God’s Purposes

I have to wonder how often I interpret circumstances and the things I face differently that how God sees them. How about you? As I read Job 16 and 17, that is exactly what Job was doing. Job was convinced that God had evil intent toward him. Read what he says in Job 16:12-14

Job 16:12-14 I was at ease,

• he broke me apart,
• he seized my neck and dashed me to pieces,
• he set me up as a target.
• He breaks me with breech upon breach

Job 16:7 God has worn me out. He has made desolate all my company

Job 16:8-9 He has shriveled me up. My leanness has risen up against me. These testify that God has torn me in his wrath and hated me.

Wow! That’s quite the accusations against God! God is trying to break me with breech upon breach! God is against me and has turned everyone else against me! He is mad at me and God hates me!

As Job faced his circumstances, (and mind you, they were more difficult than most of us will ever have to face) he attributed to God malicious motives, harmful and maybe even spiteful.

Have you ever been there? Are you tempted to interpret difficulties as God is out to get you, or at the very least, He doesn’t care about you?

But, what was the truth for Job? What was Gods’ opinion of Job?

Job 1:8 “there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God ones turns from evil
Job 2: 3 God felt so strongly about his opinion of Job he repeated it in chapter 2. “There is no one like him in all the earth!”

There are times when what He does hurts, but why does He do what He does?

What was Job’s answer to that question?

Job 42:2 “No purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job concludes that God knows what He is doing!
Job 42:5 “I had heard of you… but now my eye sees you..” I thought I knew you, but what I knew was only head knowledge. Now, I know you experientially!

What was Joseph’s answer to that question?

Genesis 45:4-11 Do not be distressed or angry with yourselves… for God sent me before you to preserve life… It was not you who sent me here, but God…
Genesis 50:20 You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good… Joseph recognized his brothers had ill intent, and evil motives, but not God. He did not attribute any of their actions as evil from God!

What is God’s opinion of you? What is true? Does God ever do things just to be mean, spiteful?

Heb 12:11 God’s desire is to use circumstances to train you and to help you to grow in character!

Rom 5:3-5 If you choose to be trained by trials, they will produce patience. As you wait on God, it will build your character. As you see God keep His word, and prove He is faithful, it builds your hope and confidence that God will continue to keep His Word. And this whole process shows you how much God loves you!

James 1:2-4 God loves you so much He wants you to grow to become steadfast / persevere so that you lack nothing spiritually.

Eph 4:13 God’s plan for you is “mature manhood.” That you will grow into the measure of the statue of Christ!

Ian Thomas said, “We don’t need to know His plan, we just need to know Him!” That’s my prayer for you today!