The Consolation of jobs three friends

The Consolation Of Job's Three Friends 

Job 2:11-13 NKJV

[11] Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him. [12] And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven. [13] So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

      For seven days and seven nights, they sat on the ground with Job and did not speak a single word. This was an act of profound, silent solidarity. They recognized that Job's grief was so great that words would have been inadequate and perhaps even an intrusion. Their presence alone was the consolation, a powerful demonstration of their empathy and a willingness to simply sit with their friend in his pain.

    According to Poole, " Seven days and seven nights was the usual time of mourning for the dead, Gen 50:10; 1Sa 31:13, and therefore proper both for Job’s children, who were dead, and for Job himself, who was in a manner dead whilst he lived.”  After this, the begins a discussion in the next thirty five chapters trying to place the reason for these infirmities.

   Morgan says that " Job suffered more at the hands of these friends ultimately than by the attacks of the foe, yet some recognition must be made of the goodness of the men.” 

    Bradley finally submits that, " We leave Job and his friends seated in silence. There is calm around them, but we feel that the air is heavy, and that there is a tempest in the sky. We shall hear the storm burst and the thunder roll when next we meet.” How do you respond to others in their crises? How do you evaluate what happens to others? Sometimes being silent may speak loads of sympathy than hurrying to talk. Someone says that " Silence is the genius of fools and one of the virtues of the wise." How do you react to others in trouble? Good morning.

Curse God And Die

Curse God And Die 

Job 2:7-10 NKJV

[7] So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. [8] And he took for himself a potsherd with which to scrape himself while he sat in the midst of the ashes. [9] Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” [10] But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

     The title is spoken by Job's wife after he had lost everything and the enemy turned it's attack on Job's health. He is afflicted with painful sores, and sits in ashes, a sign of deep mourning. Some scholars are sympathetic to Jobs wife after they lost everything. According to them,She was watching her husband, whom she loved, suffer in excruciating pains. So from a human perspective, she may have felt that death was the only escape from such unbearable suffering. Maybe this was her way of expressing her grief and frustration with God. 

      Within the larger narrative, her words are a direct temptation to Job. The devil had told God that Job would curse Him if the blessings were taken away. Knowingly or unknowingly, Job's wife's words were to prove satan's claims. In v10, Job told her that she speaks as a foolish woman. That's the central theme of the book of Job. It is the human tendency to question God's goodness and justice when suffering occurs. She's not presented as a villain but as someone whose faith has faltered in the face of very tough pains.

     How do you respond to situations that may appear as if God is silent? How do you react when others think God is punishing you for your secret crimes. How do you feel when others submit that you're a victim of your parental sins. Do you just accept them? Is there a way out in the New Testament? You have to follow up this vignettes. You'll be happy you did. Good morning.

Skin For Skin

Skin for skin!

Job 2:3-6 NKJV

[3] Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” [4] So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. [5] But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” [6] And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.”

    The phrase "skin for skin" is a proverb Satan uses to accuse Job of being in a selfish, transactional faith. It's an ancient saying with a meaning similar to "a person will give anything to save their own life."According to Lawson, the phrase in Job’s ancient culture,..." was a bartering term meaning to trade one skin for another." The devil is here accusing Job of being willing to risk the skin of his children and livestock in order to protect his own skin.” 

    It's important to take a closer look at this accusation. What is a transactional faith? Transactional faith is a mindset that views one's relationship with God as a quid pro quo or a business-like exchange. In this view, people believe that if they perform certain actions—like praying, attending church, or giving money—God is obligated to provide them with specific blessings or outcomes in return. This can lead to a belief that good deeds or adherence to religious rules will guarantee prosperity, health, or protection, while a lack of blessings is a sign that one has not done enough or has committed a sin.

    This type of faith often treats God like a vending machine: you put in your good deeds and prayers, and a blessing is dispensed. When the expected blessing doesn't come, it can lead to feelings of disappointment, guilt, or the belief that something is wrong with one's own faith or actions. 

The primary motivation is to receive a benefit, whether it's salvation, financial gain, or personal comfort. This is in contrast to a relational or transformational faith, which focuses on knowing and loving God for who He is, not just for what He can provide.

    To move toward a more relational faith involves shifting the focus from "what can I get?" to "who is God?" and "who am I in relationship with God?" It emphasizes that God's love is unconditional and not based on our performance. This shift involves:

​Prioritizing relationship over rules: Focusing on building a personal, loving relationship with God rather than simply following a list of rules or obligations.

     We have to learn to trust that God's plan is not always a direct response to our specific requests. His love remains constant even when prayers aren't answered in the ways we expect.We have to recognize that faith is a gift and not something that can be earned or bought.Touching Job's health was not to change things, neither should it be for you. Good morning.

The Enemy's Premtive Strike

The Enemy's Pre-emptive Strike

Job 1:13-17 NKJV

[13] Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; [14] and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, [15] when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” [16] While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” [17] While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

     A pre-emptive strike is a first-strike attack. In the military, it may be done as an act of self defence, but in spiritual warfare it is used by the devil as an act of dominion. This strike is  launched with the intention of crippling your ability to retaliate. The term is most commonly used in the context of nuclear strategy, where a first strike would aim to destroy the opponent's nuclear arsenal (e.g., missile silos, submarine bases, bomber airfields) and command and control centers, thus preventing a devastating counterattack. This is what America did to Iran recently . So all the people who would have gathered around Job in prayers and intercession were wiped out by that pre-emptive strike. The strike continued till v.20 when Job declared that he came out of the mother's womb empty, and will return same.

     The very goal of any response is not just to retaliate, but to re-establish deterrence and prevent further escalation. In spiritual warfare, some prayers are preventive, others are fostering. You have to know the difference and when to apply which. There are prayers you can pray alone, and there are prayers you must extend it's influence by co-opting others. In Job's case, many did not even understand what he was experiencing. At a time, the wife told him to curse God and die. You must have prayer partners. It's time to repel the bombardment of the enemy. Start today. Good morning.

Gods Permission On Things Only

Gods Permission On Things Only 

Job 1:12 NKJV

[12] And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

    To understand this verse, we must understand the relationship between God, the Father and the devil. The relationship between God and the devil is one where God maintains ultimate authority. It's not a relationship of equals. God's sovereignty is absolute, and the devil cannot act without divine allowance. The reasons for the permission are often explained as part of a larger divine plan, which may include testing human faith, demonstrating God's power, or fulfilling a higher purpose that is not always immediately clear to humans.

    When God granted permission for Satan to test Job, God was so good to keep the enemy within bounds. Read that verse again. " Behold, all that he has is in your power..". In the execution, the enemy went for Job's health. The enemy doesn't understand what it means to play fair. The enemy worked on the wife for Job to curse God and die. The enemy killed Job's children and turned friends against him, but it had boundaries. I may not understand your testimony, but the enemy has boundaries. God is so loving that He has not allowed the enemy to consume you. I can tell you on good records, you're coming out of it. The permission was on things. Your life is too precious in the sight of God. Here is a Bible verse that reminds everyone how precious you are to God, so much that God will do it again:

 Isaiah 43:4,"Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life". Hallelujah! In Jesus Name. Good morning.

The Celebration Of Purim

The Celebration Of Purim

Esther 9:18-22 NKJV

[18] But the Jews who were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day, as well as on the fourteenth; and on the fifteenth of the month they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. [19] Therefore the Jews of the villages who dwelt in the unwalled towns celebrated the fourteenth day of the month of Adar with gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and for sending presents to one another. [20] And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters to all the Jews, near and far, who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, [21] to establish among them that they should celebrate yearly the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar, [22] as the days on which the Jews had rest from their enemies, as the month which was turned from sorrow to joy for them, and from mourning to a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and joy, of sending presents to one another and gifts to the poor. 

    Purim is a joyous Jewish holiday that commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people from a plot to annihilate them in ancient Persia. The story unfolds in the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus. His chief minister, Haman, was a wicked man who sought to destroy all the Jews in the kingdom. Haman cast lots (purim in Hebrew) to determine the date of the massacre, which fell on the 13th of the Hebrew month of Adar. Purim is a festive and lively holiday, often compared to a carnival. The celebration is centered around four main activities:

    1 Reading the book of Esther 

    2 Sending food to families and friends 

    3 Giving charity to the poor 

    4 Wearing masks and costumes 

   Purim demonstrates the incredible human capacity for resilience and finding light in the darkest of times. It's a journey that many people have taken, transforming their deepest sorrow into a source of strength, purpose, and even profound happiness.

 This transformation may not mean you forget the process. Instead, it's about how that pain is re-contextualized. The tragedy becomes the very soil from which something beautiful can grow. May we have cause to celebrate any and every tragedy that the devil had intended to swallow us with. Purim mean the casting of lots. The devil has lost the game. We celebrate Purim today. Good morning.

The Thirteenth Of Adar: The Day Of Reversal

The Thirteenth Of Adar: The Day of Reversal

Esther 9:1-4 NKJV

[1] Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king’s command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them. [2] The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could withstand them, because fear of them fell upon all people. [3] And all the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and all those doing the king’s work, helped the Jews, because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them. [4] For Mordecai was great in the king’s palace, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces; for this man Mordecai became increasingly prominent. 

      The 13th of Adar was the date chosen by the wicked Haman for the annihilation of the Jewish people throughout the Persian Empire. He had cast lots ("purim") to determine the most "auspicious" day for this plan, and it fell on the 13th of Adar. However, due to the courageous actions of Esther and Mordechai, the king issued a new decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves. As a result, the day that was meant for their destruction became a day of victory. The Jews were able to defeat those who sought to harm them, turning a day of darkness into a day of triumph. We call it the day of reversal.

    Reversal is a change to an opposite state, condition, decision. In a storyline, a reversal is a powerful narrative technique where the plot or a character's situation changes to its complete opposite. It's a dramatic turning point that upends the audience's expectations and shifts the story in a new and often surprising direction. This story has shifted unto the celebration for the Jews.

     The 13th is associated with misfortune in the occult.This fear is so common that it has its own name: "triskaidekaphobia". Many hotels and buildings in Western countries skip the 13th floor, and some airlines don't have a 13th row. A major source of this superstition is the story of the Last Supper, where 13 people were present: Jesus and his 12 apostles. The 13th to arrive at the table was Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus. This event has led to the superstition that having 13 people at a dinner table is a bad omen. Additionally, some biblical interpretations associate the number 13 with rebellion and apostasy, a departure from divine order. The 13th chapter of the Book of Revelation, for instance, speaks of the Antichrist and the "beast." Whatever the 13th represents, the authority of the name of Jesus can change things as it happened here. This was even in the old testament. It is better now with a new covenant.  From now on, we change all thirteenth to a day of reversal in your favour. No one can stop that. Good morning.