WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday October 26, 2014
Over 67,000
readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com
WHO’S
IN CONTROL?
(Admitting
wrongdoing and submitting to GOD’s wisdom)
(Job
42:1-10)
The strength to face difficult times is not found in our “knowing
why” we must face them, but rather, it lies in “the confidence that we have”
that our great GOD loves us completely, and that HE is still in charge of
everything that goes on in this world. Ultimately, Job came to realize that
fact, and he also came to realize how we as human beings don’t need answers to
life’s problems, as much as we need GOD HIMSELF.
In Job 42:1-6, we see Job’s repentant heart being manifested in
his final recorded response to GOD. There he declares;
“I know that YOU can do
anything, and no one can stop YOU. YOU ask, “Who is this that questions MY
wisdom with such ignorance?” It is I, and I was talking about things I did not
understand, things far too wonderful for me. YOU said, “Listen and I will
speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them”. I had heard
about YOU before, but now I have seen YOU with my own eyes. I take back
everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance”
(NLT).
In Job 42:10, after Job had shown “a forgiving spirit” toward his
friends who had questioned his integrity, GOD restores Job completely by
releasing him from his suffering, and restoring him back his fortune, twofold. GOD, through HIS
perfectly scrutinizing vision, saw Job’s need for minor improvements in his
relationship with HIM, and Job showed that need to us by way of his statement
of doubt and hidden fear in Job 3:25, where he says;
“What I always feared has
happened to me. What I dreaded has come to be” (NLT).
It was a statement that displayed a deeply embedded “iota of
mistrust” in GOD, despite all of the blessings that GOD had previously bestowed
upon him. GOD allowed satan to squeeze Job until it was brought to his
attention, and when Job realized his fault, he quickly repented, and he also
took back all that he had said in his ignorance about the power and sovereignty
of the Almighty GOD (42:1-6).
Back in Job 14:14, Job asked the question, “If mortals die, can they live again?” He also goes on to say, that,
“this thought would give me hope, and
through my struggle, I would eagerly await for my release”. In the Gospel
of Saint Mark, in chapter 16, John Mark gives us a vivid description of the
events that occurred on that early Sunday morning, surrounding the resurrection
of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. This particular morning went down in
history as the greatest morning to ever dawn on the souls of mankind, and it brought
with it, a realization of that “hope of release” that Job had so prophetically
spoke about, all those years earlier. It was, quite literally, “the dawn of the
Christian Hope”.
When JESUS came, bringing healing to men’s bodies, and salvation
to men’s souls, HE, in effect, had begun “the work of creation” all over again.
Remember, in the beginning, all things had been made good (Genesis 1:31),
however, since that time, the sins of man had ruined it all. But on that
glorious resurrection morning, and in fact, throughout JESUS’ three-year
earthly ministry, we see HIM bringing back “the beauty of GOD” to a world, that
had long ago, been rendered “ugly” by the sins of man.
The story of Job is the supreme example of suffering in the Old
Testament times, however, “the passion of CHRIST”, is the supreme example of
suffering, for all time. GOD released Job from his suffering, because of his
faith, and because of his righteous obedience to HIM. And likewise, JESUS can
and will, release us from our suffering, for precisely the same reason.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
No comments:
Post a Comment