Morning

September 20

Job 23:10-12 ¹⁰But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. ¹¹My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. ¹²I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Job's friends continued to insist that he is being punished for his sin. They kept telling him that the wicked are always punished and the righteous are always blessed. Job told them that this was just not true. Many wicked live in prosperity and die in peace. Many righteous suffer without a cause that can be determined. He told them their counsel was just plain lies. We'd like to think that judgment for the wicked is always swift and observable, but God often reserves judgment for the Day of Judgment.

Job had a firm conviction that he had not intentionally committed anything for which the Lord would deal like this with him. He had retraced his actions, thought through his life, and not been able to find anything for which God would be disciplining him. How few of us can make the same statement! Of course, he had sinned, but he had not intentionally rebelled against God's will.

Instead of punishment, he now saw this as a refining process, just as gold is refined by fire. We will see this idea again throughout the Scriptures, but this is the first mention of it. What words is Job referring to when he speaks of 'the words of God's mouth'? He may have had an oral report of Adam to Abraham but as yet there were no written accounts that we know of, with the possible exception of the Book of Enoch. Did Job once hear the still small voice of God? He complained that no matter where he turned God was not to be found. Perhaps he had found God in the past in that voice within his heart, but now the heavens were silent. He treasured the words of God more than his daily food. That was what led to such a righteous life. There will be times in our lives when we are walking with God and yet we do not hear His voice. We must proceed by faith, knowing He is refining and teaching the children upon whom He has fixed His love.

Encouragement: You will come out as refined gold.