1 week Ago By By Jonathan Rockey Faith
As I write this devotion it is election day in the US, but I am on a train in Germany from Munich to Wittenberg. Nevertheless Kathy and I did vote on October 16 before leaving the country. Personally, I am not sure that in my 71 years I have ever experienced a US election which is so bitter and divisive.
However, I believe this election reflects the different directions which people are taking in our culture and our country. In fact, I had to laugh, somewhat sadly, at a daily email which I receive from the Washington Post, which mentioned the election. “Some voters are taking extreme measures to avoid Election Day Stress.
Like what? Fleeing to the woods, locking away their phones, trying hypnosis and stocking up on cannabis. One woman even strategically timed a colonoscopy.” That’s a lot of stress and anxiety over the election! In my daily devotions, as I am reading through Scriptures with a group of other Christians, we recently finished Job.
This can be a difficult book to understand, because it tackles some difficult questions. “Why is there evil in the world?” “Why do bad things happen to God’s (good) people?” Job is a child of God, active in his faith, who is attacked by Satan. He struggles with his suffering and wonders why God is doing this to him.
The real answer we can see is that this is not God’s doing, but the work of God’s enemy and our enemy, the devil. Yet, Job still questions God. What makes Job’s struggle more complicated is that three, then a fourth, of his friends come to comfort him.
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar try to help Job, but they just cause more confusion and trouble. Their basic reasoning is that God does not punish the good, but only the evil. Therefore, “You, Job, must have done something wrong.
Repent!” Job responds, but he is also confused. So, through much of the book of Job we have words which God later counts as being incorrect and untrue. According to the Lord, the thoughts and words of Job’s friends require repentance.
These words and the reasoning of Job’s friends do not take 3 truths into account. First, everyone has sinned. Second, we live in a broken world where Satan is active.
And, third, all of us need the help and the deliverance of God. So, between words of faith (For example, Job 19:25-27) and doubt, Job continues to suffer. Later Job’s friend Elihu also comes and speaks.
Finally, however, the Lord Himself appears and gives answers to Job and his friends, sort of. The Lord’s basic words to Job and his friends are “Who are YOU to question ME? Were you there when I created the world? Can you explain how this world works? If so, then you know the answers to your other questions.” In some ways God’s answer can seem like a non-answer.
But God’s answer is actually a dose of reality concerning who we are, and what shape our world is in. Perhaps we need this dose of reality as God’s children work through another election! The questions of Job and his friends, and the response of God, help us when we face a world of sin and suffering. Ultimately, in this life, God is our hope, our deliverer, our Savior! In the middle of our election division and anxiety, there are some truths which God has shared in His word, truths of our Lord which might also help to ground us all through the coming days as ballots are counted.
· God has established governments to give peace and order to the world and to His people. (Romans 13:1-7, see also 1 Timothy 2:1-4) · Rulers, like all people, are sinful. (Romans 3:10-24) Righteousness comes FROM God, Through Jesus! · We are to trust in God, not rulers.
(Psalm 20:6-7) · God calls us to pray for our rulers so that they may provide opportunity for peaceful and quiet lives. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) · God still calls His people to love Him and to love others. (Mark 12:28-31) · Jesus is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
(Revelation 17:14 and 19:16) · Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. (John 18:36) · Jesus still rules over this world for the good of His church. (Ephesians 1:18-23) · Our help and hope are in THE LORD, the maker of heaven and earth! (Psalm 121:1-2) Perhaps the current election cycle has you wondering what Job wondered.
“Where is God in all this?” God’s answers may seem confusing. Yet, the Lord calls His people to know that He is God. The Lord calls us to find peace and comfort in His wisdom and grace and rule.
When we allow the Lord to rule our hearts, through faith in Jesus, we can have that peace, even when life is confusing and troublesome..
