Day 25: It’s God’s Story

Today we read Genesis 45-46, Job 37-38, and Proverbs 4:20-27. This story reminds us that Scripture is telling us God’s story and how we are a part of it. We’re learning in this story how prodigal love and trust for God and others is the uncomfortable road in the direction toward His restoration and redemption to blessing in order to become more of a blessing in His name. From the story of Job, we also learn through his friend Elihu that God does not oppress. The question, therefore, is, can we trust, even when we don’t understand? Dr. Traci Birge, a theology professor at Azusa Pacific University who I met at an Institute of Biblical Research conference last May proposed that sometimes, instead of asking what we did wrong, if you cannot find an answer, which is what Job’s friends were telling him to do in this story. Then, try not to move to the question, like Job did, why did God do this to me which tends to lead to challenging God about His justice and wisdom, basically putting God on notice for a defense. In this case we can tend to elevate ourselves as sinless in these scenarios. Dr. Birge suggests,  perhaps the question is what is God trying to show me or teach me through this situation? It might be something about who God is or what He’s doing in the world or through your suffering to offer redemption and restoration to some other important aspect of the larger story that is unfolding, which we are a part of today. This ties back to Joseph’s story and how he reframed the story. Not necessarily more comforting, but there is a peace in trusting that God is just and wise. He loves us and He is working, even-if and even-when we do not understand it right now.

Resources:

Lucado, Max. (2017) Anxious for Nothing. Finding Calm in a Chaotic World. Thomas Nelson.

Credits:

Podcast music by Stockaudios from Pixabay. Speaker, Dr. Rachel Bodell. Podcast Sound Engineer, Alan Darling. Podcast Artwork, Will Gerard.