Only the broken can be rebuilt

The Word for today:
Job 22:1 -- 24:25

mark this:
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

Suffering is in the realm of God’s general Providence—sent, like the rain and the sunshine—to fall upon the just and unjust alike. God uses it—see Genesis 50:20—“to save many alive.” It is part of the climate (see John 16:8-10) maintained by the Holy Spirit in order that the Word of God might be heard and understood and believed unto salvation.

The Law is part of this “climate,” pronouncing and emphasizing specific sin in order that we seek a Redeemer (Gal. 3:24-25). When Jesus Christ wrote in the sand—his only recorded instance of writing--before those who were to stone the woman taken in adultery, it very likely was a re-enactment of the finger of God upon the tablets of the law (see Ex. 31:18), reminding the scribes and Pharisees of specific instances of their own adultery. What Jesus wrote might have been as specific as this:

”Sue from Samaria, Beth in Beersheba, Barb from Bethlehem, Jane from Jericho…”

And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground….
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (John 8:8-9)

The breaking down of prideful hearts is a precondition for those who will seek salvation.

Job is broken down in order to start seeing himself as God sees him. The breakdown is prerequisite to Job's transformation, through which he will ever more closely resemble his Redeemer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~