Job, Jonah and jim ME: Part 1

It’s me trying to be creative with the title. I’ve read these two books from the Bible a couple of times and it has always hit me strong so I’m going to blog about why these two books have been very important to me. It is two books of the Bible so I’m going to make it into two parts. Here goes part one.

Part 1: Job – Everyone suffers; no more no less.

Job 1:8 – Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil”

God is proposing a contest against Satan. Satan challenged that Job only love God only because of the good things God provides. Remove those good things Job’s faith would melt away along with his riches and health. God’s reputation is at line and would Job turn against God?

First raiders stole Job’s belongings and slaughtered his servants. Then all his sheep got burned, and a mighty wind destroyed his house and killed his sons and daughters. To top it off Job came down with a horrible, painful disease. What did I do to deserve such suffering? He cried for God for an explanation and eventually God did show up. And when God spoke no one was prepared for what He has to say (Chapter 38-41).

Job 38:2 – Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

God answer Job’s questions with questions to reveal the vast difference between the God of all creation and one puny human like Job. God made an excellent point: If you can’t comprehend the visible world you live in, how dare you expect to comprehend a world you can’t even see!

And all Job can answer is

Job 42:3 – Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

A lot of times it seems that the world is going to collapse, nothing matters anymore. God is distant and silent. At moments of disaster we ought to know we are on a test. We are not alone, a guy name Job thousands of years ago went through it with faith that God is just.

Everyone suffers; no more no less. God doesn’t leave us alone; He met Job personally aside from busy running the universe. He does meet with us everyday with the beam of light and the breeze of the air; he is personal if we pay attention. Please read chapter 38-41.

 

Salt & Light

Matthew 5:12-14

13″You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.

14″You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

The reason I’m writing this post it’s because this verse has been in my head for sometime now and I use this verse in prayer once in a while so I wonder what Jesus meant when He said it on the Mount.

I did a word study on salt and there are several different possibilities for the originally intended meaning of the salt metaphor:

 

• Exodus, Ezekiel, and Kings present salt as a purifying agent
• Leviticus, Numbers, and Chronicles present it as a sign of God’s covenant.
• The most important use of salt was as a preservative and hence the most common interpretation of the metaphor is as asserting the duty to preserve the purity of the world.
• In the Rabbinic literature of the period salt was a metaphor for wisdom.
• Salt was a minor but essential ingredient in fertilizer and so a few scholars such as Gundry believe that earth should be translated as soil (i.e. salt of the soil), and hence the metaphor asserts that the audience should help the world grow and prosper.
• One interpretation of salt of the earth is that it orders the audience to take part in the world rather than withdraw from it.

And as for light it’s amazing that it’s the ultimate source of colors and God reveal it on His covenant and promise; the rainbow (Genesis 9:8-16). Jesus wants us to bring colors to people’s life and not hide it but to illumine so that people will draw near and know the truth.

 

Luke 8:16

16“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

 

Am I what Jesus said I am the salt and light of the world? Have I lost my saltiness and become a candle in a jug? As the season of salvation is around the corner and year end is near, God I pray that You will make me salty and bright so that Your glory be reveal. Amen.

 

Salt – Preserve, purify, fertilize

Light - Illuminate, radiate and shine