ESOCS Devotional 11 September 2023 – Trust God
MEMORY VERSE: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him”. Job 13:15 NIV
TEXT: JOB 13:1-15 (KJV)
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you.
3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value.
5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips.
7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him?
8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God?
9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him?
10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.
11 Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?
12 Your remembrances are like unto ashes, your bodies to bodies of clay.
13 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Trust refers to the trait of believing in the honesty and reliability of others. It is complete confidence in a person or plan. The text reveals Job’s experience with his three friends while trusting his Maker. This was as a result of what he suffered in which he became vulnerable in the context of his suffering, whereas the friends who at ease are full of contempt for his misfortune; true friends are discovered in trying times. Job rebuked his friends for arguing against him wrongly and in a bid to defend God of whom he was aware of His acts and His ways. And so he urged them to rather stay silent…oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! And it should be your wisdom (vs 5). We must learn to silence every negative voice and thoughts that tries to discourage us in the times of challenges; we should desire to hear only the voice of the Holy Spirit more than we listen to men.
It’s important to note that Job had an understanding and knowledge of who God is to him, and this formed the basis of his confidence and trust. Even though it wasn’t a palatable experience, he suffered pain, rejection, contempt, and betrayal, he could boldly declare though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…(Job 13 vs 15) like our Lord Jesus Christ when he was to face the death which the Father had designed for him (see Mark 14:36). God’s will for us usually does not come on a bed of roses, it always does not come with comfort while in His crushing hands, but it ends up squeezing the best out of our lives if we allow it and exercise our trust in him and not on mere men
.
In walking with God, one must get acquainted with His principles and then build his faith on God’s steadfast love and Sovereignty, in order to be able to overcome the storms of life. Challenges should push us to him and not the other way round because most often, challenges is an indication of God’s presence in a man’s life (see Ps 34:19).
- Trust God even when it makes no meaning, that’s where your safety is guaranteed.
- Oh Lord, please help my faith to grow stronger in you, no matter the challenges.
FURTHER READING: Luke 18:1-14; Romans 4:19-20; Hebrews 11:1-6
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 11 September 2023
