Job understood his friend Eliphaz's comments. Taking from Job's reply, Eliphaz was basically telling Job not to take his own misfortune lightly because the Lord did these for a reason. His comment almost meant to criticize Job for not knowing the Lord. This seems somewhat familiar in my experience. We often try to "teach" people more about God, but without knowing the other person's situation. It does more damage than good.
Job of course didn't take his relationship with God lightly. Job knows what he believes in and is very firm in his faith. At the same time in being righteous, he also shows humanility in his reply. His words show what a sensible man he is. How often do we see men taking tough things without thinking about or feeling them. Men, or people in general, are sometimes conditioned to be mindless about their surroundings.
I notice that Job expresses his feelings without sinning against God. There is a boundary that he allows his words to go so far. Often time, we transgress this bound whether being conscious or ignorant about it. It is his knowledge and close relationship about God that enables him to set this boundary. He speaks of facts and truths about God. In facing these unknown mischiefs, he has this knowledge to rely on to sustain his faith.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
Job 1-5
I never knew Job is right after Noah. Great legends alike, "he was the greatest man among all the people of the East...blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (1:3-8). Job's precautionary prayer for his children really shows his far-seeing vision as a father. Even with 7 sons and 3 daughters, they have such tight family bonding.
Good times were short-lived, as Satan had a series of wicked torment for my man Job. First gone were his possessions (oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels) and all his children. Instead of getting angry or blaming anyone or anything, Job torn his clothes (surprise! surprise!). Wasn't trying to self destruct. He gave God true ownership of everything he "had": "Naked I came from my mothers' womb, and naked i will depart...the name of the Lord be praised".
Satan had more in store for him, giving Job painful sores on his whole body. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came by to stay with their friend through this dreadful time. They were definitely true friends. These grown men cried when they saw their friend's unrecognizable countenance, sitting with him 7 days and nights without a word.
In ch.3, Job did some serious cursing, not on others, but himself for his mischiefs: "may it [the day of his birth] not be included among the days of the year nor be enter in any of the months". Yeah, that means something very different than a holiday. It's great that he didn't offend God in his words but why did he put the blame on himself? What did he see as being the problem?
People usually think and act abnormally during disastrous time, but I also believe that his thoughts and words being recorded on the bible means God wants to show us some insights. But i am not sure i understand them yet.
In ch.4 and 5, his friend Eliphaz spitted out a long trunk of random things (that means i didn't understand). Basically, God is just and He can save people from any calamities. I don't even know if he knows what he is talking about. Was it supposed to be soothe? or trying to divert Job's attention by confusing the heck out of him? I like how he ended his long babbling with: "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself". Nice, why didn't he just spank Job with a stick. That's the same effect he was going for.
Btw, I feel that their "conversations" were very formal as if there was a minimal sentence count (i.e. you have to speak more than 10 sentences with opening, evidence, and conclusion). I wonder if I or anyone ever sound like that, and is that a good thing or not?
Good times were short-lived, as Satan had a series of wicked torment for my man Job. First gone were his possessions (oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels) and all his children. Instead of getting angry or blaming anyone or anything, Job torn his clothes (surprise! surprise!). Wasn't trying to self destruct. He gave God true ownership of everything he "had": "Naked I came from my mothers' womb, and naked i will depart...the name of the Lord be praised".
Satan had more in store for him, giving Job painful sores on his whole body. Job's three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, came by to stay with their friend through this dreadful time. They were definitely true friends. These grown men cried when they saw their friend's unrecognizable countenance, sitting with him 7 days and nights without a word.
In ch.3, Job did some serious cursing, not on others, but himself for his mischiefs: "may it [the day of his birth] not be included among the days of the year nor be enter in any of the months". Yeah, that means something very different than a holiday. It's great that he didn't offend God in his words but why did he put the blame on himself? What did he see as being the problem?
People usually think and act abnormally during disastrous time, but I also believe that his thoughts and words being recorded on the bible means God wants to show us some insights. But i am not sure i understand them yet.
In ch.4 and 5, his friend Eliphaz spitted out a long trunk of random things (that means i didn't understand). Basically, God is just and He can save people from any calamities. I don't even know if he knows what he is talking about. Was it supposed to be soothe? or trying to divert Job's attention by confusing the heck out of him? I like how he ended his long babbling with: "We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself". Nice, why didn't he just spank Job with a stick. That's the same effect he was going for.
Btw, I feel that their "conversations" were very formal as if there was a minimal sentence count (i.e. you have to speak more than 10 sentences with opening, evidence, and conclusion). I wonder if I or anyone ever sound like that, and is that a good thing or not?
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Genesis 8-11
It took about a year for the water to dry up (right on Noah's 601 b-day!). Noah and his family stayed on the ark the whole time. The term "boarding school" comes to my mind when i try picture Noah's three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And it's a real treat if you are on those people who are into cruise trips. You have the whole zoo on board with you.
Where did Noah get all his food? Fishing is a possibility... Cooking and starting a fire on a wooden ark isn't a great idea either. It must have been a strange time and very different lifestyle.
Afterward, God was merciful and made a covenant with the earth that He would not treat us with a "cruise trip" like this ever again. He made rainbow as a sign of this everlasting covenant.
God told Noah that he can have a chinese-style diet: "everything that lives and moves with be food..." (9:3) but he should make sure that it's clean before eating it: "... you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it" (9:4). God also set some expectations about being fruitful and people accounting. That's like the world's first HR apartment. Anyway, the point is every man is made "in the image of God" (9:6).
There was a little incident Noah had with his sons, which i didn't quite understand. Ham saw his father drunk and laying naked in his tent. For unknown motivation, he went out and told his brothers, Shem and Japtheth, who were kind enough to bring his father some clothing to cover him. Afterward, Noah was pretty mad and cursed, not Ham, but Canaan (Ham's son).
Chapter 10 is pretty much accounting of offsprings. The tower of Babel happened in the first half of Ch. 11. After reading the words closely, i found that i didn't understand God's reason for striking the tower, He said: "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (11:6). I think He was speaking of our "super" ego, or arrogance.
Chapter 11 went on and did more accounting, which also included the age when people gave birth. It seems like after Shem everyone was having baby early, like in their 30s. Before that the parenthood age was around 100. It gets younger too. Nahor, the 7th generation descendants of Shem, was the first to break 30, having kids at 29. Abram was the grandson of Nahor.
Where did Noah get all his food? Fishing is a possibility... Cooking and starting a fire on a wooden ark isn't a great idea either. It must have been a strange time and very different lifestyle.
Afterward, God was merciful and made a covenant with the earth that He would not treat us with a "cruise trip" like this ever again. He made rainbow as a sign of this everlasting covenant.
God told Noah that he can have a chinese-style diet: "everything that lives and moves with be food..." (9:3) but he should make sure that it's clean before eating it: "... you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it" (9:4). God also set some expectations about being fruitful and people accounting. That's like the world's first HR apartment. Anyway, the point is every man is made "in the image of God" (9:6).
There was a little incident Noah had with his sons, which i didn't quite understand. Ham saw his father drunk and laying naked in his tent. For unknown motivation, he went out and told his brothers, Shem and Japtheth, who were kind enough to bring his father some clothing to cover him. Afterward, Noah was pretty mad and cursed, not Ham, but Canaan (Ham's son).
Chapter 10 is pretty much accounting of offsprings. The tower of Babel happened in the first half of Ch. 11. After reading the words closely, i found that i didn't understand God's reason for striking the tower, He said: "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them" (11:6). I think He was speaking of our "super" ego, or arrogance.
Chapter 11 went on and did more accounting, which also included the age when people gave birth. It seems like after Shem everyone was having baby early, like in their 30s. Before that the parenthood age was around 100. It gets younger too. Nahor, the 7th generation descendants of Shem, was the first to break 30, having kids at 29. Abram was the grandson of Nahor.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Genesis 4-7
Start of life outside the Eden garden...
Adam and Eve gave birth to Abel and Cain, who committed the world first murder. I see that men is capable of committing greater and greater sin as they are further away from God. But God still shows him mercy by protecting his life from revenge.
In 4:7, God tells us that pleasing him is none other than doing the right thing. Not doing the right (or sinning) is always a constant "desire" for us but we must remind and "master" ourselves.
Chapter 5 described people with average 700-800 years of lifespan, and giving birth after 100 year-old. That's a long time to think about stuffs, especially for marriage and having kids. You can have literally "marriage of the century". I would really like that: to be able to spend time with the people around you and not rush through things.
Then, we come to Noah the sixth generation descendant of Cain. He had 3 sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. His father Lamech lived 777 years. I wonder if there is any special meanings. Is that just a sign for giving birth to a significant person in God eyes? How does God decide the length of everyone's life? Why not make everyone the same?
People were becoming more and more wicked. "Noah was righteous man, blameless among the people of his name". God went and wipe the earth. He commanded a 40 days rain in Noah's 600th year of age. The water went on and flooded for 150 days.
As much as God wants us to be fruitful, He rather have us to be clean and few than filthy and many. Priorities clearly stated. Doing a right thing is much more important than doing many fancy things.
Tomorrow, another new generation begins. A lot of rebuilding and growing to do after the disaster (reminds me of the New Orlean flood)...
Adam and Eve gave birth to Abel and Cain, who committed the world first murder. I see that men is capable of committing greater and greater sin as they are further away from God. But God still shows him mercy by protecting his life from revenge.
In 4:7, God tells us that pleasing him is none other than doing the right thing. Not doing the right (or sinning) is always a constant "desire" for us but we must remind and "master" ourselves.
Chapter 5 described people with average 700-800 years of lifespan, and giving birth after 100 year-old. That's a long time to think about stuffs, especially for marriage and having kids. You can have literally "marriage of the century". I would really like that: to be able to spend time with the people around you and not rush through things.
Then, we come to Noah the sixth generation descendant of Cain. He had 3 sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. His father Lamech lived 777 years. I wonder if there is any special meanings. Is that just a sign for giving birth to a significant person in God eyes? How does God decide the length of everyone's life? Why not make everyone the same?
People were becoming more and more wicked. "Noah was righteous man, blameless among the people of his name". God went and wipe the earth. He commanded a 40 days rain in Noah's 600th year of age. The water went on and flooded for 150 days.
As much as God wants us to be fruitful, He rather have us to be clean and few than filthy and many. Priorities clearly stated. Doing a right thing is much more important than doing many fancy things.
Tomorrow, another new generation begins. A lot of rebuilding and growing to do after the disaster (reminds me of the New Orlean flood)...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Genesis 1-3
God creates the world in a orderly manner. He is already showing us that timing and order are important quality of life.
Order of creation:
1. Light
2. day and night
3. sea, land and vegetation
4. sun and moon
5. birds, fishes, sky and sea animals
6. land creatures and Adam
7. rest
God made man in His own image!!! Don't forget how classy we are. Don't ruin the brand! God trusted Adam with managing the creatures.
Eve and Adam were tempted by the serpent and sinned. The incident was significance because man sinned against God's commands. This is so familiar and almost over-looked by most people. What was new for me was that how temptation was described, "good for food, ... pleasant to the eyes, ... give wisdom". All seems good, appealing, and even logical! This reminds me to think twice about my "smart" decisions and choices.
That's it for my first day of reading ... peace out.
Order of creation:
1. Light
2. day and night
3. sea, land and vegetation
4. sun and moon
5. birds, fishes, sky and sea animals
6. land creatures and Adam
7. rest
God made man in His own image!!! Don't forget how classy we are. Don't ruin the brand! God trusted Adam with managing the creatures.
Eve and Adam were tempted by the serpent and sinned. The incident was significance because man sinned against God's commands. This is so familiar and almost over-looked by most people. What was new for me was that how temptation was described, "good for food, ... pleasant to the eyes, ... give wisdom". All seems good, appealing, and even logical! This reminds me to think twice about my "smart" decisions and choices.
That's it for my first day of reading ... peace out.
Hello!
My small group is starting this reading plan that attempts to finish reading the Bible in a year. This blog is here to share my struggles and joy in reading the precious Word of God.
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