Devotion 448

“Questioning The Ways of God”

Reference: Job Chapter 12

The righteous suffers while the mocker prospers. This was a question posed by Asaph.

Psalm 73:12-14,16-22 “Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. [13] Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. [14] For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. [16] When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; [17] Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. [18] Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. [19] How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors. [20] As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. [21] Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. [22] So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”

Like Asaph, Job has a thousand questions.

Let’s read:

Job 12:1-6 “And Job answered and said, [2] No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. [3] But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? [4] I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. [5] He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. [6] The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.”


He has difficulty understanding what is happening to him. It’s the position of many children of God.

God did not call us to understand but to believe.


Today, trials should not be questioned by the child of God in Christ. For we have the answer.

Hebrews 12:5-8 “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: [6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. [7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? [8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

He tries our faith not to destroy but to purify it.
Not because he hates us but because He loves us.

We continue our reading:

Job 12:7-24 “But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: [8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. [9] Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? [10] In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. [11] Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? [12] With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. [13] With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. [14] Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. [15] Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. [16] With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. [17] He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools. [18] He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle. [19] He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. [20] He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. [21] He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. [22] He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. [23] He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again. [24] He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.”

Job knows God by the work of His hands. He is now learning God through the purification of his faith.

If Job knew his faith was on trial, he would have counted it as joy.

James 1:2-3 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; [3] Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Welcome the trial of your faith by the Father.

We conclude our reading:

Job 12:25 “They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.”

Any child that comes to God must be tried.

Let the Lord try your faith, and come out shining like gold. BELIEVE and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. His trials are for our good. Believe and not question, in Christ!