Saturday, April 11

Job 14:1-14

In the Book of Job, God gives Satan permission to test Job’s perfect uprightness by afflicting a series of calamities: loss of family, property, health and reputation in community, upon this ideal Jew who fears God and rejects evil.

Three orthodox Jewish friends offer the answer to his troubles: Job must have sinned! Finally, God answers Job out of the whirlwind to remind him that he presumes in judging his Creator. Job says “I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye seeth thee, wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

God commands the three friends to make a burnt offering and commands Job to pray for the three accusers.

Thus Job is restored, with the grace God grants, the community is healed. Self-righteousness yields when love conquers pride. We are saved not by virtue but by the Grace of God. May it be so.