2020 Bible Vision

Krista Moots

5.23.2020

Job 18-19

Summarize what you read in one paragraph: 

In Chapter 18, Bildad the Shuhite, Job’s friend, is telling him to stop complaining and making himself the focus of everything. He then talks about what happens to a wicked man, saying that he is weakened and that everything around him is a threat. He has no name or legacy, other than one to scare others. Chapter 19 is Job’s response to his friend, in which he asks how long he will be tormented, and he calls out his friends for attacking him multiple times, and that they are putting themselves in a place above him. He then talks about how God is against him, that he has put blocks in his path and turned everyone against him. He asks for pity from his friends, and asks them why they are coming after him. He then still praises God, despite his circumstances. At the very end, he rebukes his friends, and warns them that they should fear the sword, meaning judgement.

What is one key verse?

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” Job 19:25

How does what you read change your vision of God?

These chapters remind me that God has a purpose to what is going on in the world, even when it doesn’t feel like it. It can be easy, especially in times like these, to question God and ask why everything is happening. I can be very quick to become untrusting or doubtful when things don’t go how I feel they should, so Job still honoring God in hard times reminds that God always knows best.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

It is scary when you read what Bildad says and it can be reminiscent of what people, me included, do when they don’t know why something is happening. His friends jumped to conclusions and assumed that Job had committed a horrible sin and that he must be being punished by God as a punishment. It reminds me to not judge someone and the situation they are in before I know the whole story. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

Something that I want to grow in as a result of this Scripture is to trust God to know what He is doing, and to not judge someone because of a situation I don’t understand. These go hand in hand because when you trust in God and his plan, you are less likely to judge others, because God judges, and when we are wrathful or even judgemental of others, God will judge us too.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I see Jesus when he says to the Pharisees, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” in John 8:7. Jesus was an example of protecting people, rather than judging them. He protected a woman who was not like Job, who would always work to be righteous, but then he also pushed her to leave her life of sin.

Joel Nagel

5.22.2020

Job 15-17

These chapters return to Eliphaz to begin round 2 of Job’s friends criticizing him and trying to help him see that his suffering must have been brought about by sin. Eliphaz accuses Job of not fearing God. Job responds by calling his friends miserable comforters and laments his suffering as he sinks deeper into hopelessness.

Key Verse:

Job 16:2 “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.”

Job’s friends are all trying to convince him that he deserves his suffering because of some sin. The fact that Job refuses to admit sin causes them to think he’s at least sinning by being prideful. In the New Testament, Paul makes it clear that all have sinned. Sin is a universal problem. (Romans 3) Elsewhere, Jesus is asked a very Job-esque question about the tower of Siloam and the blood Pilate mixed with the sacrifices. (Luke 13:1-5) Jesus makes it clear that God didn’t bring the 18 people into the falling tower’s path because they were especially sinful but all people sin and need to repent (change). John 9 is another great example of right thinking about sin. The religious leaders want to know who’s sin caused a man to be blind from birth; Jesus is just focused on healing him.

This helps me to view people as sinners (myself included). That sounds judgmental but I mean the opposite. We live in a fallen world full of sin and sinful people. We should not be surprised when people live contrary to God and sin in various ways. It’s the way of our world, unfortunately.

Believing this helps me to react with love instead of judgment when people sin. I’m quicker to drop my stone and walk away or even better yet, to be a helper. (John 8)

This verse made me think of Jesus because he invites all to come to him and promises a light burden and an easy yoke unlike Job’s friends we have a true friend in Jesus!

Jackie Gray

5.21.2020

Job 11-14

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

Prior to this, Job poured out his anguish, bewilderment, and anger against God over his suffering. His friends, who had previously sat with him in silence, now began to respond to him one by one. In Job 11, Zophar the Naamathite is the third friend to respond. He tells Job that he is wrong to claim innocence, because God only brings suffering on the wicked. He then tells Job that, if he will only stop sinning and devote himself to God, God will rescue him. In Job 12, Job’s response to Zophar is to mock the “wisdom” of his friends and counselors, and assert that true wisdom belongs only to God. Job 13 sees Job continue to proclaim his innocence, and reject the counsel of his friends as worthless. He requests to plead his case before God, and pleads with God to take away his suffering. Finally in Job 14, Job mourns the shortness of life and the finality of death. He paints a bleak picture of a God who is overbearing and uncaring of His creatures. 

What is one key verse?

“To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; those he imprisons cannot be released. If he holds back the waters, there is drought; if he lets them loose, they devastate the land. To him belong strength and insight; both deceived and deceiver are his.” – Job 12: 13-16

How does what you read change your vision of God?

This passage opens my eyes to how powerful God is. I do not often reflect on the power of God as much as I reflect on His other characteristics. The Coronavirus and the world’s response to it have made me want to reflect on it more, however. When I read this verse, it reminds me that God controls literally everything, and that nothing can happen without His say so. 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

I want to tell others about the power of God as I am reaching out to them, whether in the church or outside of it. I think that we can get so caught up in our lives that we forget that God is what really matters. We are not the main players in life: God is. 

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I will direct my attention and the attention of others to passages like these when it seems like we are getting too caught up in ourselves. We all need regular reminders about who is ultimately in control. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I thought about Jesus in Job 14, when Job was lamenting the finality of death. Specifically, Job asks “ If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service, I will wait for my renewal to come. (14)” Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, the waiting is over! Death is not the end, but rather, the beginning of new life! Without Jesus, we too would have to despair over death; with Jesus, we have hope that Job could only dream of. Amen! 

Phil Perez

5.20.2020

Job 8-10

Summary

These chapters portray strong courtroom imagery.  Job is responding to each of his friends in turn as they weigh in on his suffering.  Chapters 8-10 Bildad the Shuhite takes on the role of God’s defender in the courtroom (As if God needed a defender).  It’s interesting to note that Genesis 25.1-2 tells of Shuah the son of Abraham and Keturah, which makes it likely that Bildad is a descendant of Abraham and his wife Keturah.  Bildad has concluded that this has happened because Job’s Children have sinned and there is obviously still hope for Job as he was left alive.  Bildad communicates to Job that if he is indeed righteous God will sustain him and once again fill his mouth with laughter and lips with shouts of Joy (8.21).  Job maintains his innocence throughout and desires a court date with God to plead his case in chapters 9-10. 

A Key verse in the chapters is

Job 10.2 “I will say to God: “Do not declare me guilty! Let me know why you prosecute me.”

Job wants to know why – which is the essential question of suffering. Job has prejudged God’s intent here in today’s reading and I find it interesting and a foreshadowing of Christ that in Job 9.33 He is requesting a mediator between him and God.  We of course have that mediator in Jesus Christ.

Job is not given a direct answer to his why but I think he is still on point as in Job 6.29 he correctly identifies that his righteousness is the main issue, however not in the way he or his friends are making sense of it.  The whole thing plays out as if Job is trying to get his day in court. I will go with God more content to trust and obey even when I am struggling to understand.

Deb Monroe

5.19.2020

Job 4-7

Today’s reading contains Eliphaz’s response to Job’s suffering. Eliphaz tells Job that he must be guilty of sinning and non repentant otherwise God would not have harmed him in this way. Eliphaz says that innocent people are not cut off from God, therefore Job’s trials came about through his own sinful doings. An interesting fact is that Eliphaz is from Temanite, a land known for its wisdom, though Eliphaz has no knowledge of God’s meeting with Satan!

A key verse is Job 4:7. Eliphaz asks “Who being innocent has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed?

This reading has changed my view of God because at first sight what Job’s friend says sounds correct, sounds accurate. But God’s ways are above our own. His knowledge is beyond measure and we should think hard before trying to predict him or lay claim to understanding his ways. Indeed He is cloaked in mystery!

For me, I’ve recognized that giving advice or having explanations for other’s trials or blessings is quite premature. I think we can guess about what God may be doing but speaking in absolutes really underestimates God’s power and wisdom! After all, I’m merely human and need to humble about that and remember that He is bigger and beyond my comprehension.

I will go with God but being slower to speak and quicker to listen. I will monitor how I speak and seek to listen to other’s emotions without meeting it with rationality or judgment.

I saw Jesus in the key verse. I see that Jesus was innocent and upright yet his father planned for him to be cut off and perish! God is so wise and omnipotent! He knows all! How can we act as though we know what he is doing?!

Jeff Wenta

5.18.1010

Job 1-3

In Job 1, 2 and 3 we jump back more than 1,000 years in time from Esther’s era to an era before Abraham. Through the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves as observers of a heavenly council where God initiates a conversation with Satan about someone he is particularly proud of – Job.  Satan accuses Job of not having pure motives for following God’s ways so God allows him to try to expose “the truth”.  This results in very real back-to-back tragedies and physical pain for Job – yet he still held on to his integrity and “did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job then speaks about his great suffering, first diving into an eloquent curse of the day he was born and then a philosophical Q & A session where he asks questions that we all must deal with in our own walks with God.

One key verse is Job 2:3

“Have you considered my servant Job?  There is no one on earth like him: he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.  And he still maintains his integrity…” (NIV)

These chapters helped me to better understand the God who created me because I found that he listed many great qualities of this mere man. In another translation – “He is a man of integrity: he is decent, he fears God, and he stays away from evil.  And he holds on to his principles.” (NOG) reinforcing what I read about him earlier this year, “the LORD’s eyes scan the whole world to strengthen those who are committed to him with all their hearts.” (2 Chron 16:9 CEB)  He strengthens but now he also knows and lists our great qualities!

This helps me to better refine the way I look at myself and those around me.  We are all works in progress with many things that need to be molded and shaped but God shared in his circles about Job’s great qualities.

As I walk through life today I will compile an ongoing list of great qualities of each person I interact with on paper and transfer them later to my journal.  This goes for myself as well – I will still need to have a sober view of what I need to change but not lose sight of the great qualities God has helped develop in me.

Like Job, Jesus suffered much tragedy by experiencing loss after loss, agonizing pain and, in addition, the limit was removed to not take his life.  Yet in his great suffering he looked at those around him and did not accuse them: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34 NIV). Jesus was still holding on to his integrity because he saw them as God does.  Why shouldn’t we?

Jake Monroe

5.16.2020

Esther 8-10

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

Esther pleads to the King to reverse the plan that Haman had decreed against the Jews.   Mordecai was given authority over the house of Haman on Esther’s behalf and they set out to help the Jews be saved.   An Edict was written that the Jews had authority to protect themselves against anyone which came against them with the authority of King.   When the decree took place the Jews rose and wiped out many men in Susa including the sons of Haman.   Even more Jews defended themselves amongst the Kings province and 75,000 more enemies were killed.   It is mentioned that the Jews didn’t lay hands on any of the plunder.   After the victory there was great celebration and feasting and it was declared that the 14th and 15th day named Purim should be commemorated every year amongst all their descendants.   Mordecai rose to a high position second in rank to King Ahasuerus.

What is one key verse?

Esther 8:8 “But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the King, and seal it with the King’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”

How does what you read change your vision of God?

It is a good reminder that God will protect his people and that even though there are hard times we have God’s authority stamped with his approval (the blood of Christ) to defend ourselves from the world.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

That the authority doesn’t come from my human self but from the Authority of God with the Holy Spirit to guide us and that we should seek to do things for our own glory (plunder) but for the care of God’s family (his church) here on earth.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I need to continue to seek God in my actions and not be prideful in my thoughts.  An action step has been to confess my pride through discipling and confess it so I can have repentance and live a more Christ focused life.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I see a foreshadowing with the edict set place by the King and sealed with the ring.  That represents God’s edict for his people to have authority over the earth in his name and this cannot be changed.  Christ’s death on the cross and his blood giving us the salvation that nothing on earth can revoke that opportunity for us.  Also that this is to be celebrated and remembered which we do with communion.

Dani Kelsey

5.15.2020

Esther 5-7

Summarize what you read in one paragraph: 

These chapters of Esther are a pivoting point in the whole story. We just learned that Haman has made a decree to kill all the Jews. In response, Esther and Mordecai have come up with a plan to turn the tables on Haman. After praying and fasting for three days, Esther approached the king and invited him and Haman to a banquet she prepared for them. This pleased the king and he offered Esther anything she could want, “up to half the kingdom”. Ester insisted that the king and Haman return the next day for a second banquet before she answered the king. In the time between these two banquets, Haman is so enraged by Mordecai’s indifference to him, that he plans to petition the king to have Mordecai impaled on a pole he sets up in his own yard. Things don’t seem to be looking good for Mordecai or the Jews… But before Haman can do that, the king remembered that Mordecai had saved his life from assassins, so he wished to honor Mordecai. Haman realizes he has made a mistake in targeting the Jews, but before he can rectify the situation, Esther’s second banquet is served to the king and to Haman. Here, the king asks Esther what she wishes, and Esther pleads for her life and the lives of the Jews, and reveals Haman’s plans. The king is enraged and impales Haman on the very pole that Haman built to kill Mordecai.

What is one key verse?

Esther 7:3

“Then Queen Esther answered, ‘If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life- this is my petition. And spare my people- this is my request.’”

How does what you read change your vision of God?

In the book of Esther, the Jews are still in exile, God has, in a sense, abandoned them, but He has not forgotten them, and His plan was only to exile them, not have them put to death, so He used Esther to intervene for His will… God is never far from us, even if it seems like He has abandoned us, He is still in control. (Which is kind of a funny coincidence for what is going on in life right now). 

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

It definitely solidifies the fact that when we choose to uplift ourselves above others, God will knock us down a peg or two. We should never think of ourselves so important and get ahead of ourselves to the point that God has to punish us, and He would, just as He did with Haman. On the other hand, if we choose to trust in God’s will, even if it seems He has abandoned us, He will honor us and save us.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

We must all love and honor one another rather than loving and honoring only ourselves. God does not love the proud, but loves those who serve and love one another. I must choose every day to love and serve others and to not boast myself up above anyone. 

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I saw Jesus in the moments that Esther approached the King and held a banquet for him, and after the second banquet, pleaded for her life. It reminded me of when Jesus was in Gethsemane praying to God, the King, and pleading for his life. 

Karrington Kelsey 

5.14.2020

Esther 3-4

Summarize what you read in one paragraph:

After Haman is elevated to the highest role in the kingdom of Persia the decrees that everyone should bow before him. This is apparently this is followed by everyone except for Mordecai. Mordecai is Jewish and by him not bowing to Haman, Haman is enraged and convinces the King to decree that all Jews should be murdered. Later on, Haman and the king have a banquet to celebrate their decision. This is all happening while Esther and Mordecai discuss Esther’s Jewish descent and they devise a plan to reveal her heritage to the king. Mordecai states that he has faith that even if Esther doesn’t reveal her Heritage to the king that God’s will will still be done and maybe she will be able to become Queen of Persia.  Esther responds saying if I perish I perish.

What is one key verse?

Esther 4:16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

How does what you read change your vision of God?

It reminds me that God gives us a chance to consider we have faith in him and in his will it is up to us to exercise that in times of struggle and tribulations. Specifically,  these chapters illustrate what it is to rely on God’s will regardless of the cost.

How does what you read change your vision of yourself or others?

It reminds me that sometimes we can be Haman so pumped up with pride, status, and privilege that when anyone challenges those notions we become Pharisees ourselves. So when we are challenged we are to respond with a sound mind and heart grounded in God’s love and respond with the same tact and respect Jesus showed every Gentile.

How will you Go With God because of this reading? (What is an action step?)

I’m an activist in heart and in action when I’m working for and advocating for oppressed groups I truly believe I am doing God’s will. When advocating I’m met with a lot of hate, ignorance and misunderstanding. I will continue to go with God by remembering that faith has to be constant and has to come from love regardless of the cost.

Where did you see Jesus in these chapters? (What made you think about Jesus?)

I saw Jesus was Esther willing to sacrifice her life to save her people.

Joel Nagel

5.13.2020

Esther 1-2

These chapters set the stage for the amazing story of Esther who lives in Persia during the time of Jewish captivity. It’s a marvel that this story even appears in the bible since it never even mentions the name of God. Yet, you can see the clear difference between Godly people and the ungodly. The stage is set in these chapters for the drama that will soon unfold. It’s easy to be distracted by the sexism of the king and culture but this is not a section teaching us how to be Godly. It’s showing us just how powerful this king who reigns from India to Ethiopia is and how difficult it will be for the female hero of this story to triumph. Esther is chosen as the former queens replacement and her uncle Mordecai uncovers an assassination plot. He asks her to keep her Jewish heritage secret.

Key Verse:

Esther 1:1 “Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces…”

This verse describes a VERY powerful king ruling a vast empire. He’s rich. He has wise advisors. He dictates cultural norms. And he’s about to be rescued by a Godly woman who serves an even greater king.

I think that it’s easy for us at times to be intimidated by powerful people or to fear them. This could be powerful people in our families, at our jobs, or in our culture. It helps to know that we serve the most powerful king of all!

I feel like I’ve been growing in speaking truth to power and caring less what people think about me but I have a long way to go. This perspective about the king of Persia helps!

I see Jesus in all of this because in his life he faced all kinds of powerful people. He never backed down or tried to please them over the true king, his Father. Ultimately, those in ‘power’ put him to death but his greater power became evident just three days later in the form of an empty tomb and a changed world.