The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 18 March 2019 – Job Complains To God
TOPIC: Job Complains To God
READ: Job 7:11-21 King James Version (KJV)
11 Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
13 When I say, My bed shall comfort me, my couch shall ease my complaint;
14 Then thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions:
15 So that my soul chooseth strangling, and death rather than my life.
16 I loathe it; I would not live alway: let me alone; for my days are vanity.
17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?
18 And that thou shouldest visit him every morning, and try him every moment?
19 How long wilt thou not depart from me, nor let me alone till I swallow down my spittle?
20 I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?
21 And why dost thou not pardon my transgression, and take away mine iniquity? for now shall I sleep in the dust; and thou shalt seek me in the morning, but I shall not be.
THE MESSAGE:
Job, in bitterness of soul, complained to God about his predicament. His experiences were overwhelming that he resorted to complaining, thus: His bed did not give him comfort because he could not sleep (verse 13); He was having terrifying dreams (verse 16); He hated his life because there was no hope (verse 16); God kept his eye on him and made him his target (verse 19).
The above issues mounted much pressure on Job so much so that he felt God had abandoned and refused to forgive him. The truth still remained that God had neither found him guilty nor abandoned him. God still had goodwill for Job only that he had not understood the will of God for his life. The pressure of suffering can force Christians to complain like Job but we should not give in.
Beloved, God does not permit His people to complain, either for good or bad. When the Israelites were travelling to the Promised Land, they complained against God, who also punished them (Numbers 11:1). Therefore when faced with suffering, resist the urge to complain. Humbly seek God and present the matter to Him with thanksgiving and He will visit you fast.
Prayer: Father please deliver me from the temptation of complaining in Jesus Name.
