Job

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31:14 "What Then shall I do when God riseth up? And when he visiteth, what I answer him?

This text first considers that Job, a righteous man by every stretch of the imagination, met his hour of trial in the same manner as any man or woman who has attempted live close to God. The bible described him as an upright man who was perfect. In this context came a series of complexities that include disaster and death among family members. Job found himself searching within, asking what shall I do?

The text finds Job asking what to do when God "riseth up." "What shall I do when God, who created the universe in the palm of his hand, and set the sun a blazing in the heavens...what shall I do when this God riseth up?"

Job could have decided to rebel against God, but he would have come like the chaff which the winds driveth away. Or he could have emulated the lilies of the field that bow in the face of strong winds.

What can I do when God riseth up? We have only to look at God's own Son to find the answer to this question. When he too faced an hour of pain and hurt, he drew away into a private place and talked to God about it...but he concluded, "not my will, but thy will be done?"

Secondly this text focues on what we should do in the aftermath of God's movement in our lives?

Job found that God had made a decision that affected his life. But the question that he posed in here is what to do now that God has moved in my life! He obviously could not hinder God from moving, and had not brought the situation on himself...so the only conclusion that he could have reached is that his God would deliver him.

In determining what he should do in the aftermath of his trial, Job concluded that he would remain loyal to God. His words echo across the centuries "yea thou he slay me, yet will I serve him."

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Chapter 37: 21

37:21 "And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them."

The story of Job in the bible gives us a picture of one man's hope that God could and would act to address his adverse situation. Job, in the midst of poverty, family sadness and personal sickness, was covered by what we might call a dark cloud. This text peeks into his situation at a point when he was at his lowest. He was frustrated. He felt there was no place to turn. Here Job is reminded that the clouds and the sunshine that come into our lives are keenly balanced by God. Verse 15 makes it clear that it is God that makes the "light of his cloud" or the sun to shine. Verse 16 refers to the "balancing of the clouds" as a wondrous act of God. Balancing the sunshine and the clouds suggests that there are times when clouds overshadow the sky, but yet the sun continues to shine. The balance is struck when, at the appropriate moment, the clouds are removed and the sun shines again. The key truth for believers is that God is in control and that clouds will be dispersed.

The text verse, verse 21, notes that "now", that is when we are under a distressing situation, it is difficult to see the "bright light" or the sunshine because of so many clouds. However, the man or woman that has hope knows that one day the wind blows and moves the clouds and fair weather returns because of the mighty works of God.

In this context, hope is knowing that although there are clouds in the sky that are dark and dreary, that beyond the clouds there is always a bright side!

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