10/17- I finished the book of Genesis at debrief a couple days ago. It felt really good to finish a book in the Bible with a solid understanding and grasp on the content. As I read through it, I had already heard all of the stories growing up… Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah’s Ark, Father Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Esau, and of course Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors. I loved reading through the stories that I remember in children’s book form and seeing them in a new way. I see new connections and feel myself gaining a new desire to dissect every chapter.
Throughout the first month on the race, a deeper understanding of His word was something that I prayed for, and I saw the Lord answering that prayer as I dove into it with open hands by the end of month one.
I started Job yesterday (I’m attempting to read the Bible in chronological orderish) and have been wowed already. In Job 2 verse 10, he asks his wife, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” It’s such an important question to ask ourselves when things aren’t going the way we want. Job asked this after his children are killed, his property is taken away, and his health is attacked. He had lost his worldly comforts to every extent, yet he continued to trust and praise God. I love the theme point in Job of having faith in a sovereign God.
Fast-forward about a week later… (10/25)
I just finished Job and I am so amazed by our God. The only thing I could think while I was reading the last five chapters was, “Dang, the Lord is going straight savage on Job.” He put him and his three friends in their places. They were hit by a rude awakening from God.
“Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.”
-Job 38:18
“Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?”
-Job 38:36
God goes on for multiple chapters asking rhetorical questions, describing His power and basically just showing Job why He is called the Almighty. It makes anyone who reads His words realize how small they really are. We are specks of dust on the earth that truly deserve nothing.
The Lord makes Job snap out of his discontent and realize that he is insignificant and deserves nothing from God. Who deserves understanding of why God does the things He does? I loved Job’s response to the Lord. He acknowledged his ignorance and misunderstanding of the power of the Lord and then covered his mouth.
“Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
-Job 42:3
Reading this book came at a great time as a lot of us on the squad have struggled wrapping our minds around our “purpose” in our ministry here in Swaziland. Honestly, playing with kids who can’t really understand you all day every day has made it hard to see how the Lord is using us. What is so humbling is remembering that we are such a small part of the Lord’s plan. We are called to obey, and we don’t deserve to know how he is using us. We may never see the fruit of the work we are doing here in Swaziland, but we know that by being in His will, we are building His Kingdom. Showing these kids love that they don’t normally get is so special, so I wouldn’t change a thing about our ministry here in Swazi.
Another way that the Lord has been reiterating this lesson in my life is by reminding me not to fall into the trap of comparison. A percentage of my squadmates have gotten to witness the power of prayer in healing. From home visits to days out at Nisela, the Lord has worked by healing those that they have encountered. My team has prayed over a few people for healing but haven’t gotten to witness the Lord work in that way. We have had to remind ourselves that we have no right to be disappointed if He doesn’t want to use us in those moments to heal them. As much as we want to see those people be free of their pain, if it’s not in His will, we shouldn’t be upset. Humility is something we are all learning when it comes to the Lord’s will.
Now that I’ve finished Job, I am going to take a break from the Old Testament and read James. I am super pumped to dissect those five chapters and hear from the Lord. I am extremely grateful for all of the time I get to dig deeper into the word… I am constantly reminding myself that I will never get another year like this one: One to spend time with these exact people doing so many amazing things.
