MEDITATIONS
FROM JOB
December 12 , 2007
Reading: Job 22:21-30
"Receive,
please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you
return to the Almighty, you will be built up”” Job
We made reference to this verse recently while contemplating the return
of the backsliding Believer. It is important to understand the lengths to which
God will go to restore such a one.
“My son, do not despise the chastening of
the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD
loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives" Hebrews 12:5-6.
If, in our stubbornness, we choose to walk away from the Lord, He will
discipline us, just as any caring father will his child. God does not punish
His children, but He does chasten or discipline them. At times this can be
severe. The more we build ourselves up the more He has to tear down.
“See, I have this day set you over the
nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to
throw down, to build and to plant” Jeremiah
1:10.
What did God do in order for the Prodigal Son to return home? First He
sent a famine to the land where he was busy spending his inheritance, He made
sure he spent all his money and was broke, He found him a job feeding pigs,
then brought him to the point of starvation so he was forced to eat the pig’s
food. It was not until the Prodigal Son was brought as low as possible that he
decided to return home. Yes, God sent the famine. It was not the first time God
sent a famine on His people – Ezekiel 5:16-17. Take it from one who can speak
from personal experience, God will do what He has to do
to restore His wayward child.
If one of God’s children becomes an embarrassment to Him or hinders His
work or causes others to backslide, He will go as far as removing that person
from this world. An example is given as regards to the Lord’s Supper:
“But let a man examine himself,
and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and
drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not
discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you,
and many sleep” 1 Corinthians 11:28-30.
“If they break My
statutes and do not keep My commandments, then I will punish their transgression
with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless My lovingkindness I
will not utterly take from him, nor allow My
faithfulness to fail” Psalm 89:31-33.
Discipline is proof of God’s faithfulness and love. What would you think of a God who did not care enough to discipline His children? Our salvation depends on His faithfulness, not ours. Are you not pleased it is this way?
“Now no chastening seems to be
joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the
peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” Hebrews
12:11.
These words are the heart cry of one whose heart aches for the soul that has cast God aside. Can a born again soul do such a thing? Yes, he can, but be prepared for the Lord is a faithful loving Father and will do whatever it takes to restore you to Himself. We are speaking of eternal things here and the chastening of the Lord can be severe. The longer and more resistant you are to the working of God in your life the more severe will be His chastening. Do not think you can escape or hide from the hand of God. He will bring you back and, when He does, your heart will be broken but you will always be thankful to Him that He has.
"Receive, please, instruction
from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the
Almighty, you will be built up”” Job