February 24 I Wednesday

Numbers 7-8

Mark 4:21-41

“[Job’s] wife said to him, ‘Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!’ [Job] replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’”   —Job 2:9-10

There are some who look at their circumstances and interpret God by their circumstances. For example, when their circumstances are evil and difficult, God is evil and difficult. This also causes us to doubt God because our circumstances do not seem to fit what we expect of God. To interpret God in this manner is unbelief. Faith is looking into our circumstances and interpreting them by God, willingly trusting Him no matter what is going on. There is a big difference between saying, “These things happened; therefore, God is not good” and saying, “God is good; therefore, He will redeem what has happened.” 

Some of the best things God has done in people’s lives were through experiences that people would have done anything to avoid, such as difficulty and pain. Some of us may agree that our faith in God grows the most through the trials and sufferings we face. The writer of Hebrews tells us how faith may be tested: “There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released....Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword…” (Hebrew 11:35-37). Those who experienced hardship were equally commended for their faith. What was the nature of the faith that they were commended for? Not that God would do this or that, or take them out of there, but their faith in God was faith in God. Their security was found not in their circumstances, for their security was in God Himself.

In the Old Testament, Job experienced loss, sadness and pain. His wife, discouraged by Job’s circumstances, told him, “Curse God and die!” But Job responded, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” (Job 2:9-10). Even though Job had a funeral for all ten of his children, lost all of his resources and was covered with sores from head to toe, he looked at God and interpreted his circumstances by God. Job knew that God is good, so even when his circumstance showed despair, he did not forget God’s goodness. 

Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This is not that all things are good, but in all things, God works for the good. Even though things that happen in our life may be bad, our firm faith in God allows us to interpret and understand our circumstances in light of His goodness. 

Prayer: Almighty God, You are good. I ask that I never forget Your goodness even when I experience difficulties and hardship in life. Thank You, God!