FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL

LESSONS OF JOB
(Part 2)

MIGHTY IS THE LORD!

How does God get our attention? Especially in our current milieu of many worldly distractions? How does God get us to appreciate who He is, a God of power and might? How often would we look up to the heavens on a clear night, to contemplate the vastness and greatness of His created universe? How often do we thank Him for our life, the shelter of our homes, the food on our tables? And in the giant leaps of mankind in the fields of technology, how do we come to realize that we are really nothing apart from God, and helpless without His aid?

Man has become haughty. He looks to his great accomplishments. And he is unmindful of the God who is the source of all gifts. How can God once again humble man, for his own good?

The floods last Saturday brought to us the stark realization of our own helplessness in the face of nature's onslaught. But the waters are under God's control. "Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!" (Job 38:11). God allowed the floods in order to catch our attention, in order to teach us, in order to humble us. If we learn the lessons God wants to teach us, then the suffering wrought by the floods would have been a blessing.

Who is our God? He is the mighty and powerful King. "The Lord is king, robed with majesty; the Lord is robed, girded with might. The flood has raised up, Lord; the flood has raised up its roar; the flood has raised its pounding waves. More powerful than the roar of many waters, more powerful than the breakers of the sea, powerful in the heavens is the Lord." (Ps 93:1a,3-4).

Is it then surprising that calamities bring people to God? When there are calamities, the churches are packed. Unfortunately, after a while, people are back to their old ways, unmindful of God, relying on themselves, happily going about their own ways apart from the ways of God. And so time and again God reminds us. For our own good.

When we see the power of nature, we must see the power of God. When we realize our helplessness against the onslaught of the floods, we must realize our helplessness without He who has power over nature. Then we must be led to worship God, and acknowledge in humility who He is and who we are. He is mighty King, and our lives are totally in His hands. We can trust in Him. "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Though its waters rage and foam and mountains totter at its surging. The Lord of hosts is with us; our stronghold is the God of Jacob." (Ps 46:2,4).

Our people have suffered a devastating flood. God allowed it. Rest assured, God loves our people very much, and has a great plan for our land, to be a light to the world. If our suffering leads us to a greater realization of who God is, if it leads us to prayer and worship, if it makes us place our lives totally in His care, if we become mindful of all our blessings despite the problems of life, then what has happened to us is truly redemptive.

"The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is power; the voice of the Lord is splendor. The Lord sits enthroned above the flood! The Lord reigns as king forever! May the Lord give might to his people; may the Lord bless his people with peace!" (Ps 29:3-4,10-11)..

May the Lord always be your consolation and strength.

frank

(September 30, 2009)

"For to me life is Christ, and death is gain." (Phil 1:21)

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Lessons of Job - Part 2[PDF]