Job 23

"Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would say to me. Would He contend with me in His great power? No! But He would take note of me. There the upright could reason with Him, and I would be delivered forever from my Judge. Look, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when He works on the left hand, I cannot see Him, but He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him. Therefore I am terrified at His prescence; when I consider this, I am afraid of Him. For God made my heart weak, and the Almighty terrifies me; because I was not cut off from the presence of darkness, and He did not hide deep darkness from my face." Job 23:3-17
"Since times are not hidden from the Almighty, why do those who know Him see not His days?" Job 24:1


Dictionary.com defines:
awesome 

c.1600, "profoundly reverential," from awe + -some. Meaning"inspiring awe" is from 1670s; weakened colloquial sense of"impressive, very good" is recorded by 1961 and was in voguefrom after c.1980.

Thesaurus.com states:

terrify  [ter-uh-fahy]  Show IPA
Part of Speech:	verb
Definition:	scare
Synonyms:	alarm, appall, awe, chill, dismay, freeze, fright,frighten, horrify, intimidate, paralyze, petrify,scare stiff, scare the pants off of, scare todeath, shock, spook, startle, strike fear into,stun, stupefy, terrorize

Reading this passage this morning reminded me of our Sunday School lesson this week. We have been studying "The Names of God", and "El Gadol Ven-nora: great and awesome God" was our topic. During our lesson we learned that originally the word "awesome" meant terrible.

• Should we be terrified of our God as Job was?
• When we sing "Our God is an Awesome God", should we not be touting His terrifying power that produces a state of "awe" in us that "makes our hearts weak"? (Instead of singing of a "good", milk-toast god with no power, who gives us what we desire!)
• Do we acknowledge His power and state: "Whatever His soul desires, that He does"? Or do we tell Him what to do, imposing our will on His?
• Are we content to let God be God?  

When we finally see God, will we not (like Jacob, Paul, John, and many others) be terrified, paralyzed, petrified, awed and have our pants scared off, by His terrible presence? Do you think you will stand? I think not! (Hebrews 10:31)

And see God we will; and soon!

Even Job knew that one day he would:
"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another, how my heart yearns within me!" Job 19:25-27

Judgement is coming!

The believer (one who has made Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior) will not stand alone at the Judgement! Jesus will be standing with us and our Awesome God will see our debt as paid through His blood. (1Timothy 2:4-5)

If you haven't repented - turned to Christ; don't wait! Time is running out! (Romans 10:13)

Even so -  MARANATHA!