13

Jump Start # 135

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 135

Job 1:14-19 “a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from Heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘You sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”

  Our passage today is long, but it is necessary to see the say suffering came upon Job. There are several lessons to see here.

  First, trials and suffering came all at once. It is hard enough to deal with suffering and pain but when they come at you from all sides it nearly destroys us. A common expression in these verses is, “While he was still speaking” (16, 17, 18). Financial problems, work issues, trouble at home, someone in the hospital all happens at the same time. We feel like a rubber band that is about as stretched as it can be. We think we might snap. Some do.

  Second, Job’s suffering came from natural causes (fire from Heaven, a great wind) and from violence and crime (the Sabeans attacked, the Chaldeans made a raid). James tells us that there are various trials. Which is better? Neither. Storms come quickly and often catch us unprepared. The victim of violence and crime hurts emotionally for a long time. I don’t know if Job belong to a nation but the Sabeans and the Chaldeans making raids sounds like a form of war or invasion.

  Thirdly, Job’s suffering involved the loss of life. The Sabeans killed his servants. The fire from Heaven consumed his servants. The Chaldeans killed his servants. The great wind killed his children. The servants are not named. But they were loved by someone. They had families or were a part of a family. Things can always be replaced, life cannot. The servants belonged to Job and worked for him. He was responsible for them. Now they were gone.

Fourth, as we know, but Job doesn’t, Satan was behind all of these trials. Satan hits hard. Satan is powerful. The tears would be many for Job. The loss of livestock and herds would cripple him financially. The cemetery will all the fresh graves would be a lonesome sight for Job. And each time, one servant was allowed to escape. Not one child but one servant. Satan did that. The hurt was intended to crush his faith in God.

Fifth, Job mourned and Job worshipped. It is not a sign of weakness nor a lack of faith to shed tears nor to be troubled by these things. Life for Job would never be the same. When we bury a loved one, we bury a part of ourselves. Some folks give the impression that if you shed tears you are weak. The Bible doesn’t say that. Those folks live in a bubble and have never seen trials like these. They often add guilt and burden upon the suffering by stating their false and dumb opinions.

  Job worshipped (1:20). He didn’t give up. There were things to be thankful for. God had allowed Job to know these people and to be blessed with those possessions. God was still God. Satan failed. Job was hit hard, but he was still standing, still worshipping, still committed to God.

  These are important lessons to be grasped by us.

Roger

12

Jump Start # 134

Posted on July 12, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 134

Job 1:8 “The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’”

  Our verse for today introduces the book of Job. Job is found in our Bibles in the poetry section, along with Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. Job is one of the oldest books of the Bible. We say that because of the nature of the book. It takes place during the time when God talked directly to the fathers, like Abraham, Noah and Adam. There are no references in the book to the Law of Moses, the priesthood, Abraham, Moses, or the tabernacle. It is as if Job came before all of those.

  Job is a long book and it is difficult to read. It unfolds much like a play. If you can imagine Job and his three friends as the main characters and the dialogue is a verbal exchange back and forth between Job and these three friends.

  Often when we hear of the book of Job our immediate thought is, “That is a book about suffering.” And in some ways that is true. Job suffered. He suffered hard and long. He suffered emotionally, mentally, physically, socially, financially, and even spiritually. Few people have gone through what Job did. Most who have, did not fare well. But the book really isn’t about suffering. It is about faith and God. The premise is “why does man serve God?” God’s contention is that man serves God because of who God is. Satan’s point is that man only serves God because of the blessings man receives from God. Man is spoiled and selfish and God has bought his devotion by blessing him. This is a great thesis for a debate. So Job is used as the test. A good man who had been richly blessed. Take it all away and see what he will do. So in many ways, Job is placed in a test tube and suffering is poured in and the test tube is shook very rapidly. Job is poured out and we watch his response and reaction to all of this.

  We understand and know more of the background than Job was ever told. Our verse today introduces the beginning of this debate.

  This verse is interesting. First, God brings Job up to Satan, not the other way around. Second, God is talking to Satan. The Bible has nothing kind to say about Satan. He is called the enemy, a liar from the very beginning. I would expect God to have nothing to do with Satan, but here He is approaching Satan. Third, God allows but Satan does. All the terrible suffering that Job goes through are the result of Satan. God put limits on what Satan could do.   And who can look at our verse and not see the powerful compliments God has about Job. It is as if Job was centerpiece in God’s trophy case. God tells us that Job is “My servant.” There was a relationship and fellowship between Job and God. Further God identifies four characteristics of Job: blameless, upright, God fearing and turning away from evil. God summed it up by saying, “There is no one like him on the earth.”

  This reminds us that God is aware of our hearts, motives and actions. God knows. God was pleased with Job. God was bragging to Satan about Job. Parents do that about their kids. They do that because they are so proud of their kids. God is feeling that way about Job.

  God’s feelings toward Job makes us struggle with why God allowed Satan to afflict him so harshly and severely. You’d think God would protect Job, shelter Job and keep these things from happening. But just the opposite. Because Job meant so much, God said to Satan, “Have you considered…”  It seems God knew how Job would act. Parents know how their kids will do. God knew.

  One final thought. Does God and Satan have conversations today about us? Does God tell Satan about you? I don’t know. It’s hard to find Scripture to answer that either way. It does present a thought for us to consider. The God of Heaven and earth being so pleased with us that He tells Satan to consider you. That would change how we look at suffering and the whys of suffering. It would also stop us from blaming God so often.

  God is in charge. He always has been. That is a blessing!

Roger

09

Jump Start # 133

Posted on July 9, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 133

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

  In the ancient Hebrew Bible the opening words of a book became the title. Genesis was called, “In the beginning.” Later it was shortened to “Beginnings,” which is the definition of the word “Genesis.”

  This is how it all started. The beginnings of life, mankind, relationship, marriage, family, God’s will, man’s disobedience, God’s redemptive plan and hope. There are several interesting things to note about this first sentence in God’s book.

  Nothing is said to prove God. It is assumed and understood that the reader knows God. Many in the scientific word have taken away that assumption. They can’t begin at this point. They must understand that God is. There are ways to show that. The evidence abounds.

  Also, we note that this is not a science book. The how-did-God-do-it are not detailed. The only thing we see is that God said and it came to be. The power, wisdom, planning and force belong to God. Hebrews 11 says, “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” How do we know this? By faith. Not a blind faith. But a faith first in the word of God and beyond that a faith in God Himself. The word of God stands true, honest and right. What God says about nations, medical practices, astronomy and many other things are right, years and years before man knew these things. God’s fulfillment of prophecy is 100%. So when God said He created, by faith we believe that.

  The word “created” means out of nothing. The process God used was His will and His mind. Evolution was not the process God used. God created in 6 days. Some ask, “How do you know it was 6 literal days?” Or, “if a 1,000 years is a day to God, maybe each day represented millions of years.” First, God said. Second, God identified. He said there was evening, there was morning, one day. Third, God distinguished. After God made the solar system He said, “let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years.” God saw a difference between a day, days, seasons and years. Fourth, in Exodus 20, when God establishes the Sabbath day, he identified what a week was—seven days. He used the creation account as an example. God worked six days and rested on the seventh.

  But within the creation account, there are many things God made but didn’t identify. Nothing is said about DNA, atoms, electrons, chemical compounds and all the “invisible” things of our world. Also, nothing is said about color, sound, smell or taste. Have you ever thought about that? What if our world was black and white? We could function and probably not know any difference, but look at all the colors today, the greens of summer, the color of birds, the color of dirt. Listen to the sounds of nature—rain, thunder, birds, wind. Consider what you taste today—hot coffee, cold water, breakfast, lunch, dinner. All these wonderful things given as a gift by God.

  We sing a song, ‘This is my Father’s world’ and thus it is. Louie Armstrong sang, “What a wonderful world.” Amen to that. Look about at what God made. Enjoy. Be thankful. Consider. And then realize you are part of that creation, too. Special. Unique. And made by God!

Roger

08

Jump Start # 132

Posted on July 8, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 132

Genesis 4:6-7 “Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

Cain and Abel. The first children of Adam and Eve. Brothers. They both made an offering to God. Cain gave vegetables, he was a farmer. Abel offered a lamb, he was a shepherd. God accepted Abel’s and rejected Cain’s. The sacrifice of Abel involved blood. It was a complete offering. Once a lamb was killed and burned there is no more lamb. Picking fruits and vegetables doesn’t kill the plant. A tomato plant or an apple tree will bear much fruit in a season. Cain’s sacrifice wasn’t much of a sacrifice. But more than that, it wasn’t what God wanted. By faith, Hebrews tells us, Abel offered a better sacrifice. Faith is not a feeling, but trusting what God has said. We are told that faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17). God must have instructed and told the boys what He wanted. God always does. He never leaves things to our imagination. For Cain that meant having to obtain a lamb. Offering what he already had was much more convenient. And so he did. God refused to accept it.

  Now Cain was mad. He seemed jealous as well. He should have been mad at himself and remorseful and offered God what He wanted. Our verse says his “countenance” was fallen. We don’t talk that way. Countenance is expression on his face. Our face on the outside shows what is going on in the inside. A smile says I’m happy. A frown says something isn’t right. Cain’s expression, countenance was fallen.

  God always asks leading questions. He asked Adam, “Where are you” after he and Eve ate the forbidden fruit and were hiding from God. The Lord knew where they were. He wanted them to answer. Here, God knows why Cain is angry. He even says so, “if you do what is right your countenance will be lifted.” Cain was wrong. It was not God’s fault. Abel had done nothing wrong. So often when a person is eaten with guilt they will lash out at those who are doing right. Instead of changing self, they verbally beat up the innocent.

  Then in this ancient passage, God reveals what we all must learn and face. Sin is crouching at our door. Sin’s desire is for us. But we must conquer it. God knew what was racing through Cain’s heart. He was angry, jealous and not thinking straight. If he could have killed God he probably would have tried. He killed his innocent brother. Sin mastered him. God warned. He again did not listen to God. More problems. More guilt. The hole in which he has fallen deepens. We are left with the “why’s.” Why didn’t he just offer a lamb to start with? Why didn’t he listen to God? Why did he strike his brother? None of this makes sense.

  And now we start to understand and put the pieces together. Remember the prodigal son? Out in the far country, out of money, friends, ideas and hope. The passage says, “when he came to his senses…” Sin is senseless.

  Sin’s desire is for you. Years later, Peter would write, “your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Satan wants you. Sin is right around the corner. God’s words are short and to the point, you must master it. You do that by becoming strong in Christ. You do that by walking with God. You do that by filling your heart with the word of God.

  Cain messed up. It had nothing to do with birth order, chosen occupations or other weak excuses. He chose. He allowed sin to master him. He did not walk by faith. He crashed. He hurt others. We do the same when we act the same. Jude makes this statement regarding people in his day, “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain…”

  God’s words to Cain works. You must master it. You can. The sin is not greater than you are. You do have other options. God said so.

  One final thought to think about, what Cain and Abel were doing was worshipping God. They were offering sacrifices to God. Our Lord does not accept everything we offer Him. It must be according to what He has said. The way of Cain is doing your own thing, your own way. The results are a disaster. The way of Abel is obedience to what God has revealed and wants. Something to think about!

Roger

07

Jump Start # 131

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 131

Genesis 13:8-9 “So Abram said to Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.’ 

  Abram and Lot traveled together. They had so many flocks and herds that the land could not sustain them. Their herdsmen fought. Tensions were building. Something bad was going to happen if the situation did not improve. Abram steps in with a plan. He demonstrated leadership and peacemaking.

  Several things are interesting about this. First, God had directed Abram to leave and journey, not Lot. Lot had hitched on with the people going with Abram. Secondly, Abram was older than Lot. Abram had every right to just tell Lot you go this way and I will go that way. But he didn’t. He let Lot pick first. We remember what happened. Lot saw the valleys and that there was plenty of water, an ideal place for herds. He took what appeared to be the best. His choice put him in the area of Sodom and Gomorrah, the twin cities of immorality and godlessness. Later, God will be so sick of the sins of those cities that He pronounced a coming destruction upon them. Abram pleads for the sake of the righteous. God will spare the cities if  ten righteous people can be found living there. We know there was one, Lot. Peter calls Lot righteous three times in 2 Peter 2. But apparently there were not 9 other righteous people. This is out of two cities!

  The affect upon Lot’s family was disastrous. We remember. As Lot’s family flees the coming destruction, his wife turns and looks. God said not to do that. She couldn’t resist. She became a pillar of salt. Later, his two daughters get Lot drunk and have sexual relations with him and become pregnant. What a mess! Lot’s family becomes a spiritual sewer.

  What seemed to be the best choice wasn’t. What looked good on paper and what looked good financially, and what looked good for herds was not good for people. How many fathers have made the same choice. A promotion, an opportunity, a chance. It looks great financially. It looks good on paper. But what about the moral and spiritual climate? What will the change do for the family? Lot’s family was never the same after that.

  You see that in some family histories. As dad climbs the corporate ladder, more money comes into the household, bigger houses, fancier cars, more stuff. The herds swell. A move to a better region. But the region is Sodom. The kids become less spiritual and more materialistic. Interests in the gospel dwindles. The family compromises here and there and before long it is hard to find righteous people living in the household.

  What’s the answer? Don’t take the promotion? Don’t move? Sometimes that may be the answer. Some leave a great church and end up with a church that fights and bickers and can’t make up it’s mind whether to stay open or close the doors. Poor choice. But refusing the promotion, and staying put won’t keep Sodom out of the house. Somewhere in all of this Dad has to still be Dad. He must lead the family spiritually. The demands of work can not become the excuse that he doesn’t have time. His first job is raising the family spiritually. How do you keep Sodom out of your house? What shows are on the TV? What music is being listened to? What is being looked at on the computer? That’s a start. Surround the family with incredible people—invite families into your home that have similar values as you do. Open that Bible at home. Make God real. Make God good. Make God first in your home.

  Lot chose the best land, but it cost him. He paid dearly for it. Don’t follow in his steps!

Roger