What I Learned from Job – Reading the Bible in 90 Days

As you know I have started reading the Bible. I have 90 days to complete it and I am reading it with hundreds (1200+ to be exact) of other women. Each week (and even day to day) we check-in with each other on our progress, to pray for each other, and to share our thoughts. How cool is that?

So, I thought I would take each Book of the Bible and share my thoughts, verses, or people that stood out or spoke to me on that particular day. I have been doing most of my reading in the mornings reading whenever I can! The key is to get it done. If you get behind, you keep at it….catching up in chunks each day. The readings have been manageable and I am still praying it stays that way for me. I am currently several days behind schedule, but, gradually, I am catching up. I am learning so much am really excited about reading Psalms and Proverbs next.

So, here are my thoughts from the Book of Job:
 
Job 1:21-22 In all his suffering, Job NEVER asked “Why God?” “Why me?” or complained after all the pain and destruction in his life.  Our society is so full of complaint and “why me?” questions that it was such a humbling reminder that God has a plan and a reason – and that reason may just be to bring you back to Him.
 
Job 6:24 Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong.
 
Job was so full of beautiful poetic verse like the following:
Job 11:13-18
Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him,
if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent,
then you will lift up your face without shame, you will stand firm and without fear.
You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by.
Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning.
You will be secure, because there is hope, you will look about you and take rest in safety.
 
Job 16:2-3 I have heard many things like these, miserable comforters are you all!  Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing?  You can hear Job’s frustration with his friends in these verses.  Haven’t we all been in situations like this….it just goes on and on….I want to remember these words for just that occasion! 🙂
 
Job 19: 25-27 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another. How my heart years within me!  I already had these verses marked in my Bible.  I am not sure when or how I came across them before, but it is such a calming verse and beautifully said. 
 
Job 42:2-3 I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.  You asked, Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge? Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. Job’s reply to the Lord here is so honest and humbling. 
 
Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Even though Job’s friends accused him and rebuked him for doing wrong, Job still forgave them and prayed for them.  Not an easy task.  I too have been accused of wrongdoing by a friend and was innocent.  Today, praying for that friend has lifted a weight off of my shoulders that I had been carrying for too long.
 
I loved the poetic rhythm of the Book of Job.  I was amazed at all Job had suffered.  Some I knew before hand, but I had never read it to that depth before.  Reading the Bible in 90 days has certainly opened my eyes and my heart to God’s wonderful lessons for all of us.
 
Now on to Psalms…….