The Wondrous Works of God

Job 37:13-14,24

"Whether for correction or for His land or for love, He caused it to happen. ..Stop and consider the wondrous works of God...Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."

Why does God cause things to happen? Elihu proposed several ideas: for correction, for His land, or for love, but whatever, God caused all things to happen. Knowing this fact alone should make man, and Job in particular, remember the works of God. Elihu called these works wondrous because they always bring wonder to the mind of man due to their nature and scope, but also due to the fact that the reason 'why' eludes man. Since God's ways and thoughts are not man's, man must fear God alone and not be wise in his own conceits. Would man's wisdom include repeatedly struggling to understand why and defending oneself before God?  What should be Job's response to this horrendous suffering and loss be? As I near the end of the book, I want to hear God speak. This narrative shows me in specific detail how ineffective human counsel is no matter how well meaning it is. Job's heart still ached, and his questions were still unanswered. A friend with a judgmental attitude and words is a scourge. Perhaps if his friends wanted to help, they could have just been with him coming alongside with love and not with words.  What kind of friend am I when others are in valleys of deep pain and suffering?

Father,

Keep me close to Your heart so that I may share Your heart with others. Help me always to fear You and not elevated my own thoughts.

In Jesus name,

Amen