Month: January 2025

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

How demanding are you?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Neal Smith on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 31.

After an exasperating conversation, in person or on the phone, someone might demand, “I want to talk to your supervisor.” If you’re not getting an answer, or no one wants to resolve your problem, you start going up the chain of command. “Let me talk to your manager!”

Job goes right to the top:

Oh, that I had one to hear me!
    (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
    Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! (Job 31:35)

Job wants an answer. After 29 chapters of verbal jousting between Job and his friends, trying to figure out why Job has experienced terrible suffering, it’t time to appeal to the highest authority.

It’s a prayer of faith. Job knows who he’s talking to. He calls God “the Almighty.” But he also refers to God as his adversary. In the last few weeks, it seems like God is against him for some reason. He’s still Job’s God, but Job has reached the end of his rope. He demands an answer.

Job is bold. What right do we have to demand an answer from God? None whatsoever. I’ve heard many insist, “When I get to heaven, I’m going to have a few questions for the Lord!” How do you feel when someone is demanding and insists on an answer? Does the Heavenly Father roll his eyes when his children won’t stop asking, “Why?”

When Jesus was here on earth, standing trial, his accusers from the priests to the governor demanded answers. “Are you the Christ?” “Are you the king of the Jews?” When Jesus answered, they put him to death. They got their answer, but they weren’t happy with it. Such demands reveal unbelief rather than trust.

When we get demanding, like Job, we are being the ones the prophets described. Since God has revealed so much about himself in the creation and through his Word, we’re blind and deaf to so many questions he’s already answered. When we get demanding, it probably means we already know the answer. We just don’t like it.

God hears your demands. He loves you anyway.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Now it’s personal

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 15-17.

Before you know it, the conversation between Job and his friends has descended into name calling. From trying to figure out what’s going on in Job’s life, they resort to insulting each other.

Eliphaz calls Job a bag of hot air. “Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge?” (Job 15:2) He labels Job as “abominable and corrupt” (15:16).

He doesn’t pull any punches when he points out, “The wicked man writhes in pain all his days” (15:20). I guess we know what he thinks of Job.

When Job asserts, “I shall not find a wise man among you” (17:10), Bildad responds, “Are you calling us stupid?” (18:3)

Sound familiar? It should. This is the path our conversations take. First we disagree. Then it escalates. Then it gets personal. The other person is stupid. We insult members of their family. Suddenly we’re not friends any more. We’re mortal enemies.

When it gets to that point, we don’t even remember what the original point of disagreement was. It doesn’t even matter. The only thing that matters is adding words like “always” and “never” to the insults. You’re always like that. You never do this. I’m not stupid. If the shoe fits…

Is there anyway to avoid going down that road?

Shut up. You don’t have to respond in kind. You don’t have to fan the flame. You don’t need to add fuel to the fire. Listen, look them in the eye, and be quiet.

Ask questions like, “What do you mean by that?” Let them say more. Listen, look them in the eye, and be quiet. If you make progress, go on to ask, “How do you know that?” and “Why do you believe that?” Those questions shift the focus back to whatever the issue was.

You could say, “You’re right. I’m stupid. I’m an idiot. I’m a jerk.” Own it. Claim it. Absorb it. Chances are the conversation will take a different turn.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

It could be worse

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Redd Francisco on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 11.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think these words came out of the Covid years: “But did you die?” No matter what a person went through, whether illness, natural disaster, or financial struggles, someone began using the grave as a yardstick. You’re name’s not inscribed on a tombstone? Stop whining and be thankful.

Zophar is another friend who has words these wonderful words of wisdom for Job: “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves” (Job 11:6). In other words, “It could be worse!” And, “You’re getting off easy.”

How interesting that someone attempts to mitigate a tough moment by pointing out an even worse situation. I guess that’s one way to help someone through a difficult time. However, it’s neither helpful nor comforting. Job’s response? “Gee, thanks for the update. Why don’t you (and God) just leave me alone?”

After reading all the way through the book of Job, I realized that his friends were more helpful when they kept their mouths shut. Seven days of saying nothing after Job experienced his losses was paradise compared to a day of meaningless dialogue.

You don’t have to say anything. Your presence means more.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Who cares? God cares.

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Maria Cortes on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 9.

In response to Bildad’s remark that he should seek out God and plead for mercy, Job asks, “How can a man be in the right before God?” (Job 9:2)

That’s a good question. How does anyone get right with God? Here’s a better question: does anyone even care?

I don’t think most people care. It’s not on their radar. God takes a back seat to pursuing the right relationships, opportunities, experiences, and things in life. He’s a benign deity who’s not part of life’s equation. We assume he’ll understand that we’ve done our best when it’s time to check out of this life and move on to the next. If there is one.

You know who cares? God cares. He doesn’t wait for us to get right with him. He’d be waiting a long time. He comes to straighten things out with us. He comes to show us that we’re never off his radar. He comes to show us that he cares.

How can you let someone know that God cares? You have to care. You have to care about someone else. God works through people to reach people. Sometimes it’s a prophet. Sometimes it’s fishermen (disciples). Sometimes it’s you.

You don’t have to get right with God. He’s already shown that you’re alright with him. He demonstrates his love by giving up his son Jesus for you.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Why is this happening to me?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by John Fornander on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 4 and 5.

After seven days of silence, Job and his friends spend lots of chapters trying to figure out why his life is in shambles.

The first friend to weigh in is Eliphaz. He has a simple explanation:

Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
    Where were the upright ever destroyed?
As I have observed, those who plow evil
    and those who sow trouble reap it. (Job 4:7,8)

Eliphaz, like a lot of people, believes in some kind of spiritual karma. If bad things are happening, you must have done something to deserve it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. He goes on to say,

Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
    so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. (5:17)

While there is a kernel of truth in his words, we know there’s a whole lot more going on. Job hasn’t done anything to deserve so much loss in his life. In fact, his suffering at the hands of Satan was because he was extraordinarily faithful. Remember God’s evaluation of Job? “He is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8).

So what’s going on when you want to scream, “Why is this happening to me?”

  • Sometimes you know why. You screwed up. Plain and simple. You opened your mouth (again). You smoked for years and years. You lied. You ate the whole box of donuts (again). You built your home in a flood area. You didn’t floss.
  • Sometimes someone else screwed up. They backed into your car but never left a note. They lied to you (again). They stole your identity. They spilled red wine on your light gray carpet. They didn’t tell you that house you bought was in a flood area.
  • Sometimes stuff happens. Volcanos erupt. Cold weather freezes pipes. Viruses spread. Cancer cells multiply. Pregnant mothers miscarry. Rivers overflow their banks and flood communities. Bugs eat your garden vegetables.
  • Sometimes God kicks you out of paradise. Sometimes he sends plagues. Sometimes God raises up foreign armies for invasion. Sometimes his own son is executed.

It’s a broken world filled with broken people, so broken bones, broken hearts, and broken promises shouldn’t surprise us. Even if we do everything right.

When it’s a really good day, why not ask the same question? Why not wonder, “Why this happening to me?” Or, “What did I do to deserve this?” It wasn’t because you were exceptionally good. It’s because God is. Every good and perfect gift comes from him.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

So do you trust, really trust, him?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Dane Deaner on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Job 1 and 2.

In the opening chapters of Job, we know what’s going on. Job doesn’t have a clue.

We know that God appreciates Job’s faithfulness. We know that Satan has asserted that Job is faithful only because his life is good. God allows Satan to take everything from Job: animals, children, and his health.

What is Job’s response to all this? “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Job says to his wife, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (2:10). Job only sees the hand of God in everything he has experienced, both the good and the bad.

What do you think of that? What do you think of Job’s assessment of God? How do you feel about a God who takes life away. What do you do with a God from whom we experience bad things?

In the Old Testament, God floods the earth, wiping out all life that isn’t safely on board the ark.

God lets his people get hungry and thirsty in the wilderness. Why? To get their attention. So he can show them that he provides what they need.

When King David calls for an unnecessary census, the consequences from God are a plague that kills thousands of people.

In Revelation, disastrous things happen when the wrath of God is unleashed on an unbelieving world.

Many will ask, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?” What about asking, “Why does God cause bad things to happen?”

It’s not an easy question to answer. And I doubt I’ll be able to answer it very well here. But I’ll share what I’ve learned and how I’ve worked through this. I’ve got a logical brain, so this works for me.

God is good, all-powerful, loving, and sovereign. If he allows something to happen, even if we think it’s bad, it’s for a good reason or purpose. Nothing happens outside of his control or his knowledge. Nothing surprises him or catches him off-guard.

Think about it. In hindsight, you learned a lot from and even benefitted from experiences you thought were terrible in the moment. You’ll never figure it out in that moment. Only later will you understand.

God sees the much bigger picture. And he cares. He knows how much it hurts, how unfair it is, and what it’s like to weep. He’s been here. He’s done that. That’s what Jesus did.

The bottom line is, “Do you trust him?” You have faith, but do you trust him? Do you trust him to bring you through a flood, or fire, or “the valley of the shadow of death” to a new, different, and better place?

For the next 36 chapters, Job and his friends will try to figure all this out. In the end, there is no other path than trusting God.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Good news and bad news: a hedge

Posted on by William Douthwaite

On the one hand, a hedge is good. On the other, it’s miserable.

That’s what Job experiences.

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side?” (Job 1:9,10)

Job’s life was “hedged in” by God’s protection. Job was surrounded by God’s blessing. It was a great place to be.

On the other hand, once Satan has a chance to torment Job, it’s a different story.

Job asks, “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?” (Job 3:23)

He feels trapped. Everything good he had is gone. He doesn’t know why. He can’t do anything about it. He’s stuck. He’s trapped. He wishes he had never been born. But here he is. He’s boxed in by the miserable life God engineered for him.

Do you feel protected or trapped by God? Is your faith a force field or a cage?

On the one hand, God is confining. He has some strict guidelines for our lives. On the other hand, those guidelines set us free from things like sin and death and the power of the devil. Hmm. How can confinement actually be freedom?

So, what hedges has God put around your life? How has he protected you? How has he kept you on a short leash?

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Is good enough good enough?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on pexels.com

Yeah, I’m still at it. Here’s another “through the bible” devotion from Job 1.

The book of Job starts like this:

“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1).

Was Job perfect? No. “None is righteous” (Romans 3:10). “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23).

So what kind of a person was Job?

What’s the difference between being “blameless” and “sinless”? Here’s one explanation. Sin is vertical, blame is horizontal. Sinful is what you are like in the presence of a holy God. Blameless is about life with others. Think portrait vs. landscape mode.

Blameless? Everyone thought of Job as a good guy. But Job still needed God’s grace as much as anyone else.

No criminal record. Perfect attendance. Excellent credit score. Employee of the month. All lab results normal. Most likely to succeed. 4.0 GPA. A horizontal righteousness, blameless and upright in the eyes of most.

Angry. Jealous. Holds a grudge. Bitter. Lips honor God; heart is far from him. Selfish. A vertical unrighteousness in the sight of the one whose opinion counts.

Some of us claim that we don’t care what others think of us. That’s a lie. Of course we care. We work hard to look good horizontally. Do we care about what God thinks of us? Probably not as much as we care what others think of us. How much effort goes into that vertical relationship?

Good enough or God’s enough? That’s a good question, isn’t it?

Posted in lessons

How about five bucks?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash

In hindsight, it was foolish to volunteer to sell a bunch of a friend’s stuff on eBay. I only say that because it’s harder than it sounds, it’s not as profitable as you might think, and it’s, frankly, a pain in the ass.

Some of the items I tried to sell were QVC Christmas figurines. Pretty, but not all that expensive. One listing included a pretty nice nativity with about sixteen pieces. When it didn’t even have any views last fall, I deeply discounted the asking price.

In November, I got some interest. One potential buyer wanted to buy several items together to save on shipping costs. No problem. We worked it out, I gave her a good deal, I boxed it all up and sent it out.

A month later, I got a message. “Oh, one of the shepherds had a broken head that had been glued back. Disappointed.” News to me. Everything was in the original form-fit styrofoam packaging. Was it that big of a deal?

I offered to send her other items that would match the set. I just wanted to clear my shelves. Plus, my wife had said, “If it doesn’t sell, it’s going to the thrift store.”

She didn’t want that. She wanted some kind of refund. One of sixteen pieces was damaged. You only paid about $25. What do you want? I offered her some other pieces I was trying to get rid of. Nope. She wanted cash. “How about $5?” Deal.

So, she got a sixteen piece nativity. She got it for $20. A repaired piece? I’ll bet almost everyone has a piece of their nativity that has been glued back together. And I’ll bet you put it out every year and don’t even think about it.

The good news: I’ve got almost everything I tried to sell off my shelf. Some I sold. Some I donated. Some I threw away. All that stuff found a home somewhere.