OUR DAILY BREAD : JOB'S BIRTHDAY

[cimi]

September 10
Monday


JOB'S BIRTHDAY

READ:
Job 3
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The thing I greatly
feared has come
upon me.
__Job 3:25
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Death, divorce, and disease could be called the three Ds of misery. They slice through life like a tsunami of sorrow, raising doubts and destroying dreams.

Recently, a friend and I agreed that the previous year was one that we both would just as soon forget. Each of us had suffered one of the three.

Our conversation brought Job to mind. In a short period of time, he lost his children, his health, his wealth, and his wife's repect. job's distress was so great that he pleaded, "May the day perish on which I was born" (Job 3:3). Job wanted God to erase not just a year, but all memory of his existence! He had enjoyed years of success and respect. Now, he questioned the purpose of living (3:20).

Job wanted to die and be forgotten, but instead God made sure his name and story would be remembered forever. Rather than give Job what he asked for, God gave future generations what they would need__and inside look at the spiritual battle between God and Satan. The result is a God-inspired document about suffering that has comforted countless people.

When what we fear actually happens, we know, thanks to Job, that God can use it for good. __Julie Ackerman Link
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~FOR FURTHER STUDY~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

why does God allow us to experience the "fires of
life"? Read Knowing God Through Job on the Web
at discoveryseries

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Our highest good may come
from our deepest suffering.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ Job 3*********************

1 After this Job opened his
mouth and cursed the day of
his birth. 2 And Job spoke,
and said:

3 "May the day perish on
which I was born, and the
night in which it was said, 'A
male child is conceived.'...
6 As for that night, may
darkness seize it; may it not
rejoice among the days of the
year, may it not come into
the number of the months.

7 Oh, may that night be
barren! May no joyful shout
come into it! 8 May those
curse it who curse the day
...9 May the stars of its
morning be dark; may it look
for light, but have none, and
not see the dawning of the
day; 10 because it did not shut
up the doors of my mother's
womb, nor hide sorrow from
my eyes.

11 "Why did I not die at
birth? Why did I not perish
when I came from the
womb?... 16 Or why was I
not hidden like a stillborn
child, like infants who never
saw light? 17 There the
wicked cease from troubling,
and there the weary are at
rest...

20 "Why is light given to
him who is in misery, and
life to the bitter of soul,

23 who long for death, but it
does not come, and search
for it more than hidden
treasures; 22 who rejoice
exceedingly, and are glad
when they can find the
grave?... 25 For the thing I
greatly feared has come upon
me, and what I dreaded has
happened to me. 26 I am not
at ease, nor am I quiet; I have
no rest, for trouble comes."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The book of Job is believed to be the oldest of the biblical books,
recording events that may have dated back to the times preceding
Abraham. It is also believed by many Bible scholars that Job himself
was the author of this record of the events of his life. __WEC