Yesterday we stopped our conversation with Job being on the ledge. Desiring to believe the best of Eliphaz, I assume this was his best attempt to talk Job down. As we noted yesterday, his approach is a bit lacking. Just when he should have stopped and given Job a moment to process ......he kicks the gas petal and runs him down. And he goes on......and on.....and on for somewhere around 43 verses give or take. I rather envision Mr Crisis coming through town. (If you were not with us, look back in the archives). Sometimes our relationships seem as though they are nothing more than a "stubborn mule". But we must take our eyes off the individuals and realize the true battle going on. If you have not believed me when I have talked about being aware of the voices you are listening to - those in your "memory" or "conversations" going on and no one is there (role playing in your imagination) understand those thoughts ARE coming from something. Still don't believe me....... here is a real example:
Eliphaz on his soap box delivered this:
7 “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent?
Or where were the upright destroyed?
8 “According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity
And those who sow trouble harvest it.
9 “By the breath of God they perish,
And by the blast of His anger they come to an end.
10 “The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion,
And the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 “The lion perishes for lack of prey,
And the whelps of the lioness are scattered.
12 “Now a word was brought to me stealthily,
And my ear received a whisper of it.
13 “Amid disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night,
When deep sleep falls on men,
14 Dread came upon me, and trembling,
And made all my bones shake.
15 “Then a spirit passed by my face;
The hair of my flesh bristled up.
16 “It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance;
A form was before my eyes;
There was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 ‘Can mankind be just before God?
Can a man be pure before his Maker?
18 ‘He puts no trust even in His servants;
And against His angels He charges error.
19 ‘How much more those who dwell in houses of clay,
Whose foundation is in the dust,
Who are crushed before the moth!
20 Between morning and evening they are broken in pieces;
Unobserved, they perish forever.
21 ‘Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them?
They die, yet without wisdom.’
Chapter 5
1 “Call now, is there anyone who will answer you?
And to which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 “For anger slays the foolish man,
And jealousy kills the simple.
3 “I have seen the foolish taking root,
And I cursed his abode immediately.
4 “His sons are far from safety,
They are even oppressed in the gate,
And there is no deliverer.
5 "His harvest the hungry devour
And take it to a place of thorns,
And the schemer is eager for their wealth.
6 “For affliction does not come from the dust,
Nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 For man is born for trouble,
As sparks fly upward.
8 “But as for me, I would seek God,
And I would place my cause before God;
9 Who does great and unsearchable things,
Wonders without number.
10 “He gives rain on the earth
And sends water on the fields,
11 So that He sets on high those who are lowly,
And those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 “He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd,
So that their hands cannot attain success.
13 “He captures the wise by their own shrewdness,
And the advice of the cunning is quickly thwarted.
14 “By day they meet with darkness,
And grope at noon as in the night.
15 “But He saves from the sword of their mouth,
And the poor from the hand of the mighty.
16 “So the helpless has hope,
And unrighteousness must shut its mouth.
17 “Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves,
So do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 “For He inflicts pain, and gives relief;
He wounds, and His hands also heal.
19 "From six troublesHe will deliver you,
Even in seven evil will not touch you.
20 “In famine He will redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
21 “You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes.
22 “You will laugh at violence and famine,
And you will not be afraid of wild beasts.
23 “For you will be in league with the stones of the field,
And the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.
24 “You will know that your tent is secure,
For you will visit your abode and fear no loss.
25 “You will know also that your descendants will be many,
And your offspring as the grass of the earth.
26 “You will come to the grave in full vigor,
Like the stacking of grain in its season.
27 “Behold this; we have investigated it, and so it is.
Hear it, and know for yourself.”
Wow - there is so much to say about all this. Here are some things to ponder:
How far will satan go to find the perfect person to fight in the flesh for HIS purpose?
Would you know enough to discern the spirits in your midst, or would they overtake you and move within their destruction?
Are you capable of / have you had success with pulling the reigns in and overcoming the propensity to hit the gas pedal making you one with the adversary instead of one with God?
It is only through the power of the spirit and our free will allowing Him the victory that this is possible, I pray for us all to see these moments or intersections headed for calamity and fall to our knees requesting that we not be part of destruction to those around us. It simply does not have to continue, but it is our choice.
I beg of you to realize this day it is you and you alone who chooses life or death, and it is through each though kept, action taken and word spoken......please hear, see and truly choose life, for Christ sake and glory to be received by him.
In Him,
Kisses,
Candace
