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Welcome. Come in
and join us in the Word. Im Carol Brooke and I appreciate you, the listening audience as
we bring the Word of God. Today we continue in this 12 part series called Jobs Answer,
looking at Job 32 and hearing the things he said to those around him, who were judging
him about why he was in such a pitiful circumstance. This man who seemed to have it all was sitting
on the ash heap with boils on his body and everything seemingly gone. He held on to his
faith and his trust with God. That was not gone, praise the Lord. What an example for
us who have trouble at our door. Most believers will admit there are seasons when that happens
because God does not always shelter us. We are allowed to walk through it. He did promise
to walk through with us, Thank God. He promised in Isaiah He would be with us as we walk through
the waters – they wont flood or overtake us and the fire wouldnt burn us. He would
be there. He doesnt always prevent things coming but he does promise to be there and
bring us out on the other side, having gleaned valuable things from the experiences. As we
look at Job 23, its inspirational in that its not just poor mes but within the threads
of his expressions – you see beautiful faith stand up and speak in spite of circumstances.
It rallies your heart when youre in trouble to know My Redeemer liveth – I know that
my Redeemer liveth. And I know God is on His throne, that God is able and there is hope.
Where would we be without hope? The Scripture says people who have no hope are most miserable
not only concerning their eternity – but every day experiences. Without hope you can
not make it. Its the paddle in your canoe. It keeps you going forward. Job says God,
where are you? In Lesson 3, As we look at Job 23:1-3, K. J. concerning his expression,
saying God, I need you now. Where are you? And thats what we often cry out when things
happen that seem so unexpected – the shock, the surprise of it all – we didnt see this
coming or maybe we did. But the carnal mind says, Well God, where are you and why? Lets
read that now. Then Job answered and said, Even today is my complaint bitter: my stroke
is heavier than my groaning. Thats what we talked about in the past lessons. Oh that
I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! referring to Gods throne.
You hear this gushing from his soul. Oh, that I just knew where I could just come to His
throne, and have the assurance and feeling He was right there and had an audience with
God to answer his dilemma. Even if he knew why would have helped a lot. He went through
a lot before he bean to understood why God allowed these things. He knew he hadnt sinned
in any deliberate way to bring this on, even though everybody else had that opinion. He
knew God had a reason, a purpose. God wouldnt treat him in a haphazard way and let anything
come in the gate of his yard. So he wonders where is God and why? Have you ever had an
experience when you said God, where are you? The Word says Youre here. By faith I know
Youre here but I cant tap into like Your presence; I cant sense it. I cant feel it and have it
witness in my spirit. O God, where are You? If I could come to Your throne and have an
audience with You. Have you ever had an experience that brought you to that place? Thats where
Job, was at. Its like when God is not seen in the scenery. But truly, Hes behind the scene. Praise God for that.
That makes me think of how the Bride in the Song of Solomon 2 said The Beloved, He stands
behind our wall. He looks forth through the lattice. Yes, if you are listening to me today
and in the pit of trouble, things are out of control and you dont know what to do. The
burdens are heavier than you can bear and when you cry to God, it seems your prayers
bounce off the ceiling. You reach out with extended hands but it seems youre not tapping
into the current of His presence. Have you ever been there? I know what that is – thats
not fun. I think thats how Job felt. If youre there today, I trust you will take Job 23,
read it prayerfully and see how faith can rise up in you. Declare the goodness of God
in spite of what you see and know God is not obvious in the scene, but behind the scene
and as the Bride said Hes looking forth through the lattice. In the Amplified it says through
the windows. Hes there. Job said, He knows the way that I take. God knows where Im at
and whats happening to me. God knows and cares. You say, If He cares and knows, why doesnt
He do something? Ive been there, a few places in my life like that. God knows what Hes doing.
God knows what is going to come out of this. He holds the future in His hands like a treasure,
very delicately, not careless but very carefully. He will bring out of that which seemingly
may seem evil, He can bring out good. He can do a purifying work in our spirit and make
us a vessel more to His honor and praise that He can use more to His glory and praise if
well let Him do that in our trial. Jesus had that kind of an experience where He felt the
Father had, kind of abandoned Him. He knew what it was to be tested and tried in every
fashion –like we are as human beings so He could be a faithful, compassionate, tender-hearted
high priest, as our intercessor at the right hand of the Father. The Scripture says He
makes intercession for us at the right hand of the Father. He couldnt do that if He had
no feeling, compassion, was not moved within, touched by the things that are touching us.
Lets look at texts concerning that in Hebrews. We need to have these things memorized, at
least the essence, so we can hang on to them when trials hit. I failed to tell you this
beautiful home that is hosting us is Kevin and Talitha Bayerleins and how much we appreciate
it. Turn to Hebrews 4:15 in the Amplified. For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable
to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities
and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect
as we are, yet without sinning, making clear that Jesus, to fulfill the role of a faithful
High Priest, is able to understand, to sympathize. He knows our weaknesses, our infirmities,
our liabilities, our assaults in temptation – why? He has been tempted in every respect;
we might use that word tried and yet He did not sin. Im so glad He did not sin. If He
had sinned in His tests and trials He couldnt have helped us. But this gave Him a heart
of compassion. When we approach God we need to recognize He is a God of compassion, mercy
and tenderness. Some may have a father who is not compassionate, tender or merciful.
When you approach God, you find it hard to believe Hes going to be touched by what is
hurting you. But youve transferred perhaps unconsciously from the natural to the spiritual
– we do that often. I am grateful that though I did not have a godly father as a child,
he was a very compassionate and tender hearted man. He could sympathize and be touched. If
we were sick he was really affected by that. He gave us the witness of a tender heart even
though he wasnt serving God. Thank God that he did find the Lord in his last days. But
that has made it easy for me always to go to my Heavenly Father. Without realizing where
that came from – it was easier because I expected the Heavenly Father to be tender
hearted like my father was, in spite of many vices binding him in sin. When you approach
the Lord – if you have a problem seeing God as tender-hearted, may you see where that
root comes from and bring it to the Lord. Ask the Lord to heal it, remove it and give
you the ability to move to the spiritual and root your faith there, that the Lord is merciful
and tender hearted. He was tested in every way as we are. Amplified, Hebrews 2:17-18
says, So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every
respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in
the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the peoples sins. For
because He Himself in His humanity has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is
able immediately to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested
and tried and who therefore are being exposed to suffering. He doesnt stand back and say
thats too bad – Ill see if they make it. The Scripture says Hes eager to be there to
assist us. Its wonderful He has provided the angels to surround us and help in times of
hardship as they did Him in the forty days of the wilderness. I think of when Jesus was
on the Cross and asked the question why? I think its marvelous for those who go through
trials and never ask God why. I think thats great and I wish I could say that. I cannot
always, to be honest. I guess Im not that mature spiritually, but I see Jesus on the
Cross asked Why have you forsaken me, Father? Read it first in the Psalms spoken as a prophecy.
Its also concerning the Messiah. It tells how Jesus would express these words, feeling
abandoned by the Father. K.J. Psalm 22:1-3, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? O my God, I cry in
the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. But thou
art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. He knew the Father dwelt in the
midst of the praises of His people. But it seemed the Father had abandoned Him at the
Cross. That was the prophecy going to happen hundreds of years before, the historical account
is in K.J. Matthew 27:46. How do we know Jesus is the Christ? He fulfilled these prophetical
things written hundreds of years before through the prophets exactly and every one. It makes
it clear He alone could be Christ. No other professed savior could say that. Matthew 27:46
K. J. says, And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli,
lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God , why hast thou forsaken me? Im tying
this to Job and he is saying God where are you? I cant seem to find you. I cant seem
to find you. Sometimes the most mature Christian will walk through something and have that
well up in their soul: God, where are you now when I need You so? Remember, He hasnt
abandoned us. Hes very aware. He beholds us through the lattice or windows as in the Amplified.
In Job 23:3 he expressed, Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come
even to his seat. Im sure Jesus felt those same pains in His hearts cry. It was fulfilled.
You say, why would the Father not make Himself more obvious to Jesus? The Scripture gives
us the clue, if we turn quickly to Habakkuk. We see that God the Father cannot look upon sin. The Son of God was hanging
on that rugged Cross and had taken upon Himself our sin, the filth of this wretched world
from every generation on down. He had absorbed that sin on His pure, sinless being and the
heavenly Father could not look upon His Son with that sin upon Him. K.J. Habakkuk 1:13
Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore
lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth
the man that is more righteous than he? That gives us a clue that God cannot look on evil
and iniquity. It seems He had turned His back and looked the other way because He couldnt
bear the sight of His Holy Son being on the Cross laden with sin. The Scripture says He
who knew no sin became sin. Why – that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
He traded places. He took the place of the sinful so we could become the place of One
who is sinless because of His precious blood He shed on the Cross to atone for our sin.
Arent you grateful for that? A kindred type of experience the Bride of Christ went through.
It, too, is prophetical. Song of Solomon 5:6. K. J. I opened to my beloved; but my beloved had
withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not
find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer. Im sure theres one listening and you
say Carol, those are my words. Im seeking but Gods presence seems so far from me right
now and I need it so desperately. Ive called but there seems to be no answer. The Lord
hasnt turned a deaf ear for the Scripture says The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous
and His ears are open to their cry. You say, but thats for somebody else. Ive cried and
God hasnt shown up. Maybe He hasnt shown up yet. He hasnt intervened as yet. But He holds
the answer in His hands, a precious golden gift for you and itll be delivered in a proper
time if you will not let go of your faith, if you put your trust in Him and be like Job
who said Though God slay me, yet Ill trust Him. no matter – if it comes to my very
life, Ill trust in God. Be tenacious about your faith. Dont let anybody rip your faith
away from you even in the midst of your trial – even when theyre accusing you as Jobs
companions did. Believe God and know Hes faithful. The Scripture says, Faithful is He that has
called you who also will do it. Praise the Lord for his promises. Its not that God doesnt
know. Psalms 139:1-12 K. J. O lord, thou has searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my
downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path
and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. You need to circle and mark in
your study Bible thou art acquainted with all my ways. The Lords acquainted with all
of our ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is
too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Wither shall I go from thy
spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning,
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy
right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night
shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth
as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. He describes places he
could go. If he went to heaven - to hell - to the depths of the sea - in darkness – regardless,
he couldnt get away from God if he tried. You may think the Lord has abandoned you – is
far away, but you cant get away from God if you tried, in your hour of test and trial.
In closing, Amplified Hebrews 13:5B, says, for He God Himself has said, I will not in
any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not,
I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold
on you)! Assuredly not! Be confident of this: three times the Lord said I will not leave
you. You may be in a spiritual place that is unfamiliar and its time for a different
experience. Maybe you cant find or feel the presence of God in your methods of seeking
Him in the past. Maybe youre in a spiritual rut and the Lord wants to move you, to force
you to learn a new approach, a new access into His presence. Maybe in order to find
the visible, active manifestation of Gods favor you have to have a spiritual growth
spurt. God is allowing you to go through an experience where you have to be open to Him
in a new way. And be flexible so you can find Him fresh and new falling on you again. Next
time we deal with Whats
Going On? Amen.