#DailyDevotion God May Wound, But He Will Heal Also
February 8th
Read Job 5:1–27
Job 5:12-20 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. (13) He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. (14) They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night. (15) But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. (16) So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth. (17) “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. (18) For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal. (19) He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you. (20) In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
Well at least Eliphaz seems somewhat realistic in what we see in the world most of the time and gives some hope to us today. Those who go about being crafty and wily while the get away with it for a while but the Lord does frustrate their plans and brings them to an end. He just does it in his own time because they too are made in His image and likeness he desires that they too repent of their sins and turn to Him for salvation.
Today we also see that when we who belong to the Lord suffer we should consider ourselves blessed. “…blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.” When we suffer as Christians we should know that it is not without purpose. Discipline here does not necessarily mean punishment but training or instruction. If you are under the discipline of the Lord we have these words to give us hope. “For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.” The Lord does not leave His holy ones in distress. He does bring comfort and every grace to deal with the times and He does promise relief.
The author of Hebrews has this in mind when he says, Heb 12:5 “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. (6) For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (7) It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” You see, when you as a Christian who trust in the Lord undergo many pains and trials you should take comfort that you are His sons, His children. It is in love He brings these things to pass in our life.
The devil would have you think you have been spurned by God and that He hates you. He tries to deceive you into thinking you must have done something absolutely horrible for your Father in heaven to treat you this way. But just stick you tongue out at him and remind him of his end. Remember these words and remind yourself and him that you are a child of the Almighty and this suffering is indeed proof of it. It is in love that you are experiencing this. Heb 12:11 “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
O Lord our God, when you place your hand of discipline upon us, grant us faith and hope of your work in us to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness so we and those around us may give praise and honor unto your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.