Deep Dive
Shownotes Transcript
Hey, Bible readers, I'm Tara Lee Cobble, and I'm your host for The Bible Recap.
Today we got to hear from good old Eliphaz again. That's right, bad friend number one is back to double down on his busted theology. But before he starts talking, Job has some good things to say. In 14.5, Job says, You know that phrase, your days are numbered? If you've ever heard someone say that in conversation, they're probably using it as a threat. Maybe just a joke threat.
They'll say, your days are numbered, buddy. But in the grand scheme of things, that's no threat to me. It's a promise and a comfort.
Job said to God, you have appointed man's limits that he cannot pass. I love that God is sovereign over my lifespan. Each day is appointed and my life will last the exact amount of time he has determined. The exact amount, no more, no less. That's a great comfort to me because listen, if he's done with me here, I don't want to be here anymore. Let's get this show on the road. I'm ready to go. And
And if he still has an assignment for me here, then I don't want to miss out on that either. I trust his timing in it all. In the second half of chapter 14, Job gets kind of bummed out talking about his future, which makes sense given all he's been through. Let's cut him some slack and not rush him to healing. After all, his friends certainly didn't offer him that grace. They were not patient with his pain.
Okay, chapter 15. This is where Eliphaz speaks again, falsely accusing Job, misunderstanding his heart and his motives. He thinks Job's grief is a sign that he doesn't trust God. Those two things aren't mutually exclusive. Jesus grieved and mourned, and he is God. I have so much compassion for Job here. It's really hard to feel alone in your pain, but it's even harder to feel unknown in your pain by people who are supposed to know and love you.
In my Bible, chapter 16 is titled, Job replies, miserable comforters are you. He's just shooting it straight. He calls them out on being terrible friends. In 16.3, he even begs them to be silent and to stop advising him. Did you catch that? He says, shall windy words have an end or what provokes you that you answer? This whole section makes me want to think carefully about how and when I advise others.
God calls us to mourn with those who mourn, not advise those who mourn, and certainly not to condemn them for their mourning. Yesterday, we saw how Job is starting to see God's hand in all of this. He recognizes that God plays a role in what's happening to him, albeit a passive one. But in 16.7, Job begins to attribute the harm to God and to doubt God's goodness.
He starts to believe God hates him. He blames God for all the things Satan did. If you're in a dark place, this book is probably serving as a comfort to you. But if you're not in a dark place, be patient with Job. Don't engage with Job's story in the same way his friends did. They wanted to wrap it up and have him repent or change so they could get on with things. Suffering always lasts longer than we want it to.
But sitting in someone else's suffering with them teaches us patience and compassion. Those are the kinds of things that God feels toward those who are weeping and mourning. And those are certainly the kinds of things we want others to display toward us when we're struggling. Let this book help you strengthen your patience and compassion muscles.
Where did you see God's actions or attributes today? This was my God shot. I noticed how God is sovereign over lifespan. As I mentioned, that is a great comfort to me. I don't want anyone to kill me but God. I certainly don't want the enemy to be sovereign over that. I don't trust him, but I trust God. The life of Job and the death of his family members, Job recognizes that God is sovereign over all that, like we read about in Job 14.5.
We've been seeing God's sovereignty over so many things since we started reading the Bible together. And it's fitting that we notice all these separate areas because the word sovereign really means that God is the supreme authority and that all these things are under his control. So what we've seen a lot this week is where his sovereignty has been displayed in various areas. We will continue to see this all throughout scripture. So keep looking for that. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a page in scripture where that's not displayed. So here's my challenge to you.
Notice if and when it feels offensive to you that God is in charge. Where do you want to be the God of your own life? Where do you feel like He's infringing on your rights with His sovereignty? That was a real struggle for me on my first trip through Scripture, so I feel for you if that's where you are right now. Hang in there. Keep looking for Him in these pages, because He's where the joy is. ♪
Okay, Bible readers, we've been at this for seven days now, so I just want to check in with you. How are you doing? What have you learned so far? If you're behind, don't beat yourself up about it. You're probably reading more of the Bible than you would if you were doing this on your own. And listen, I know we're in the thick of things with Job right now, and this book is not an easy read. It isn't exactly a bright and shiny way to start out the new year, but it's real life. And some of you may relate to Job and his hardships. How
However you may be feeling, I want to remind you to keep looking for God and reflecting on the attributes of His character that you've seen in the chapters we've read. Lean into those things and ask Him to grant you an increasing desire to know Him more. I'll see you back here tomorrow.
I'm a big fan of the Dwell Audio Bible app, not just because I'm an auditory learner, but because for thousands of years, people have engaged with scripture by hearing it. And listening is still one of the best ways to connect with God's word. We've partnered with Dwell to bring my daily recaps right into their app. Not only can you listen to each day's reading, but you can also hear my recaps right inside the app. If you're reading along with TBR in 2025, check out the Dwell Audio Bible app.
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