Day 87 – Answers

Job 23:1 Then Job answered and said, 2 “Even today my complaint is bitter; my hand is listless because of my groaning. 3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! 4 I would present my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would know the words which He would answer me and understand what He would say to me. 6 Would He contend with me in His great power? No! However, He would take note of me. 7 There the upright could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

 8 “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 when He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; when He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 10 However, He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. 11 My foot held fast to His steps; I kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I did not depart from the commandment of His lips; I treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

 13 “However, He is unique, and who can make Him change? Whatever His soul desires, He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him. 15 Therefore, I am terrified at His presence; when I consider this, I am afraid of Him. 16 For Elohiym made my heart weak, and the Shadday terrifies me; 17 because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, and He did not hide deep darkness from my face.

 24:1 “Since times are not hidden from the Shadday, why do those who know Him see not His days?

 2 “Some remove landmarks; they seize flocks violently and feed on them; 3 they drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow’s ox as a pledge. 4 They push the needy off the road; the poor of the land are forced to hide. 5 Indeed, like wild donkeys in the desert, they go out to their work, searching for food. The wilderness yields food for them and for their children. 6 They gather their fodder in the field and glean in the vineyard of the wicked. 7 They spend the night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold. 8 They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and huddle around the rock for want of shelter.

 9 “Some snatch the fatherless from the breast and take a pledge from the poor. 10 They cause the poor to go naked, without clothing; and take away the sheaves from the hungry. 11 They press out oil within their walls, and tread winepresses, yet suffer thirst. 12 The dying groan in the city, and the souls of the wounded cry out; yet Elohiym does not charge them with wrong.

 13 “There are those who rebel against the light; they do not know its ways nor abide in its paths. 14 The murderer rises with the light; he kills the poor and needy; and in the night he is like a thief. 15 The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he disguises his face. 16 In the dark they break into houses which they marked for themselves in the daytime; they do not know the light. 17 For the morning is the same to them as the shadow of death; if someone recognizes them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death.

 18 “They should be swift on the face of the waters, their portion should be cursed in the earth, so that no one would turn into the way of their vineyards. 19 As drought and heat consume the snow waters, so the grave consumes those who sinned. 20 The womb should forget him; the worm should feed sweetly on him; he should be remembered no more, and wickedness should be broken like a tree. 21 For he preys on the barren who do not bear and does no good for the widow.

 22 “However, Elohiym draws the mighty away with His power; He rises, but no man is sure of life. 23 He gives them security, and they rely on it; yet His eyes are on their way. 24 They are exalted for a little while, then they are gone. They are brought low; they are taken out of the way like others; they dry out like the heads of grain.

 25 “Now if it is not so, who will prove me a liar, and make my speech worth nothing?”

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

Shadday – Almighty

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Judge

How do you respond to accusations? Don’t you seek someone who knows you and can vouch for you?

Job’s response to his friends’ accusations was to seek Elohiym’s response, to know what He would say. He laid out his case against known sinners and the righteousness of Elohiym to judge the wickedness of people who sin against Him.

You are no different from Job. You want Yeshuwa to come to your defense when people bring false accusations against you. You know those who sin, and you know what will happen to them. You know Yeshuwa will judge them.

Job had a good life before Satan asked for permission to bring trouble to him. He wanted nothing. When trouble came, Job didn’t bring accusations against Elohiym. However, his friends brought accusations against him. They didn’t understand the test Elohiym brought on him.

When Yeshuwa tests you, do you recognize it as a test of your faith, or do you put the blame on Yeshuwa? Many Christians blame Yeshuwa for their trouble without recognizing the test. They want immediate answers.

Job wanted answers. He wanted Elohiym to speak to him and let him know the reason for the trouble. How often do you seek answers? Many Christians are like Job’s friends. Yeshuwa wants to know if you will stand or fall under the test.

What trouble do you face? When was the last time you knew peace in your life? Do as Job did and seek your answers from Yeshuwa. Don’t blame Him. Then watch Yeshuwa work for your good and bring about the answers. Don’t listen to those who bring accusations against you. Come against Satan and his lies. Remember Yeshuwa is your defense, not your troublemaker.

Let’s pray: Father, You know the trouble I face. Help me stand strong in the test of my faith and not blame You for my trouble. Let me seek You for the answers and listen when You speak. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 15 April 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux