ESOCS Devotional 16 November 2024 – Be Calm: You Are Limited
MEMORY VERSE: “Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?” Job 38:33 KJV
TEXT:: JOB 38:22-41
“Have you entered the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light diffused,
Or the east wind scattered over the earth?
25 “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate waste,
And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father?
Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice?
And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone,
And the surface of the deep is frozen.
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades,
Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season?
Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?
Can you set their dominion over the earth?
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go,
And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the mind?
Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps,
And the clods cling together?
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens,
Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the raven,
When its young ones cry to God,
And wander about for lack of food?
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Arrival mentality, many times makes us overrate ourselves and gives us the on-top-of-the-world feeling. It impresses on us the ‘I know it all’ ideology and we now think that we are indispensable. Job, having reached the peak of human achievement and then suddenly confronted with a low life experience, found himself speaking with diverse wisdom as though he knew everything about life.
However, in our text, God had to carefully respond to Job in literally all matters he raised, asking him several questions, indicating man’s limitations in life. Beloved, let it be clear that no matter where God places you and how far He helps you to get, you are very limited. Therefore, calm your nerves, relax, don’t carry yourself with so much pomposity and arrogance.
Yes! Man is limited in knowledge. There are so many things you do not know. What do you know about creation? How did the light come about? The positioning of the sun and moon, what can you say about it? Can you talk about the stars, wind, dew, rains, clouds? Can you tell us about the waters in the ocean and the over flowing part it has? What can you say about the rotation of the earth and the suspension of the skies without any pillars? Do you have explanation on the multiplicity of the creeping things, birds of the air, fishes in the sea, the animals and how they are sustained? Beloved, your knowledge is heavily limited; so, calm down. Unfortunately, empty drums make the loudest noise. No doubt, as they say, ignorance sponsors arrogance.
We can confirm again that man is limited in power. There are so many things man cannot do. In fact, what you can do is infinitesimal compared to the ones you cannot do. With all the powers you think you possess, how many things have you done? How far can your power take you? Moving away from your family, what can your power do? Outside the Church, can your power still be effective? Outside your office or organization, can your power make any sense? Outside your country, can your power speak volume?
It is so funny when you hear people speak of power as though they have limitless power. Ironically, the power was given to them; it can also be taken away anytime.
- Never boast of transient knowledge and power.
- Let it be settled in your heart that man is limited in all things.
- Always submit to the Almighty God.
- Father, thank you because you are the Almighty, all-knowing and the all-powerful God. Grant me the grace to always recognize this, in Jesus name. Amen
Further Reading: Proverbs 23:15-25; Luke 1:1-4
ESOCS Devotional 16 November 2024
