Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21 NIV

I have always loved this verse. I am so grateful that this is the truth. Since it stood out to me today I shared it. Then as I read Job I see why it stood out.

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
Job 42:2‭-‬3 NIV

Job comes to realize this and acknowledges the he cannot understand God’s ways.

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job 42:5‭-‬6 NIV

And this experience with God allows him to see and know God better.

After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:10 NIV

God makes up for all that Job had gone through by doubling everything that Job had lost. Everything but double children.

And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
Job 42:13 NIV

The reason he does not get 14 kids is because he still has 7 kids in heaven and will be reunited with them and his children will be doubled.

Read today nothing new.

Then Job answered the Lord: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”
Job 40:3‭-‬5 NIV

Job responds with a short and humble response.

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
Proverbs 16:2 NIV

That is what God did in Job.

“The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork. unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them. She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain, for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense. Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider.
Job 39:13‭, ‬15‭-‬18 NIV

I see through God’s words His saying I am omnipresent, I am omnipotent, I am sovereign all through this chapter. What I have don, am doing and will do may not make any sense to you but I know best. Imagine would you ever create a bird that cannot fly? And if you did would you think to make it be able to run faster than a horse?

Only question I have is why does He not say I instead of God when he says “for God did not endow her with wisdom or give a share of good sense.”

I love this comment about the ostrich in the Enduring Word commentary.

ii. It was through wonderful and strange examples like the ostrich that God both taught and entertained Job. “Get used to My absurdity, and live by faith rather than by sight. Be like the ostrich: though you cannot fly, you can still flap your wings joyfully!” (Mason)

“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
Job 38:2‭-‬3 NIV

I think God has heard enough. Elihu’s rambling is the final straw that makes God speak. He doesn’t even allow time for Job to respond to Elihu as he did to the others. He is not happy with any of them including Job but Job is still the most right. We have seen that when Job asks questions and seeks answers he speaks to God. We have not seen any of his friends looking to God for answers or direction.

Below is an excerpt from the Enduring Word commentary I have shared in the past that agrees with these thoughts.

ii. God will indeed settle this dispute, but He will do it His way. Job wanted God to settle it by proving him right and explaining the reason for all his afflictions; Job’s friends wanted God to prove them right and for Job to recognize his error. God will not satisfy either one of these expectations. Significantly, God did not obviously answer Job’s questions.

b. The LORD answered Job: Significantly, God did not immediately or directly answer Job’s friends; not the older friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, or Zophar), and not the young friend (Elihu). God answered Job.

i. Perhaps this was because Job was the one wrongly accused, and though he was wrong, he was more right than any of his friends.

ii. Perhaps this was because Job was the only one of the group to actively cry out to God and pray through the ordeal. Only Job talked to God; now the LORD will speak only to Job.

“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
Job 37:14‭-‬16 NIV

Elihu us right in sayiyg these things about God, but Job has already expressed the same things. There is no rrason to tell Job to listen to him because Job has already expressed all these things. Again Elihu likes to hear himself talk.

A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.
Proverbs 13:1‭, ‬14‭, ‬18‭, ‬20‭, ‬24 NIV

I was at camp with a couple girlfriends this weekend and while we were hiking we had a conversation about the current generation of young people.  How technology and enabling parents are creating foolish adults.  Adults who cannot problem solve or understand basic reasoning.  Adults who have no life skills like write a check,  read cursive,  cook a meal etc..  One of the girls has a 17 year old family member who cannot even tie their shoes. I had a cashier who couldn’t make change for $.68 out of a dollar. They mock those they disagree with. They believe that anyone who disagrees with them is attacking them and is hateful. They don’t understand that disciple is for their protection and provision. Parents don’t understand that a lack of discipline is actually a lack of love.

If only the bible were still the guiding principal in raising our children and living our lives we would have parents who teach their children and discipline them. We would have a generation of young people who respect and value the teaching of their parents and other older,  wiser adults. Then at church one of the members asked for prayers for the young people.  For all that the have to deal with in school and with peers. As a youth group leader it is difficult to continue when you see that anything you try to teach the youth in your limited time with them is countered with foolishness and lies in every other interaction in life that they have.

Lord God bring wisdom and discipline into this world again.  Bring about revival that leads to a flood of the fountain of life and turn our young people from the snares of death. Lord turn the hearts of parents and grandparents toward you that they would seek your wisdom in raising the children so that the next generation does not continue down this path of separation from you.

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
John 21:3 NIV

I don’t think I see anything wrong with Peter and the others going fishing. At the time they knew Jesus had come back but he wasn’t with them. So it makes sense to do what you know. Perhaps Peter wanted to do what helped him feel grounded. Fishing was something that was natural to him. So while waiting for the what next we do what is nstural to us. When Jesus showed up Peter gave up what he knew and ran to Jesus.

He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
John 21:6 NIV

So Jesus shows up and provides from them again. Just like he called Andrew and Peter in the beginning of His minisrty He gave them a catch the provided for them and their families. Now he is calling them to the next level of ministry. Their mission. So he provides again.

Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.”
John 21:10 NIV

Jesus already had fish on the fire but he also had them bring some of the fish they caught by His grace. Is that not exactly how it is in minisrty. God calls us. He prepares us and provides for us. He places people and things in our lives and path but we have to take what he gives us and use it. We must respond. We still have to do of the work.

So bring the fish that He has provided you and lay it down before him and hear what He would have you do. Feed His Lambs, take care of His sheep, feed His sheep.

Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
John 20:24‭-‬28 NIV

I do not see Thomas as being lacking in faith as much as being someone who sees this as being too important to just take the others word for it. Or maybe he is so badly wanting it to be true he doesn’t want to let himself believe it until he sees it for himself.

It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
John 19:14 NIV

I never thought about the fact that the Jews would not normally have chosen the time of Passover to do something like this. Why would they want their Holy day to be related to the death of what they considered to be an enemy. This happened when it did because it was God’s timing. The death of Jesus the sacrificial lamb, the Passover lamb, should be related to the Passover celebration. When the blood of a lamb was placed over the Israelites so that death would not touch them. Jesus’ blood over us is why we do not face spiritual death. Can never say God didn’t know what he was doing.

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS.
John 19:19 NIV

I always thought this was like Pilate rubbing in into the Jews for what they basically made him do. But today I am wondering if it was really because he was frightened and his interaction with Jesus caused him to want to do something to honor Jesus hoping it would take some of the blame from him. Or did he really believe that Jesus was the king of the Jews.