The “OH THATs” of life ——

The “OH THATs” of life………

2024 is a NEW YEAR!  What will it hold?  What will it bring?  What will we see?  What will we rejoice in?  What will we lament?  Will there be “OH THATs”?  

For a number of years now, I have done the Bible Unity Reading Plan (https://www.expository.org/biblereadingplan.pdf) and again this year, I have started it.  In a chronological reading, you’ll find yourself 4 days in and traveling with Job thru his laments!  Who hasn’t gone there?  Who hasn’t identified with Job at some turn of life? Job might just be one of the more well-recognized Bible personalities.  Even in Jeopardy…. I bet if Ken Jennings threw out the answer, “the man in the Bible known for his patience and stalwart faith, as God allowed satan to attack him?” — I’m thinking even the worldly-thinkers of our day would answer correctly…… “who is Job!”  

And yet Job felt forgotten and mis-understood.  Chapter 19 speaks to how he lamented his “friends” torment over him and breaking him in pieces with words!  As you read on thru the chapter, he recounts how his brothers are far from him, those who knew him are estranged from him, his relatives have failed him, his close friends have forgotten him, the guests in his house and his maidservants count him as a stranger.  He even goes on to say that his breath is strange to his wife and he is a stench to his brothers and sisters!  Young children despise him, his intimate friends abhor him, and those whom he loved have turned against him. 

And then I came to v.23-24 and I laughed out loud when I read Job’s “OH THAT”!!!

“Oh that my words were written!  Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!”

Oh Job!!!  THEY WERE!!!  They really were!!   Who hasn’t read your story!  Your words WERE written!  They WERE inscribed in a book — in God’s own holy book, they were engraved forever!  

Job’s story has impacted, comforted, encouraged, and inspired countless travelers in their own “OH THATs”!  Yet Job had no idea, did he?  

The lesson I take away from today’s reading is a reminder of God’s exceedingly abundant MORE!  He’s always up to so much MORE (in Job’s life, in my life, in your life) than is seen on the surface!

Ephesians 3:20-21  Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

So as we move into 2024, I’m challenged……. 

………..if I find myself saying (or thinking) those 2 words of lament that Job spoke……“OH THAT”, — may I remember what I KNOW to be true!  I want to join Job as he went from his “OH THATs” of verses 23-24 to his following words of truth:

Job 19: 25-26  For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, who I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.  My heart faints within me!

Is it any wonder that God did indeed inscribe Job’s words with an iron pen and lead and He engraved them in the rock forever.

I know that answer Ken Jennings!  “WHO IS JOB?”