Key Verses: Job 3:25
For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.

To say that Job wished he had never been born would be an understatement. God would not allow Satan to kill Job, but everything short of death was thrown at him. Job cried out, “Why did I not die at birth?” Jesus, in His 100% humanity, cried out, “Why?” (Matthew 27:45-49). Jesus and Job no doubt have met already. I think Jesus would probably say, “Job, I understand what you went through.”

Consider what true friends are, as described at the end of Job 2: (1) They heard of Job’s adversity. (2) They made appointments and travelled to visit him. (3) They mourned with Job. (4) They comforted him. (5) Job was so emaciated they did not recognize him and they lifted their voices and wept. (6) They tore their clothes in a show of grieving. (7) Job was sitting in a heap of ashes and his friends identified with him by sprinkling dust on their heads. (8) They sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. (9) They did not speak for an entire week because Job’s grief was very great. (10) Then they heard Job speak first. He said, “May the day perish on which I was born.” Let us meditate on the words of the first friend as we read (again slowly perhaps) the words of Eliphaz in Chapter 4.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I’m so very thankful for at least three true friends with whom You have blessed me through the years. I pray that You will work in me sufficiently that I will be a true friend to several others. Your Word tells me that You, Lord, are a Friend “that sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 17:17 & Proverbs 18:24b). Lord Jesus, You are a true Friend! Thank You for being my Friend (Matthew 11:19). Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

(Happy Birthday Dad!) My son, Ronald Wesley Mainse, who sets up the structure for me for the blog, typed that greeting! I assure you, my son, unlike Job, I’ve never wished that I’d never been born. I’m filled with joy at the fact that I was born on August 13, 1936, in the house pictured below in Campbell’s Bay, Quebec. There are six years between me and my closest sister in age, Elaine Boudinot, who lives now in Kentucky. My sister told me that mother had three miscarriages during those six years. I find that sad, and I hope to learn all about the “Why” question some day in eternity.

There are two others mentioned in Ezekiel 14 besides Job. They are Noah and Daniel. An extra study for today could be Ezekiel 14:12-23. All three were severely tested. Can I expect to sail through life without testing? I think not!

There have been times when I’ve visited friends in deep turmoil. Often there are no adequate words to speak. I trusted that my presence would say loudly, “I care deeply about you.”

Yours for deep and lasting friendships,

David