan has been observing Job, and is itching for an opportunity to counteract the good that God has accomplished through His servant Job.  This reminds me of something I've read:  Live your life so that when your feet hit the floor in the morning, the devil says, "Oh, shoot, she's up!"
3. The harm that comes to Job's family is permitted by God but not caused by God.  It is the devil who kills and destroys.  Satan deceives himself into thinking he is more powerful than God.  Given this opportunity, he gleefully does whatever he can to Job and his family.  But God will use this opportunity to demonstrate His greater power in the faithfulness of a true believer.  Do we believe God's power is greater, and are we willing to let it be demonstrated in us?
4. Job curses the day he was born, and says he wants to die.  But he does not, as his wife suggests, curse God.  In his mind that would be worse than death.  Have you ever suffered so much you would rather die, or wished you had not been born?
5. Job's friend Eliphaz assumes that Job is getting what he deserves for some unknown sin.  He says that if Job will just confess to God, everything will be alright.  He thinks he has it all figured out.  "According to what I have seen..." (Job 4:8).  How often do we make judgments of others based on what we have seen? 

So....sorry for the long post.  How are things going with you?  What have you learned?  Are you, or someone you know, going through a trial and in need of prayer?