Daily Devotional Job 12:1–14:22
In the movie, Forrest Gump, the main character is sitting at a bus stop when a woman arrives and sits on the bench near him. Forrest offers her a piece of chocolate from a box he is holding. She declines, but Forrest begins to share with her what his mother told him: “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what’s inside.”
Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble.
Job 14:1
Job had heard enough of his friends’ so-called wisdom. He is tired of listening to their theories of why his life is in ruins. He responded to Zophar by stating, “Doubtless you are the only people who matter, and wisdom will die with you! But I have a mind as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know all these things?” (12:2–3). Job knows God’s truth and knows they are twisting it. He asks, “Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for Him?” (13:7).
Job had no desire to hear from his pompous friends. He desired to hear from God regarding his loss. He asks God, “How many wrongs have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin” (13:23). If Job had committed sins against God, he wanted to know the sins so he could repent of them.
Prior to his plight, Job probably would have stated that life would always be good as long as you were serving God. Now he no longer believes that is true. He is now convinced: “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble” (14:1).
Job was learning what all growing Christians know. Living for the Lord does not guarantee a pain-free, loss-free, carefree life. However, we can rejoice in knowing that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18).
Go Deeper
What are some of the truths Job’s friends have shared with him? What are some things they have assumed that are clearly wrong? What lesson has Job learned here?
Pray with Us:
Thank You for revealing to us the mystery of faith in the book of Job. Thank You that even amid suffering we have hope in Christ. Teach us to know the surpassing love of Jesus, sharing His suffering and rejoicing in His resurrection.
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