Appointed by God
Job 21-23

Appointed by God. Where does your confidence lie? Who appoints your way? Do you trust in your friends, yourself, your leaders, your employer, or your family? One thing to note in today's reading is that no matter who or what Job trusted in before, since all of these tragedies have come upon him, he now understands that he cannot trust in anyone except God.

2 “Can a man be profitable to God?
Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right,
or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you
and enters into judgment with you?
5 Is not your evil abundant?
There is no end to your iniquities.
6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing
and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have given no water to the weary to drink,
and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
Job 22:2-7, ESV

10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
13 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
14 For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.
Job 23:10-14, ESV

Appointed by God
Job 21-23

Where does your confidence lie? Who appoints your way? Do you trust in your friends, yourself, your leaders, your employer, or your family? One thing to note in today's reading is that no matter who or what Job trusted in before, since all of these tragedies have come upon him, he now understands that he cannot trust in anyone except God.

As I read through Eliphaz's words above, I am again amazed. Here is one of Job's most trusted friends who knew Job and his Godly character. Yet, in spite of that, he has now crossed over the barrier of his condemnation of Job by giving examples of what he believes Job has done wrong.

Eliphaz states, For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing. You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.

Eliphaz knew Job; he knew that he had no evidence to support his words. Yet, how quickly he turned away from Job and assigned false accusations against his friend.

Job was learning a valuable lesson; one that we would do well to learn as well. Love your friends, enjoy good times with them, but do not put all of your confidence or trust in them. Neither should they put all of their trust in you. God, alone, is our Leader and Guide; all of our confidence must be in Christ, our Savior remembering that God appoints our way.

Job was plagued with the loss of family, friends, property, and finally his health, yet he still maintained, My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips. Remember that all of Job's troubles were the result of Satan's accusations against Job, before the throne of God. Did Satan win his case with Job? No, he did not!

Pray today that you would truly understand that as a believer you are appointed by God. He has already determined your steps. All of your hope and trust should be in God.

What an amazing God we have who keeps our steps from faltering.

Appointed by God

Bible Study Book of Job