The Joy of Glory

Job 39 (click here)
Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill, and do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them. (Job 39:1-4)

Reflection
God takes Job on a tour of the animal kingdom and the whole point is for Job to recognize that none of these creatures depend upon him for anything…they depend upon God for everything! From the moment they are born and throughout their lives, it is God who sustains their every waking moment.

Life itself displays the awesome power of God…for he gives it, sustains it, and guides it all the way home!

The point is not for Job to merely feel powerless (although he should), but to see that the all powerful one is on his side! If God uses his power to care for animals, then surely he will do the same for Job!

This is a promise to every believer…that God lovingly uses his power to work for our good and his glory…which are the same thing! God’s glory IS our greatest good, for that is where eternal joy and satisfaction are found! Through Job’s suffering, the glory of God is put on display as Job’s holding onto him reveals that he is more valuable than all Job has lost. Whether he knows it or not, Job is displaying God’s worth/value/glory to the world.

Job will discover more and more how glorious God truly is, and this will deepen Job’s joy in him. God IS working for his glory and Job’s joy…and we are promised that he is doing the same in our lives…even when we cannot see it! Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Verse 28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

*The complete SVCC Lenten reading guide is available here.