The God Who Works

For He performs what is appointed for me….

Job 23:14

Job was a deep thinker. His trials brought him to think even more deeply. Our text for today, brings us to consider Job’s contemplation of the Sovereignty of God as it respected him personally, ‘For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are with Him.’ For the moment, let us dwell upon just the first two words of the text, ‘He performs.’ Where does this lead us in terms of our understanding of God and of His ways? We understand by this that God works. Put in Christological terms, Christ works. ‘He performs,’ is the statement with which the text begins. This touches upon the matter of God’s Eternal decrees. God has ‘foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.’ To that purpose, of accomplishing what He has ‘foreordained.’ He ‘works.’ Christ is integrally involved in this working. He was involved in creation, for ‘all things were made by Him, and without Him was not made anything that was made.’ He is involved in the Divine Works of Providence, for, ‘by Him all things consist’ or ‘hang together.’ He ‘upholds all things by the Word of His Power.’ We have a God Who works. We have a Christ Who works. God is neither passive or inert. This is of great comfort to us, especially when we, like Job, find ourselves in circumstances which are painful and bewildering. I need not know what God is doing. I need but to know that it is God Who is doing it. Yes, He is the God Who works, and He does all things well.

Our most Gracious, Wise and Holy God,
we praise you that You are not passive,
we rejoice that You accomplish all that You intend,
that we should be to the praise of Your Eternal Glory.

Tomm Tice

Where the Bush is Burning

A Sight for Hungry Eyes

….I shall see God.

Job 19:16

When we have long been apart from the one we love dearest and best, we often seek out the place in our home where there is a portrait of that beloved one. We linger before it. We look at it with longing heart, waiting for the day when we shall see that one again face to face. Finally, the day arrives. The door bursts open and we find ourselves wrapped in their warm and loving embrace. The sight of them overwhelms us, and tears of joy course down our checks. We follow them from room to room, and gaze upon them as if we will never let them out of our sight again. We drink in the sight of them like parched souls, and devour the visions of them like one who has starved for weeks. So it is for the saint of God who longs to see Christ. Our text today dwells upon the word, ‘see.’ ‘I shall see God.’ Job had no certainty that he would see health, or prosperity, or the return of status ever again. He would never again, within this scene of time, behold his dead children. With what could he satisfy the hunger within him? With what could he slake the thirst of his parched soul? It was with this: ‘I shall see God.’ Here is the hope for all of us whose eyes burn for a sight of Christ. Here is the expectation for us who have seen so many horrific things; who long for what is good, and what is right.’ ‘I shall see God.’ A full sight of Christ shall satisfy our hungry eyes. We shall see Him face to Face.

Our soul-satisfying Savior, we praise You that we shall see You.
You are the fulfillment of all of our expectations,
both for time and for eternity.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

A Great Certainty

….I shall see God.

Job 19:26

‘It’s an uncertain life,’ so the saying goes. When Job had lost, possessions, family, health, and position he became a man stripped of all earthly comfort; bereft of all certainty. Because Job retained his integrity, did not sin with his mouth, nor charge God foolishly, he expressed his faith boldly, ‘when all around his soul gave way.’ Our text for today follows where we started yesterday, when we emphasized the first word, ‘I’. Today, we move to the second word of the text, ‘I shall….’  When we have lost all; when the storms of life have broken with lightning flash, and rolling thunder over our head; when all about us is desolation; and every earthly comfort is gone, we want more than ‘maybe;’ we want more than ‘perhaps.’ With what hope shall we encourage ourselves, if not with that which is eternal? Job lifted his eyes and saw, by faith, beyond the destitution and desolation of his household. He looked beyond the graves of his children. He looked beyond his own broken body, and the betrayal of his friends. He rested his wounded and weary soul upon this great certainty: ‘I shall see God.’ Here is hope for today, wounded and weary soul. You have looked to Christ by faith. You are enduring much hardship. Your life is hanging in doubt before you. Here is your future. You shall see God. Take encouragement today from all the certainty which the Divine Character can guarantee.

Our Gracious God and Loving Father, we praise Your Holy Name,
that You are the God of all certainty.
With You is ‘no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’
We shall see You, in the Face of Jesus Christ.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning