***Note – We just completed the book of Job. Now, as we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our fourth devotion in Genesis. Though we’re in Week 16 overall, we’ll be in Genesis for the next several weeks.
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Genesis 10 – 11
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 10 – “The God Who Sees the End from the Beginning”
Chapter 11 – “God’s Plans Always Prevail”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. – Proverbs 16:9
I Do – Watch Me Study
Genesis Chapter 10
“The God Who Sees the End from the Beginning”
(Read Genesis Chapter 10 First)
Genesis 10 is often called the ‘Table of Nations.’ When you first read it, it can feel like just a long list of names that are hard to pronounce. But if you take the time to slow down and look closely, you realize it’s actually a map of where the nations came from and a reminder of God’s hand over all of our history.
1. God sees the end from the beginning
From Japheth (Noah’s son) came Javan, whose descendants became the Greeks. As we read on, we will discover that the Greeks become a mighty empire that shaped world history and even appear in prophecy (Isaiah 66:19; Daniel 8:21; Joel 3:6). This reminds us that God knows how every story begins and ends. Nothing in our lives is too small for God to incorporate into His bigger plan.
2. Human pride versus God’s rule
From Ham’s (Noah’s son) line came Nimrod, who built kingdoms like Babel, Nineveh, and Babylon. Josephus records that Nimrod led people away from trusting God, turning them toward tyranny and pride. His story shows us what happens when humans try to build their own kingdoms instead of submitting to God’s. Nimrod’s cities later become the very places God’s people struggle against (Babylon in Daniel, Nineveh in Jonah, Assyria in 2 Kings). Pride always sets us up against God, but His kingdom stands forever.
3. God’s promises are trustworthy
Ham’s (Noah’s son) son, Canaan, fathered the Canaanite nations of the Jebusites, Amorites, and others. These are the very nations God promised Abraham that Israel would overcome (Gen. 15:18–21). Generations after Genesis 10, God’s Word proved true as Joshua led Israel into the land. What God says, even in genealogies, comes to pass.
4. The nations are in God’s hand
From Shem (Noah’s son) came nations like Elam and Assyria. From these names we see the spread of people across the earth, just as God commanded after the flood. The nations, both then and now, are not random or out of control. Acts 17:26 reminds us that God “determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” He is the Lord of history, directing all nations toward His ultimate plan of redemption in Christ.
Key Takeaway: Genesis 10 reminds us that all of history is guided by God. From great nations being formed to the little names we tend to skip over, everything is part of His plan.
After the flood, everyone spoke the same language. As people journeyed east, they found the plain of Shinar (Babylonia/Chaldea—modern-day Iraq). This was a valley with two rivers, and I imagine that it was fertile and appealing, so they settled there. They were planning a great city and a tower that reached the heavens.
We find their goal in this verse… “Let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth” (v. 4).
This was a direct rebellion against God’s command in Genesis 9:1 to “be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth.” Instead of spreading out to fill the earth, they resisted God’s plan and wanted to settle for their own glory.
The Lord came down to see their work. He said, “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language… and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” (v. 6). God wasn’t intimidated by their power, but I believe He knew that their coming together apart from Him would end in disaster.
So I think it was in mercy that He confused their language and scattered them across the earth. The city was called Babel, meaning “confusion.” It’s no coincidence that later, Babel/Babylon became a biblical picture of human pride standing against God.
Life Application: Pride always leads to confusion. God’s will cannot be stopped. Obstacles in our plans may actually be His way of protecting us from building our own “tower.”
Part 2: The Lineage of Shem (vv. 10–32)
From Shem’s line comes a genealogy leading to Abram (later Abraham).
What we learn about Abram’s family:
• His wife, Sarai, is barren (v. 30).
• His brother Haran dies, leaving his son Lot (v. 28). Lot becomes significant later.
• Terah, Abram’s father, leads the family from Ur of the Chaldees (southern Iraq) toward Canaan, but they stop and dwell in Haran (southern Turkey) where Terah dies (vv. 31–32).
After God scattered nations at Babel, He focuses in on one family through whom He will carry out His covenant plan. Genesis 12 will show God calling Abram to Canaan with the promise of blessing all nations.
Even in the middle of human rebellion (Babel), God was already working out His covenant plan through Shem’s line. Our failures never derail God’s purposes.
1. What “small” areas of my life do I need to entrust to God, believing He sees the end from the beginning?
2. Where am I tempted to build my own “kingdom” instead of seeking God’s kingdom first?
3. How does seeing God’s promises fulfilled in history strengthen my faith in His promises for me today?
4. Do I trust that God is sovereign over the nations even when the world seems unstable? How can I rest in His control this week?
5. Where in my life might I be building a “tower” for my own name instead of God’s glory?
6. How have I seen God lovingly “scatter” my plans when they didn’t align with His will?
7. What gives me comfort when I realize that no matter how chaotic the world seems, God is still unfolding His plan?
Heavenly Father,
Your Word tells us that our hearts plan out what we want to accomplish and the direction we want our lives to go, but You are there directing us and helping us stay on the right path. We thank You for Your guiding hand. We trust that You know the end from the beginning. Help us not to be prideful in thinking that we need to make a name for ourselves instead of exalting Your name. Help us to remember that pride always leads to confusion and that above all we need to seek You first.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 10th week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 13 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 35 – 37
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 35 – “Finding Joy in the Middle of Oppression”
Chapter 36 – “God’s Justice and Discipline”
Chapter 37 – “The God Who Commands the Storm”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 35
“Finding Joy in the Middle of Oppression”
(Read Job Chapter 35 First)
In Job 35, young Elihu continues speaking to Job. He challenges Job by asking if it’s right for him to say that his righteousness is greater than God’s (Job 35:2–3). However, when we look closely at Job’s words, we see he never claimed this. Job simply wrestled with his suffering and his confusion. He considered himself upright and could not understand why God was treating him as if he were guilty (Job 9:15–22; 10:2–3; 27:2–6).
Elihu misunderstands Job’s words and thinks he is being prideful. Using Job’s complaint, Elihu does point to an important truth: God’s justice is perfect, and hardships are meant to guide us toward humility, trust, and discernment.
Elihu asks Job to look at the heavens and the clouds and asks:
• If you sin, what does it do to God?
• If you are righteous, what benefit is it to Him?
• The oppressed cry because of the many burdens upon them.
These verses remind us that life can weigh us down in many ways. Sometimes it’s career pressures, strained relationships, health battles, or the pain of loss. Each of us faces hardships that can feel overwhelming, but the Bible teaches us many ways to remain joyful always!
Biblical Ways to Maintain Joy Even in Oppression:
1. Rejoice in the Lord, not circumstances
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” – Philippians 4:4
2. Sing and praise (even through suffering)
“Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.” James 5:13
Acts 16:25 shows Paul and Silas praising God even in prison.
3. Remember God’s presence in trials
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” – Isaiah 41:10
4. Fix your mind on God’s peace
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” – Isaiah 26:3
5. Look to eternal reward
“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17
Now let’s look at how the Bible shows us how to respond to oppression and to those who cause it.
1. Do good to enemies
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” – Matthew 5:44
2. Wait for God’s justice
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
3. Overcome evil with good
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21
4. Find strength in Christ
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
5. Pray and commit your situation to God
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
In verse 10, Elihu observes that many oppressed people cry out for deliverance but they don’t seek God Himself. True joy and peace come from turning to God, not just asking Him to remove hardship.
• Psalm 42:8 – “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
• Again, I think of Paul and Silas praying and singing while imprisoned.
God has given us wisdom and understanding to seek Him rather than merely react like animals in distress (Job 12:7–10; Psalm 32:8–9).
Next, we see where Elihu teaches that prayers may go unheard when pride or sin dominates the heart: I found some other verses that support his claim…
• Proverbs 1:28–29 – “Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer… For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD.”
• Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.”
• Isaiah 59:1–2 – “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God…”
God does not ignore us out of cruelty; He desires humility, repentance, and a heart that truly seeks Him.
Job 35:14 points out that even if Job feels he cannot see God, His justice is always present and we should trust Him.
Habakkuk 2:3 says “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
Psalm 37:5–6 says “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.”
Key Takeaway for Job Chapter 35:
Even in oppression or confusion, joy is possible when we:
1. Rejoice in the Lord.
2. Sing and praise.
3. Seek His presence, not just relief.
4. Trust His justice and eternal plan.
5. Commit our struggles and our oppressors to Him.
God is always just, His peace is sure, and His grace is sufficient for every hardship.
Elihu’s speech focuses on how God uses circumstances and sometimes suffering to instruct, correct, or draw people closer to Him. He stresses that God is just, mighty, and wise beyond human understanding.
In Job 36:5–7 Elihu explains God’s justice and power.
“Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous…”
Let’s look at some scripture that supports what Elihu is saying:
• Psalm 33:5 – “He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.”
• Proverbs 15:3 – “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
We can trust that God sees both the wicked and the righteous. When life feels unfair, this reminds us that God’s justice never fails, even if we don’t see it immediately.
Next, Elihu describes how God uses discipline and instruction through suffering. (Job 36:8–10)
“And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.”
Here are some additional scriptures that support this:
• Hebrews 12:6, 10–11 – “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth… “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness…”
• Psalm 119:71 – “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
God sometimes allows hardship as discipline. He doesn’t do it to destroy us. He does it to correct and refine us. Instead of asking “Why me?” we can ask “What is God teaching me through this?”
In Job 36:11-12 Elihu talks about the choice between obedience and rebellion.
“If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.”
Let’s look at some scripture that supports this:
• Deuteronomy 30:19–20 – “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live…”
• Isaiah 1:19–20 – “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword…”
Our response to God matters. We can choose to walk in obedience and experience His blessing, or resist Him and suffer the consequences of rebellion.
Elihu makes the statement that God’s greatness is beyond our understanding. (Job 36:26)
“Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.”
• Isaiah 55:8–9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD…”
• Romans 11:33 – “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
Even when life doesn’t make sense, we can trust that God understands what we never could.
Here are some simple truths for us to reflect on and remember…When life feels unfair, remember God sees everything clearly, and His justice will prevail. When we face trials, consider that God may be using them to grow us, correct us, or draw us nearer. When we’re tempted to doubt, we can trust His wisdom, even when we don’t understand His ways. In our choices, obedience to God brings blessing and peace and rebellion brings sorrow.
Takeaway from chapter 36:
Elihu’s words in Job 36 significantly line up with the rest of Scripture. While we still must consider his words carefully (since later God Himself will set the record straight), what he says about God’s justice, discipline, and greatness is consistent with biblical truth.
When Elihu speaks in Job 37, he points out the majesty and power of God that’s revealed in creation. He describes thunder as God’s voice and lightning as the works of His hand. With just a word, God tells the snow to fall, the rain to pour, or the storm to roar and they obey Him perfectly. God alone rules the skies. No man has that type of power.
Even the animals have instincts given by Him to take shelter when storms arise. There is order and purpose behind it all, whether we can see it or not. Storms are not random. Verse 12 points out that clouds and winds turn “round about by his counsels.” They move where He directs. They carry out His purposes which may be to bless, to correct, or to display His power. The same rain can be a blessing for one and devastation for another, yet in all cases, it fulfills the sovereign will of God.
Elihu reminds us that God’s wisdom is far beyond ours. At times, it feels difficult to approach Him because we are sinful and so small compared to His majesty (v. 19). But this recognition keeps us humble. Elihu closes the chapter with this truth: “He respecteth not any that are wise of heart” (v. 24). God is not impressed with human pride or self-sufficiency. True wisdom is to bow low before Him, fear the Lord, and turn from evil (Proverbs 3:7).
We may not understand the storms that come into our lives, but we can trust that God is directing them and has a plan. Just as He controls the weather, He is also in control of the details of our lives. Our role is not to reason against Him but to rest in His wisdom and power.
Life Application:
• When storms (in life or in nature) come, remember: God is not absent. He is actively working His purposes.
• Humility is the starting point of true wisdom. The more we recognize our weakness, the more we can lean on God’s strength.
• Instead of asking “Why?” in the storm, we can ask “What is God showing me about Himself through this?”
Journaling Questions:
1. How have I seen God’s power displayed in creation recently?
2. What storms in my life do I need to trust God’s wisdom in right now?
3. In what areas of my life am I tempted to lean on my own wisdom instead of fearing the Lord?
4. How can I practice humility before God today?
Overall Takeaway:
When life feels unfair, overwhelming, or confusing, we can rest in God’s justice, trust His discipline, and marvel at His power. The storms in creation remind us that nothing is outside His control. True wisdom is not found in our own understanding, but in humbly fearing the Lord and trusting His sovereign hand.
PS: I’m so excited for next week’s devotion because we finally get to hear what the LORD Himself says about all that has been happening with Job. I can’t wait to see how God’s words will bring clarity, wisdom, and perspective to everything we’ve studied so far!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for allowing us another week to study your word together. Help us practice our memory verse this week so that we can have Your words hidden inside our hearts. Help us to trust in you with all of our hearts instead of depending on our own understanding. We ask that You will guide us each day. Help us to remember that You know what we cannot see and that You are working it out for our good! Help us to not rely on our own knowledge, but rely on Your word to guide our choices. Give us patience when we desire a different timeline. Help us to choose humility over pride, obedience over rebellion, and counsel over independence.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our 9th week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 12 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 32 – 34
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 32- “Elihu Speaks”
Chapter 33- “Deliverance from the Pit”
Chapter 34- “God is Always Just”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only.” – Job 34:29
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 32
“Elihu Speaks”
(Read Job Chapter 32 First)
In Job 32, Job’s three friends Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar stop speaking because they believe Job is only righteous in his own eyes. Then a young man named Elihu joins the discussion. He is upset with Job, thinking Job may be claiming righteousness for himself. At the same time, Elihu is frustrated with Job’s friends because, in his eyes, they have not adequately answered Job or provided true wisdom.
Elihu begins by acknowledging his youth. He says essentially, “I am young and you are old, so I was hesitant to speak at first. But I have been listening carefully, and I cannot remain silent any longer. God has given me understanding, and I must share what I know.”
As you read the next couple of chapters of Job you will see why having discernment is so important. Discernment means listening carefully, considering your words and the words of others with care, and testing everything against God’s Word. Sometimes people may sound confident or wise, but that doesn’t mean everything they say is true. Like Job’s other friends, Elihu does give some truth and wisdom but not always in the right context concerning Job. Elihu’s speech reminds us of the need for discernment.
Reflection Questions / Journal Prompts:
1. How do I usually respond when someone sounds confident or bold? Do I automatically assume they’re right, or do I pause to consider their words?
2. When was a time I believed something that sounded wise but later realized it didn’t align with God’s Word? What did I learn from that experience?
3. What practical steps can I take to grow in discernment? Consider these ideas…
Study and Meditate on Scripture Daily
God’s Word is the ultimate standard of truth. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” – Psalm 119:105
We can practice this by reading, highlighting, and memorizing Scripture regularly to train your mind to recognize truth.
2. Pray for Wisdom and Understanding
God gives wisdom generously to those who ask. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” – James 1:5. We can begin each day with a prayer asking God to guide our thoughts and decisions.
3. Test Everything Against God’s Word
Not every teaching or advice is from God. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21. When we hear teaching, compare it to Scripture before accepting it as truth.
4. Seek Godly Counsel
Wise, mature believers can help clarify things. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14. We can ask trusted pastors, mentors, or mature friends for guidance when facing decisions.
5. Keep a Teachable Heart
Pride blocks discernment; humility opens you to God’s guidance. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” –Proverbs 9:10. Try to approach every lesson, correction, or challenge with a willingness to learn rather than defend yourself.
6. Observe Life and Consequences
God often reveals truth through experience and reflection. “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” – Hebrews 5:14. Reflect on past decisions and notice patterns that confirm God’s principles.
4. How can I tell the difference between my own opinions and the truth of God’s Word?
5. Why is discernment especially important in a world where so many voices compete for my attention?
6. Who in my life can help me test what I hear against Scripture and keep me grounded in truth?
Sometimes silence is wiser. Other times, courage is required to share truth. Today, I encourage you to ask God for discernment in knowing when to speak and when to wait.
In Job 33, Elihu steps forward to speak after Job’s three friends fall silent. Elihu is young, but he believes God’s Spirit has given him understanding. He pleads with Job to listen, assuring him that he is only a man like Job, not God Himself, so Job does not need to fear him. Elihu sees his role as an interpreter who can bring God’s perspective into the conversation.
He reminds Job of something important: God is greater than man. He believes Job had spoken as if God were treating him unfairly, but Elihu challenges that thought. God is not unjust, nor does He need to answer to us. His wisdom far surpasses ours.
Elihu explains that God often speaks in ways people don’t understand. This could be through dreams, through warnings, or through suffering. Verse 16 says, “Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction.” In other words, God knows how to get our attention, and when He does, He impresses His lesson firmly on our hearts. Just as a loving parent disciplines a child to correct them, God sometimes allows hardship to draw us away from sin or pride and back to reliance on Him (v.17). I love the promise in Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” When I focus my mind on Him, I can experience His perfect peace… even in the middle of trials.
Verses 18–22 describe a person wasting away without God. Maybe they are lost or backsliding, but there is hope: in verses 23–24, Elihu speaks of a messenger, “an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness.” He says God will be gracious and provide a ransom, delivering that person from the pit. This points us toward Christ, the true Mediator and ransom for our sins. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 says “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus: Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” John 14:6 says “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” I am so thankful that through Jesus, anyone who has wandered or feels distant from God can be restored and brought into a right relationship with Him.
The result of God’s saving work is restoration: We can experience renewed strength, answered prayer, joy in God’s presence, and a life transformed by grace. God’s mercy rescues us even though we do nothing to deserve it.
Elihu closes by urging Job to listen and learn wisdom. While Elihu himself is not perfect, this chapter gives us a glimpse of how God uses both discipline and deliverance to bring people back to Himself and how ultimately Christ fulfills the role of the true Ransom and Mediator.
Journal Prompts / Discussion Questions:
1. Can you think of a time when God had to “open your ears” to get your attention? What did He teach you through it?
2. How do you usually respond to God’s discipline? Do you have resentment, fear, or gratitude? Why?
3. Elihu speaks of a ransom (v.24). How does this foreshadow what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross?
4. In what ways has God restored joy, peace, or strength to you after a season of struggle?
5. Where in your life might God be calling you to rely less on yourself and more on Him right now?
In Job 34, Elihu continues his speech by calling the “men of understanding” to listen. He compares the ear to the mouth by explaining that just as our mouth tastes food to see if it is good, so our ears should discern whether what we hear is good and true (v.3). 1 Thessalonians 5:21 says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” That raises an important question for us: Are we discerning about what we take in? Just because someone is speaking about God, or even quoting Scripture, doesn’t mean what they’re saying is true. Like Job’s friends, it can sound wise and yet be misleading. We must measure everything we hear against God’s Word.
Elihu reminds everyone of Job’s complaints: Job insists that he hasn’t sinned, but God has denied him justice. Elihu accuses Job of speaking carelessly, saying his words sound like those of the wicked (vv.5–9). Elihu misrepresents Job’s words, but he does bring up something important: our words matter. In his suffering, Job’s words about God may have been sliding into dangerous territory. The same can happen to us if we’re not careful. In our pain, we can begin to speak in ways that misrepresent God’s character.
Let’s look at two verses about the power of the tongue:
Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
James 3:5 explains, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”
Elihu does speak truth about God’s character. He reminds us that God is always just. This truth is mentioned throughout Scripture. Deuteronomy 32:4 tell us that “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.” Psalm 89:14 says, “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.” The problem is not with Elihu’s view of God, but with how he applies it to Job’s situation. Elihu assumes that Job must have done something wrong because he is suffering. That part was incorrect. We, too, need to be careful not to take a true statement about God and misapply it to someone’s life. God’s justice is perfect, but we don’t always see the full picture of how it works out in His timing.
These statements remind us of something important: we are completely dependent on God for life, justice, and truth.
• “Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness” (v.10).
• God gives each person according to their deeds (v.11)
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7).
• He created the world, He sustains our very breath (vv.13–15), and He rules in perfect justice (v.17).
• No one is hidden from Him; He sees all people the same, whether rich or poor (vv.18–20). Hebrew 4:13 reiterates this. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
One verse that excites me is Job 34:29: “When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” What a comfort! If God grants peace, no one can steal it from us. People may try, circumstances may rattle us, but His peace is sure. Philippians 4:7 says “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
On the other hand, if He hides His face, no one can find Him. That’s why repentance and humility are so important! We need God’s presence more than anything else.
Elihu ends harshly, sounding much like Job’s other three friends. He claims Job should be tried more, because his words sound wicked (vv.35–37). This shows Elihu’s error: he was right about God’s justice, but wrong in how he applied it to Job. He failed to offer compassion or recognize Job’s true righteousness, which God Himself later affirms.
Here is a challenge for us this week:
• Discern what you hear. Just as you wouldn’t eat spoiled food, don’t swallow every word spoken about God without testing it against Scripture.
• Guard your words in suffering. Pain can tempt us to say things that misrepresent God. Ask Him for strength to hold fast to His truth, even when life feels unfair.
• Rest in God’s peace. If God has granted you quietness, no one can take it away. Trust Him to be your peace, no matter what surrounds you.
Key Takeaway:
God is always just, but we must be careful not to misapply His truth. Our words matter and our greatest security is found in God’s peace, which no one can take away.
Heavenly Father,
We want to ask You today to help us practice discernment. Thank You for Your Word that we have as an “answer key” to compare what we hear to what You say is correct. Help us to keep a humble, teachable heart so that we are open to Your guidance. Help us discern when to speak and when to wait. Thank You for giving us peace even sometimes in the middle of trials. Thank You for being our ransom and mediator. Help us to remember that what we say matters and we have the power to speak life and death…Help us to always choose to speak life. Thank You for your peace that no one and no circumstance can take away from us. Help us to rest in it.
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our seventh week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 10 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 24 – 28
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 24 – “When Justice Feels Delayed”
Chapter 25 – “God Is Great, We Are Small”
Chapter 26 – “Job Declares God’s Greatness”
Chapter 27 – “Job’s Final Defense of His Integrity”
Chapter 28 – “The Treasure of True Wisdom”
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — “And unto man he said,Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom: and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Job 28:28
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 24
“When Justice Feels Delayed”
(Read Job Chapter 24 First)
Job 24 opens with Job wrestling with a deep question: If God sees and knows all, why does it seem like He delays His justice? Job is struggling with what many of us have felt watching people live in sin and selfishness while their lives appear to flourish, and wondering why God doesn’t step in right away.
In verses 2–11, Job lists the wicked acts of people who oppress, neglect, and exploit the poor. They take what isn’t theirs, push aside the vulnerable, and even profit from their suffering. And yet, the cries of these oppressed people seem unanswered.
Can you relate to that? Have you ever prayed for God to act in a situation of injustice and felt like He stayed silent? Maybe you’ve tried to live in obedience, only to see others who ignore God’s ways seemingly prosper. That’s exactly where Job’s heart is here. He’s torn between his trust in God’s justice and his struggle to understand God’s timing.
This chapter challenges us to understand the tension that Job felt. It’s not wrong to bring these hard questions to God. In fact, it can deepen our faith when we do. As we read, we’re invited to notice how Job is brutally honest in prayer and that’s something God can handle from us, too.
In Job 25, Bildad gives his final speech, and he packs it with truths about God’s greatness and our smallness. He reminds Job that God is the source of fear, dominion, and peace. His power is unmatched, His armies are countless, and His sight misses nothing. No one is hidden from Him.
While Bildad’s words about God’s majesty and man’s unworthiness are true, we must remember his speech comes in the context of wrongly accusing Job. Even truth can be misused when applied without compassion or discernment.
Bildad’s main point is: If even the moon and stars, creations we see as pure and beautiful, are not pure in God’s sight, then how much less is man, who is sinful by nature? Bildad compares humanity to a worm, highlighting how enormous the gap is between God’s holiness and our fallen state.
When we really think about this truth, it humbles us. It takes away any illusion that we can “plead our case” before God based on our own goodness. We are reminded that only through His mercy and grace, not our goodness, can we stand before Him. This is why Jesus’ sacrifice is everything for us. Without Him, we are unworthy; with Him, we are made righteous.
Job begins by challenging Bildad’s supposed wisdom with some sarcastic questions. Essentially, he’s asking, “If you know so much, how have you actually helped the weak or the helpless? How have you saved those without strength? How have you counseled those with no wisdom?” It’s a good moment for us to pause and think…when we speak to others about God, are our words truly helping them, or are we just showing off what we know?
From there, Job turns our attention to God’s unmatched power. Nothing is hidden from Him. Nothing in the depths of the earth and nothing in the vast heavens. Job paints picture after picture of God’s authority: He hangs the earth on nothing, holds oceans in their boundaries, and stores water in clouds without them bursting. He commands the seas, marks the horizon, and has authority over all creation.
Together, we can let this passage stir our awe. The God who can do all these things is the same God who sees us, hears us, and holds our lives. And yet, Job says we’re only catching a tiny glimpse of His greatness.
So what does that mean for us this week? It means we can trust Him even when life feels uncertain because His power is limitless, His wisdom is perfect, and His vision sees far beyond our own. It means when we feel weak or without answers, we don’t need clever speeches from friends; we need to go straight to the One who hangs the earth on nothing. And it means we should speak to others from a place of compassion and truth, pointing them to God’s greatness instead of our own knowledge.
This week, I challenge you to do two things:
1. Spend intentional time reflecting on God’s greatness. Each day, take a few minutes to read Job 26:5–14 slowly. Let your mind picture the images Job describes…the earth hanging on nothing, the seas contained, the horizon set in place. Then thank God for His unmatched power and the fact that He cares for you personally.
2. Be mindful of how you speak into someone else’s struggle. Before you offer advice, pause and pray. Ask yourself, Will my words bring help, hope, and truth? Or will they simply display what I know? Let compassion and God’s truth guide your conversations.
By doing these two things, you’ll be practicing what Job’s words invite us to do which is keeping our eyes fixed on God’s power while also keeping our words and actions full of grace.
“Job’s Final Defense of His Integrity”
(Read Job Chapter 27 First)
Job begins this chapter acknowledging that God has allowed all his trouble, yet he affirms that God’s Spirit still lives within him. Even in his pain, Job pledges not to speak wickedness or deceit, even though he longs to justify himself to his friends. He will not lose his integrity.
Do we still care about integrity today?
Integrity is a choice we make to remain innocent, upright, morally whole, and consistent in character.
For Job, “mine integrity” means:
• Moral uprightness before God. He has lived in obedience and reverence.
• Honesty about the truth.He refuses to falsely admit guilt just to end the argument.
• Inner wholeness. Staying true to himself before God without hypocrisy.
In other words, Job is saying:
“I will never lie and say you are right about me being a secret sinner. I will hold fast to my innocence and honest walk with God until the day I die.”
This is not pride. It’s a commitment to truthfulness and righteousness under pressure.
Let’s break down Verses 8–10: The Hypocrite’s Hopelessness
Verse 8 – “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?”
• A hypocrite lives a double life. They pretend to serve God while secretly in sin.
• Any earthly gain is worthless when God requires his life.
Verse 9 – “Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?”
• When hardship strikes, the hypocrite can cry out, but God may not respond favorably because the relationship wasn’t real to begin with.
This implies that God listens to those who are sincere, but may not to those who only turn to Him when desperate.
Verse 10 – “Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?”
• The hypocrite does not truly love God. He seeks Him only for benefits.
• He will not continually seek God in both good times and bad.
Here’s the big picture:
Job contrasts himself with the hypocrite. His friends’ accusations don’t fit him. He has a genuine relationship with God, which is why he refuses to let go of his integrity.
Now, let’s break down verses 11–23: The Ultimate End of the Wicked
In these verses, Job will try to teach his friends what they should already know…that the end of the wicked is destruction.
• Their children may be many, but some will die by violence, others will go hungry.
• They will not be mourned when they die.
• Their riches and fine clothing will end up in the hands of the righteous.
• Their homes are flimsy and temporary.
• Fear and judgment from God will overtake them, and they will be cast away.
I want to point out one thing that confused me, so I did some research for clarification…
Job is speaking of the ultimate outcome of the wicked and not necessarily what their life looks like here and now. Earlier (Job 21) he observed that the wicked can prosper temporarily and even die peacefully. Here, he affirms that God’s justice will still come in His timing.
• (Avon) – moral crookedness, guilt; the sin and its consequences.
Greek (New Testament):
• (Ponēria) – depravity, deliberate evil, harmful intent flowing from an evil heart.
Let’s explore what the Bible says about wickedness.
• Psalm 10:4 says “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
• Proverbs 6:16–19 says “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”
• Isaiah 55:7 says “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
• Romans 1:29 says “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”
According to God’s Word, wickedness is not just outwardly evil actions, but a heart that rejects God. It shows up in pride, lying, violence, deceit, lust, envy, selfish ambition, and hatred. The wicked may prosper for a season or even die in peace, but their lives are marked by separation from God. They will ultimately face God’s righteous judgment. Yet, in His mercy, the Lord invites the wicked to forsake their ways and return to Him, promising abundant mercy and forgiveness.
Job begins this chapter by painting a picture of human skill and determination. Men dig into the earth, braving dark, dangerous places, even controlling underground waters, just to uncover silver, gold, iron, and precious stones. They explore places unseen by birds, animals, or any human foot to bring what was hidden into the light. Job uses this imagery to make a powerful point: while man can uncover earthly treasures, true wisdom is far more precious and cannot be mined or bought.
Wisdom is not found in the land of the living for us to dig up. Its value surpasses even the finest jewels, yet its source is entirely from God. God knows the way to wisdom; He measures the winds, weighs the waters, controls the rains, and brings order to the world. In the end of this chapter, Job told us God’s own definition of wisdom:
“Behold, the fear of the Lord is wisdom: and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Job 28:28
Let’s see how we can apply Job 28 to our own life:
1. Seek wisdom from God and not the world.
• Just as miners labor to find treasure, we must be intentional in seeking God through prayer, Scripture, and listening to His Spirit. But unlike earthly wealth, wisdom comes as a gift from the Lord when we surrender our lives to Him.
2. Value what is eternal over what is temporary.
• True wisdom surpasses gold and silver. Pause and ask yourself: Are you chasing your “right now” desires or are you seeking God’s perspective in your decisions and relationships?
3. Fear the Lord daily.
• The “fear of the Lord” is a reverent awe, a recognition of His power, and a willingness to obey Him. This daily routine opens our hearts to understanding and guides us away from sin.
4. Trust God’s timing and guidance.
• Wisdom cannot be rushed or manufactured. As we grow in relationship with God, He gently reveals insight for the choices, challenges, and opportunities of each day.
Reflection Questions:
• What areas of your life do you need God’s wisdom for right now?
• Are there decisions or problems you’re trying to “figure out” on your own instead of seeking God?
• How can you cultivate a daily fear of the Lord that leads to understanding?
• Do you value God’s wisdom more than worldly success or possessions?
Key Takeaway:
Trust God’s timing, hold fast to integrity, and seek His wisdom above all else. Remember…what is hidden from the world is revealed to those who fear the Lord.
Heavenly Father,
I want to thank you for another week of us coming together to study and learn from You through the book of Job. We saw this week that we must trust Your timing even when we feel that justice is not being done in our eyes. We must bring those hard thoughts to you when we have questions. We see just how worthy You are of our praise as Your majesty and greatness are revealed to us in Your Word. We thank You for Your mercy, grace, and sacrifice for us. Lord, help us with this week’s challenge to keep us in awe of your greatness and to pray about our intentions before we offer others words of advice. Let compassion guide us this week. Help us to seek wisdom from You through a surrendered life, keep our minds focused on eternal things, fear and obey You, and trust Your timing and guidance.
There won’t be a new post or devotion next Monday, July 21st. Our church is hosting a week-long Bible Camp, and I’ll be serving there all week! Because of that, I won’t have the time or focus needed to write and prepare a full devotion. Thank you for understanding, and I’m already looking forward to jumping back into our study the following week!
*Note – As we continue our journey through the Bible in chronological order, this is our third week in the book of Job. Though this is Week 6 overall, we’re still walking alongside Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 10 – 13
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 10 – When Suffering Doesn’t Make Sense
Chapter 11 – Assumptions Wrapped in Advice
Chapter 12 – When Wisdom Is Twisted and Suffering Is Misunderstood
Chapter 13 – Faith That Speaks Up
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — Job 13:15 (KJV):
Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 10
When Suffering Doesn’t Make Sense
(Read Job Chapter 10 First)
This chapter really moved me. It feels like Job is praying straight from a place of soul-crushing grief and yet he doesn’t turn away from God. That alone speaks volumes.
Job starts by saying that his soul loathes life. He’s physically suffering and emotionally and spiritually worn down. But even in this dark place, he’s still talking to God. And he says something incredibly brave: “Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.” Job is asking God to help him understand what’s going on. Have you ever been in the place where the pain is so thick that you cry out, “God, why?”
He starts asking honest questions:
– “Are You seeing me like man sees me?”
– “Are You judging me without knowing the full picture?”
– “You made me with so much care and love, so why are You destroying me now?”
Job reminds God that He was the one who formed him from the dust, the one who knitted together every part of his being. And then comes verse 13, which stopped me in my tracks…
“And these things hast thou hid in thine heart: I know that this is with thee.”
Job doesn’t understand what’s happening, but he trusts that God does.He believes God has hidden purposes tucked inside His heart.
He says that whether he’s wicked or righteous, the outcome of grief feels the same. He feels hunted and beaten down. He honestly pleas with God again: “Why was I even born? Wouldn’t it have been better to never have existed than to live through this?”
And yet… he keeps talking to God. That, to me, is the most beautiful and powerful part. He’s confused. He’s hurting. He feels God’s silence. But he keeps the line of communication open.
This chapter reminded me that it’s okay to pour out our pain to God. It’s okay to ask Him hard questions. God didn’t strike Job down for saying these things. He listened.
Now we hear from another one of Job’s friends, Zophar, and once again, we see the same pattern: assume guilt, offer advice. But Zophar doesn’t hold back. He even starts the conversation with accusation.
Zophar is offended by Job’s words and essentially says, “Should your many words go unanswered? Should your talk make you right?” He accuses Job of lying, mocking God, and pretending to be pure when clearly (according to Zophar) he’s not.
He says something that sounds true on the surface: God’s wisdom is far greater than anything we can comprehend (Job 11:7–9). That truth echoes throughout Scripture (see Romans 11:33), but Zophar misuses it. Instead of using God’s greatness to encourage or comfort, he uses it to accuse and condemn. OUCH!
He claims that Job is actually being punished less than he deserves (v. 6) This is a bold and deeply wrong assumption. We know from Job 1:8 that God called Job “blameless and upright.”
We learn here that there is no simple formula. Zophar offers a theology built on if-then logic: If you suffer, you must have sinned. If you repent, God will bless you. But Job’s story challenges that thinking. His suffering wasn’t the result of wrongdoing, and repentance wasn’t the quick fix his friends claimed it would be.
Instead, we’re reminded that God’s ways are deeper than formulas. There are things happening in our lives that we are not equipped to fully understand. Faith doesn’t mean everything will make sense. It means trusting that God is working, even when it doesn’t.
Let’s pause and reflect together:
• Have you ever been given advice that was based on a false assumption about you or your situation?
• Have you ever made the same mistake of jumping to conclusions about someone else’s suffering?
• Zophar spoke from what he thought he knew. How can we be more thoughtful, gracious, and humble when walking with others through pain?
Zophar’s words remind us that even truth, when misapplied, can wound rather than heal. As we study, let’s not just learn what was said, but consider how we speak to others in their hurt. We would do well to remember that comfort and compassion go hand in hand.
Devotional Thought:
I can’t help but notice that we keep hearing this same cycle over and over…
Job is being accused, again, that the suffering that suddenly invaded his life must be the result of hidden sin or wickedness. And Job, in the depths of his grief, is trying so hard to express that he has not sinned, nor does he have evil in his heart.
His friends offer no compassion, no curiosity, no grace. Just judgment.
It seems like God really wants us to slow down and let this truth sink in: when we walk alongside someone in pain, assumptions hurt but compassion heals. These chapters challenge us to listen better, judge less, and point people to God’s presence, not just our opinions.
When Wisdom Is Twisted and Suffering Is Misunderstood
(Read Job Chapter 12 First)
Now it’s Job’s turn to respond, and he doesn’t hold back. You can almost hear the sarcasm in his voice when he says, “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” (v. 2) In today’s language, that might sound like, “Wow, you must be the only wise people left and when you’re gone, wisdom’s gone too.” After sitting in so much grief, Job is finally standing up and speaking with a spark again.
He reminds his friends that he has understanding, too. He’s not beneath them. In fact, he says, “Who doesn’t know the things you’re saying?” Job is finally speaking to them about his frustration with their hollow theology. He’s been crying out to God, and instead of comfort, his friends mock and shame him.
Job points out something incredibly honest: sometimes the wicked do prosper. He says even those who rob and provoke God seem secure and blessed. His friends have been preaching a very narrow view: that good people are always blessed and bad people are always punished. But Job looks around and says, “That’s just not what I see.”
He challenges their assumptions by saying even the animals, the birds, the fish, and the earth itself could tell you that everything happens under the hand of God. Nothing slips past Him. Every breath we take is in His hands.
Then Job gets to the heart of it: we all have the ability to listen and discern. Just like the tongue tastes food, the ear tests words. And what he’s hearing from his friends? He knows it’s not truth. It’s oversimplified. It lacks compassion. And it completely misunderstands God’s power.
Job reminds them, and us, that wisdom and strength ultimately belong to God alone. Not to man. Not to kings or nations. Not even to those who sound confident when they speak. God alone holds the power to break down, build up, silence, flood, or dry up. He can humble leaders, silence the wise, and cause nations to rise or fall. He is sovereign over all of it.
Let’s Reflect Together:
• Job is frustrated by the assumption that his suffering must be his fault.
Have you ever been misunderstood in a painful season?
• Job says even creation knows that everything is in God’s hands.
Do you find comfort in remembering that God is ultimately in control?
• Job reminds us that God can humble the proud and lift up the lowly.
How does that challenge the way we view success, power, or status?
• How does this chapter help you reframe the idea that blessing = obedience and suffering = disobedience?
• What would it look like for you to trust God’s sovereignty, even when things feel unfair or confusing?
This chapter is a turning point. Job doesn’t have answers yet, but he knows that his friends don’t either. He’s beginning to anchor himself in what is true: God is wise, powerful, just, and always in control. Even when we don’t understand, we can rest in that.
In Job 13, Job continues to respond directly to his friends who have been accusing him and claiming to speak for God. He explains again that he is just as knowledgeable as they are and challenges their wisdom. Job expresses his deep desire to plead his case before God Himself, wanting to reason honestly and openly with Him.
He criticizes his friends for giving misleading advice. He compares them to doctors who cannot heal but only cause more harm. Job urges them to be silent so he can speak and explain his situation clearly.
Job boldly questions God, asking why he is being punished so severely, even considering that it’s for sins he committed long ago. He feels trapped and watched closely by God, as if under constant surveillance, suffering and deteriorating under this intense pressure.
Despite his confusion and pain, Job declares his intention to continue trusting God and maintaining his integrity. He is honest about his fear and suffering but still hopes God will listen and receive him.
1. Reflect on Your Response to Others’ Opinions
Job challenges his friends who speak for God but misrepresent Him. Have you ever been quick to judge or give advice without fully understanding God’s perspective?
• Take a moment to ask: Am I speaking words that build up, or am I like Job’s friends who give “useless advice” or speak out of ignorance?
• Action: Practice listening more carefully to others before responding, and ask God for wisdom before you speak.
2. Examine Your View of God
Job calls out those who hold a limited or false view of God’s justice and power.
• Ask yourself: Is my understanding of God shaped by my experiences or cultural views rather than His true character?
• Action: Spend time studying God’s nature in Scripture, especially His justice, mercy, and sovereignty.
3. Invite God into Your Honest Questions and Fears
Job openly pleads with God. He asks why he suffers, what sins might be hidden, and expresses his fear and confusion.
• Consider: Do I bring my doubts and fears honestly before God, or do I hide them?
• Action: Write down your current struggles or questions and pray them honestly to God, trusting that He can handle your doubts.
4. Trust God Even When You Don’t Understand
Despite feeling trapped and under intense scrutiny, Job chooses to keep walking upright before God and trusts He will receive him.
• Reflect: Can I commit to trusting God in my trials, even when I don’t understand why they’re happening?
• Action: Identify one area of difficulty in your life. Pray specifically for trust and perseverance to walk faithfully through it.
5. Seek God’s Guidance and Allow Him to Search Your Heart
Job asks God to search him and reveal anything that needs correction.
• Self-examination: Am I willing to let God search my heart, even if it’s uncomfortable?
• Action: Ask God to reveal any hidden sin or attitude that needs to change, and be ready to respond with repentance.
Key Takeaway:
In the midst of deep suffering and confusion, it is okay to wrestle honestly with God with questioning, pleading, and even expressing our fears. We must choose to trust His wisdom and justice beyond what we can see or understand.
Heavenly Father,
As we continue reading through Job, we’re thankful for all that You’re teaching us. Through his story, we learn what to do and what not to do. Thank You that even when we’re faced with difficult people, You can use those moments to teach us how we don’t want to act.
Lord, when we go through hard times, help us to trust that You still have a plan and that it’s for our good. Thank You for listening when all we can offer is our brokenness. Thank You for caring so deeply for us.
Please guide our words when we speak to those who are hurting. Help us remember that comfort and compassion go hand in hand. Make us better listeners and less quick to judge.
Let our words build up, not tear down. Help us to notice Your character as we read and study Your Word. Give us the courage to bring our hardest questions, doubts, and fears honestly before You.
And Lord, as we examine ourselves, reveal anything in us that needs healing or repentance. We bring it to You, trusting that You are faithful to restore.
NOTE* As we continue reading the Bible chronologically, we now pause the story of Genesis and step into the book of Job. Job lived long before Abraham and his story gives us an early and powerful look into faith under fire. It’s a book of raw questions, deep suffering, and unwavering trust. It’s a reminder that God is still near even when everything else falls apart. We’ll return to Genesis after completing the book of Job. *
Devotional Format: I Do – We Do – You Do
Focus: Job 1-5
Tip: I highly recommend journaling your responses to the questions, prompts, and reflections. Writing them out can help you process more deeply and see how God is working in your life.
This week’s devotion includes:
Chapter 1 – When the Faithful Suffer
Chapter 2 – The Unseen Spiritual Battle, Suffering, and the Ministry of Presence
Chapter 3 – When Grief Speaks
Chapter 4 – Judging the Suffering: What Eliphaz Got Wrong
Chapter 5 – Misapplied Truth: The Danger of Jumping to Conclusions
(Remember: This is a once-a-week devotional that can be done in one day or broken up over several days.)
Bible Memory:
Did you memorize last week’s Bible verse?
Hiding God’s Word in our hearts is such a valuable practice. Since I’ve been memorizing Scripture, I’ve experienced so many moments where God brings a specific verse to mind just when I need it most. It’s amazing how He uses His Word to speak into our lives right where we are.
This Week’s Memory Verse — Romans 12:15 (KJV)
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
I Do – Watch Me Study
Job Chapter 1
When the Faithful Suffer
(Read Job Chapter 1 First)
This chapter opens with a glowing description of Job. He is described as perfect and upright. These words don’t mean sinless, but show us that he was morally innocent, had integrity, feared God, and turned away from evil. Job wasn’t a loud or flashy man, he was quiet and faithful.
He had a large, thriving family and many possessions. He was “the greatest of all the men of the east.” But what stood out most to me was his dedication to God and his children. Job regularly offered burnt sacrifices for his children just in case they had sinned during their feasting.
Then we’re taken into a heavenly scene: the sons of God (likely angels) appear before the Lord and Satan is there, too. When God points out Job’s faithfulness, Satan accuses him. “Job only fears You because You’ve blessed him,” he says. “Take it all away, and he’ll curse You to Your face.”
God permits Satan to test Job. Everything Job owns can be touched, but not Job himself.
Why would God allow this? We’re not given a full answer yet, but we’re invited to wrestle with it. One truth is clear to me…God trusted Job’s heart. He knew Job’s faith wasn’t because he was blessed but because of his relationship with God.
One day the losses begin. Livestock, servants, and finally his children are all taken away from him. One messenger after another brings devastating news. It reminded me of waves crashing over Job with no time to catch his breath.
And yet… what does Job do?
“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped…” (Job 1:20)
He grieves. And he worships. He says:
“Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return… the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
That line pierces me. Job recognizes everything he had was a gift, not something he earned. And even in devastation, he doesn’t blame God. He worships Him.
I imagine Job’s heart was absolutely shattered. And I believe God’s heart hurt for him, too. This chapter isn’t just about proving Satan wrong. It’s for us. It’s to show what deep faith looks like when everything else is stripped away.
It makes me ask this question – When life hurts, will I curse or bless? Will I pull away from God or fall at His feet in worship?
The Unseen Spiritual Battle, Suffering, and the Ministry of Presence
(Read Job Chapter 2 First)
As I studied Job 2, I imagined a courtroom or throne room scene where the sons of God and even Satan had to present themselves before God. It gave me chills thinking that even rebellious, fallen beings like Satan must report to God. This reminds me that God is sovereign over all, including the enemy. Satan cannot act outside of God’s permission. He’s on a leash.
God begins the conversation with Satan and points out Job’s unwavering integrity despite his immense suffering. And then we read something sobering:
“…although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3)
This verse makes it clear God is the one allowing Job’s suffering, not because of punishment, but for purposes Job doesn’t understand. Satan suggests, “Touch his bone and flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.” (v. 5) and God says:
“Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.” (v. 6)
This is complex but important: Satan could not touch Job until God allowed it. God is sovereign even over suffering. It’s Satan who strikes Job in verse 7, but only within God’s limits. That brings both a sobering and comforting truth: God is always in control.
Verse 8 stopped me in my tracks:
“And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.”
Job sat in ashes, scraping his sores with broken pottery. He didn’t complain. He just… scraped. This is heart-wrenching.
In the Bible, ashes symbolize grief, loss, humiliation, and mourning. Job was emotionally, spiritually, and physically devastated and yet, he did not sin with his lips.
Then comes his wife’s reaction:
“Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.”
But Job responds with composure:
“Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10)
Still, he did not sin with his lips. His pain was real and he must have been confused, but his integrity remained.
What happens next deeply convicted me:
Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, set out together when they heard of his suffering. Their initial intentions were good. They didn’t just send a message. They didn’t “like” a sad status. They went. They came to mourn with him and comfort him.
When they saw him from afar, they didn’t even recognize him. Their response was emotional and cultural:
• They wept loudly
• They tore their clothes
• They threw dust on their heads
• And then, they simply sat with him for seven days…
“…and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.” (Job 2:13)
What an example of the ministry of presence.
Let’s look at how scripture reinforces this:
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
“Two are better than one… For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow…”
Romans 12:15
“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.”
2 Corinthians 7:6
“Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”
Quotes That Echo This Truth:
Henri Nouwen
“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who… simply were there.”
C.S. Lewis
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together
“The physical presence of other Christians is a source of incomparable joy and strength to the believer.”
My Takeaway
This chapter reminds me that I don’t want to be a shallow friend. I want to show up. Grief isn’t always about words. Sometimes, it’s about just being there and sitting with someone in the ashes of their sorrow. That’s what Job’s friends did at first, and it’s a model of empathy I want to follow.
Now Job finally speaks. After seven days of silence and grief, his sorrow spills out in raw, honest words. He doesn’t curse God, but he curses the day he was born. And as we read his cry, it feels like we’re sitting beside him, hearing the sound of deep suffering.
He says, “Let the day perish wherein I was born” (v. 3). He wishes he had never existed. That might sound extreme unless you’ve ever been so overwhelmed that even waking up felt heavy. Job is not being dramatic. He’s heart broken.
Job asks questions we’ve maybe asked in our own suffering:
• Why was I even born? (v. 11)
• Why did I live just to experience this pain? (v. 16)
• Why is light given to those who are in misery? (v. 23)
He even imagines death as a peaceful place where the tired finally rest, where the hurting are quieted, where the oppressor can’t reach anymore (vv. 17–19). That stood out to me: Job doesn’t want death because he hates life. He longs for rest. He longs for peace.
Have you ever felt that?
We don’t often talk about these places of the soul, but the Bible does. That tells me that God understands our process of grief or confusion. He put Job’s lament in His holy Word because He meets us there.
Let’s reflect together:
Journal or Discussion Prompts:
•When have you felt like Job? Like your heart was so heavy you didn’t have words for it?
•What do Job’s words teach us about how to process grief and pain with God?
•Do you ever feel like you have to hide your hard emotions from God? Why or why not?
•How does Job’s honesty with God change the way we view “strong” faith?
In verse 25, Job says something especially honest:
“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.”
That one hit deep. Have you ever feared something happening and then it did? Maybe you’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop, trying to protect yourself from the “what ifs.” Job reminds us that even those who love and fear the Lord still experience suffering. But God is not gone. He is still with us in the valley.
Reflection:
•What fear have you been carrying that you need to bring into God’s light?
•How can you walk with someone else who is hurting, like Job’s friends did (even if imperfectly)?
•What does this chapter reveal about the importance of showing up for others in their grief, not with answers but just with presence?
Job chapter 3 is a picture of honest grief. It teaches us that lament is not weakness, it’s a way of processing deep pain. Job is still turning to God in faith. He hasn’t walked away. He’s just crying out. And sometimes, that’s the only thing we can do.
He starts gently enough by asking permission to speak, but his words soon shift from sympathetic to sharp. Eliphaz reminds Job that he has encouraged many people in the past. He says, “You’ve strengthened weak hands, lifted up those who were falling, and offered wise words to others. But now that trouble has come to you… you’re overwhelmed.”
Then Eliphaz challenges Job’s own beliefs:
“Isn’t your fear of God your confidence? Isn’t your hope based on your righteousness?” (Job 4:6, paraphrased)
And then comes the hard part:
Eliphaz claims that no one is ever destroyed without cause. He suggests that people only suffer when they’ve done something to deserve it. He believes that suffering equals sin and that only the wicked reap sorrow.
At first, it sounds reasonable. After all, the Bible does say we reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). Sin does bring consequences (Proverbs 13:21). But Eliphaz is missing a deeper spiritual reality.
Eliphaz is wrong in assuming that all pain comes from wrongdoing. He doesn’t know what we as readers know from chapters 1 and 2; That Job’s suffering wasn’t because of sin but because of a greater purpose in the unseen spiritual realm.
God wasn’t punishing Job. He was proving Job’s integrity, strengthening his faith, and displaying His glory.
This teaches us something critical: Not all suffering is punishment.
Yes, there are consequences for sin. No doubt that’s real.
But there’s another truth just as real: Sometimes we suffer for righteousness’ sake. Sometimes the testing of our faith is allowed by God for purposes we cannot yet see.
Let’s look at some scripture on that:
1 Peter 3:14 (KJV)
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
2. Job 1:8–12 (KJV)
Job suffers not because he sinned, but because God allowed a test of his faith, saying:
…there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil…
3. James 1:2–4 (KJV)
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
4. Romans 8:28 (KJV)
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
So what do we learn from Eliphaz?
Let’s not be quick to play the judge in someone else’s suffering.
Let’s not assume their hardship is the result of sin or disobedience.
Let’s not speak harsh words when someone needs gentle presence.
Instead, let’s offer prayer and grace.
Let’s be a true friend who sits beside someone in sorrow.
Later in chapter 4, Eliphaz tells Job a “secret” he claims came from a spirit in the night. He says:
Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker? (Job 4:17)
While that statement is technically true (no one is more righteous than God), Eliphaz uses it to insult Job. He implies that Job is arrogant for thinking he doesn’t deserve this suffering and that humans are basically so fragile and lowly and they perish forever without any regarding it.
But Eliphaz misses something big again: God does care. Deeply. He’s not dismissive of us. We are made in His image. He calls us His children.
Matthew 10:29–31 proves this… “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
And our influence doesn’t die with us. Eliphaz says when a man dies, “his wisdom perishes,” but we know that’s not true either because a godly life leaves a legacy that touches generations.
Reflection Questions:
•Have you ever assumed someone was suffering because of something they did wrong?
•When a friend is hurting, do you tend to give advice or simply be present?
•Have you ever misjudged a situation without knowing the full story?
Let’s take this as a reminder to be the kind of friend who offers compassion before correction, and prayer before opinions.
Job Chapter 5 – Misapplied Truth: The Danger of Jumping to Conclusions
Now it’s your turn.
Read through Job Chapter 5 and take some time to think about and journal through the questions below. Ask the Holy Spirit to help show you how to apply them personally to your life.
Summary of Job 5:
In this chapter, Eliphaz continues to speak to Job, assuming that Job’s suffering is the result of hidden sin. He uses a mix of poetic praise for God’s power and harsh assumptions about Job’s guilt. Eliphaz suggests that God disciplines those He loves, which is true in the right context, but wrongly applies it to Job. His words reveal a limited view of suffering and offer both comfort and judgment in the same breath.
It reminds us that even well-meaning people can misapply truth if they don’t understand our full story.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have you ever been misunderstood while going through something hard?
How did it feel to receive advice that didn’t consider your heart or pain?
2. Have you ever found yourself trying to “fix” someone else’s pain with quick answers or assumptions?
How can we offer comfort without jumping to judgment?
3. In verses 8–16, Eliphaz gives a beautiful description of God’s power, provision, and justice.
Even if his motivation was wrong, what truths about God can you still hold onto?
Example: Verse 13 says, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness…Meaning God sees through human plotting and brings justice in His own way.
(1 Cor. 3:19 echoes this truth).
4. Verse 17 talks about God’s correction and discipline.
Can you think of a time when God used hardship to teach or strengthen you?
What’s the difference between punishment and loving discipline?
Eliphaz says, “Happy is the man whom God correcteth,” but in Job’s case, it wasn’t correction. It was a test. God’s discipline comes from love.
5. Eliphaz assumes that peace, prosperity, and long life are always signs of righteousness.
Do you ever feel tempted to believe that following God should always result in an easy life?
What does the Bible actually say about suffering and growth?
Here are some verses to consider:
Romans 5:3–5
James 1:2–4
1 Peter 5:10
Isaiah 43:2
Psalm 34:18–19
2 Corinthians 4:17
Genesis 50:20
Philippians 3:10
1 Peter 2:21
6. In verse 1, Eliphaz says, “Call now, if there be any that will answer thee…”
What do you think that says about his attitude toward Job?
I believe it was a sarcastic way of saying, “You’re too far gone and no one will listen to you.” Harsh words when Job needed a friend.
7. In verses 3–5, Eliphaz gives an example of seeing a foolish man thrive and then lose everything.
I think he’s implying that Job is that foolish man. But he’s wrong, and it shows how dangerous it is to assume someone’s pain means they’re being punished.
After You Reflect:
Eliphaz spoke without compassion. He assumed that Job’s suffering was punishment for sin, and though some of his theology sounded good, it was misapplied.
But even in his misguided assumptions, we can still learn:
God does bring growth through hardship.
He does rescue the poor, frustrate the wicked, and restore the broken.
But not always on our timeline.
And not always for the reasons we assume.
God’s comfort often comes not in the removal of pain, but in His presence through it.
So as you consider Job 5, let this be your reminder:
Don’t be too quick to explain someone’s pain. Be quick to sit with them in it. And trust that God knows the whole story even when we don’t.
Key Takeaway:
Even well-meaning people can say the wrong things when they don’t understand our full story. Eliphaz tried to apply truth without compassion and assumed Job’s suffering was punishment. But Scripture reminds us that not all hardship is the result of sin. God is near in our pain, growing us through it, and working in ways we cannot see. We’re called to trust even when we don’t understand and to offer others grace, not judgment, in their suffering.
Heavenly Father,
We know scripture tell us to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. Please help us to have more of your heart and compassion for others. Help us to slow down and be present with the people you put in our paths. Thank you for teaching us through Job’s story of what deep faith looks like in blessings and in testing. God, you are sovereign over all and in control of everything and we trust you. Help us not to judge others who are suffering, but offer our prayer and presence instead. Thank you for being near us always and for growing us in times of pain.
The Georgia Nest 