Daily Manna 10 November
KEY VERSE: “What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.” – Job 34:7,8
READ: Job 34:1-17
1. Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2. Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3. For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4. Let us choose to us judgment; let us know among ourselves what is good.
5. For Job hath said, I am righteous; and God hath taken away my judgment.
6. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8. Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding; far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13. Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14. If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15. All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16. If now thou hast understanding, hear this; hearken to the voice of my words.
17. Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
There is a thinking pattern in man that seems a historical recurrence. And that is, when bad things happen to people it must always be because of the sins they may have committed. In today’s reading for instance, Job’s friends ended up supposing that God was punishing him with the afflictions because of his sins.
Even the disciples of Jesus were not spared of this thinking. They had thought that children born with congenital deformities resulted from parental sin (John 9:1,2). The story of the robbed man in the parable of the Good Samaritan may have been an offshoot of this kind of thinking.
The priest and the Levite thinking the man was a sinner, went the other way! Job’s condition was neither caused by his sins nor was it because of his fraternity with unbelievers as his friends erroneously supposed. God permitted his case to teach everyone lasting spiritual lessons.
And that is: not every affliction originates from sin. Some may be a test of faith. Also, bad things may happen to good people like Jesus, the spotless innocent Son of God, who was crucified for the sins of humanity. Meanwhile, bad things may not always happen to bad people, nor do good things always happen to good people all the time.
The bad people may sometimes enjoy some good things to drive them to repentance (Romans 2:4). Moreover, some misfortune might happen not as a result of wrongdoing, but just for God to show forth His glory. Afflictions may actually come as a result of sin; that is very certain.
But those who suffer such afflictions are not necessarily the worst of sinners. Therefore, we must be careful not to draw hasty conclusions especially when believers go through challenging situations. At such a time, we should emphatically pray for the afflicted.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Examine people’s challenges with the mind of Christ.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lamentations 4-5
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Dangerous Suppositions – written by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 10 November 2020
