365 Chronological Bible Reading Update

I started reading through the Bible chronologically for the second time in my life about a week ago.

How's it going?

Really well!

I'm on Day 10 (of 365), and right in the middle of the book of Job.  If you don't know the story, it is about how God allows Satan to brutally torture a man named Job.  This man Job is a faithful follower of God, and while he goes through chapters upon chapters of processing his distress and frustration, the Bible tells us he never disowned God in any of it.  

I thought I'd document a few verses that have stood out to me thus far.

Job 2:13: "They [Job's 3 friends] sat with him on the ground.  Seven days and nights they sat there with without saying a word.  They saw that his suffering was too great for words."

A good reminder that an enduring, silence presence in the physical place can be the best comfort for struggling friends.

enduring ("seven days & nights")

silent ("without saying a word")

presence ("with him")

in the physical place ("on the ground")

Job 3:13: "I could be resting in peace right now." - Job's first speech.

When I go through struggles, I want to avoid thinking about what could have been instead.  This is typically brought on by the Jones's, or known more today by Facebook.  What could have been is no longer an option for the present moment.

Job 4:5: "But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now?  Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope?" -- Job's friend Eliphaz

What comes to mind here is that only God gives hope.  Our devout life, or our exemplary life is but a fading flower in this life.  We cannot hold on to it any more than we can 

Job 8:2: "Does God mess up?  Does God Almighty ever get things backwards?" - Job's friend Bildad

I like the bluntness of this verse.  When in doubt about a situation, remember that No, God does not mess up.

Job 11:7-9: "Do you think you can explain the mystery of God?  Do you think you can diagram God Almighty?  God is far higher than you can imagine, far deeper than you can comprehend, stretching further than earth's horizons, far wider than the endless ocean." - Job's friend Zophar

Ahhh, take a deep breath.  Isn't it reassuring to hear these things?  It's frustrating to not know all of the ways of God, but at the same time, I am very glad we do not know it all.

Job 21:22: "But who are we to tell God how to run his affairs?  He's dealing with matters that are way over our heads." - Job

Another good reminder that we are not God, and we have no idea of the bigger picture that only He can see.

Job 25:1: "God is sovereign, God is fearsome - everything in the cosmos fits and works in his plan." - Job's friend Bildad

Enough said.