Kristi Burchfiel

VERSE: Job 39:1–“Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer?” TRUTH: God is a God of details. It can be easy to think that God only concerns Himself with the big or important things that occur. Yet, God is deeply concerned about the details of His creation. He asks Job throughout this chapter about the little things of creation. Through this we can see God’s deep and profound love for His creations and His level of planning and care for them. We are part of that creation and He loves us, too. We can trust that He really does have…

VERSE: Job 38:4–“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” TRUTH: Many Bibles label this section “God Answers Job” and yet it would be more accurate to say that “God Questions Job.” Job has been asking God why He’s allowed these things to happen. God answers by asking Job questions that Job cannot possibly know the answers to. Why? Sometimes we need reminded that we do not know everything and we do not have all the answers. God is over all things, He is in control of all things, and He knows all things that we don’t. RESPONSE: Father, I wasn’t…

VERSE: Job 37:14-15–Listen to this, O Job, stand and consider this wisdom of God. Do you know how God establishes them, and makes the lightning of His cloud to shine? TRUTH: As Elihu concludes his speech to Job, he asks him to think about all the amazing wonders of God. He asks if Job can explain how God does them? God does so many amazing and wonderful and awesome creations, yet we can not explain how He does them, nor why. We must trust that God knows what He is doing and has a plan for all things. RESPONSE: Lord, I look at my life right now and I don’t…

VERSE:  Job 36:26–“Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; the number of His years is unsearchable.” TRUTH: As Elihu continues to speak, he makes this statement. All of these statements are true: God is exalted above everything, we do not and cannot know Him because of our sins, and the span of time that God covers is beyond our comprehension. However, Even though we cannot know God, He wants us to know Him. He wants us to be able to come to Him and share with Him. Because we could never know God on our own due to our sin and wrongs in our life, God made a…

VERSE: Job 35:12–“There they cry out, but He does not answer because of the pride of evil men.”TRUTH: Elihu continues speaking to Job. Unlike Job’s other friends, Elihu accuses Job, not of some past sin, but of a current sin: pride. Elihu believes that because Job is prideful, that is why God is not answering him. Like Job’s other friends, Elihu is wrong. There is nothing to indicate that Job is prideful and later in the book, God never indicates that. The fact of the matter is, sometimes, God simply chooses not to speak or answer our questions. Certainly, other places in the Bible, it indicates that God will not answer…

VERSE: Job 34:12–Surely, God will not act wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. TRUTH: We see things happen and we wonder about the justice of the world. We don’t understand why God allows various things to happen. When we see those types of things, this is a truth that we must remember. God is just. God does not do evil. Often God’s timing is not what we would anticipate, or even what we would prefer. But God still is just and does not do evil. We can rest in that truth, even when we don’t understand why He’s allowing what He’s allowing. RESPONSE: Father, while I may not…

VERSE: Job 33:14–Indeed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. TRUTH: Elihu continues speaking and points out that God often speaks to people, but His words go unnoticed. People are not looking for or listening for a word from God. They miss it. We talk to God, we complain to God, we argue with God, but are we listening for God to speak to us? RESPONSE: Lord, You are full of wisdom and You want to teach and talk with me. I will focus today on listening for You to speak.

VERSE: Job 32:6–So Elihu the son of Barachel the Berzite spoke out and said, “I am young in years and you are old; therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.” TRUTH: Job’s friends have stopped answering him, so now Elihu speaks up, saying he was afraid to speak earlier because he’s so much younger than Job and his friends. Often there is the misconception that age equals wisdom. While age can certainly result in more life experience, only God equals wisdom. Therefore, even the smallest and youngest can be used by God to share His truth if they are obedient to Him and will allow…

VERSE: Job 31:35–“Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written.” TRUTH: Job wanted an answer from God. He did not understand His situation and He wanted to know that God was listening to him and hearing him. When we’re going through hard times, it can be easy to think that God does not hear our cries, yet the God of the universe hears us when we call to Him. Hold on to Him, even through the darkest times. He is with you and will never leave you, even when you feel all alone.…

VERSE: Job 30:26–When I expected good, then evil came; when I waited for light, then darkness came.TRUTH: Often, if we have done what we would consider “good things,” and been obedient to the Lord, we expect to immediately receive good things in return. We must remember that our relationship with Jesus Christ does not mean that we will have all happiness and ease. We will still experience struggles and may not understand the reason. We are to trust Him, even in the midst of not understanding what He is doing. RESPONSE: Father, when I am expecting good, but feel I’ve received evil in its place, I get confused and frustrated.…