"Take a look at the mighty hippopotamus." - the Lord to Job
JOB'S SIN
Job was blameless and a man of complete integrity who feared God and stayed away from evil. With the LORD’S permission, the devil brought great disaster and devastation to Job's life. In his pain, Job's three friends condemned him as a wicked man. What happened? A fourth, younger friend told Job, “It was to prevent you from getting into a life of evil that God sent this suffering… people who are truly wise show God reverence.” What was Job’s sin? In all his suffering, Job COMPLAINED AGAINST GOD, arguing that he was innocent. After all this, then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them." God is big, VERY BIG and in comparison, we humans are small, VERY small. We have limited knowledge and little understanding of many things. Who are we to question the Creator of the entire universe? He is the Potter and we are the clay. As God put questions to him, revealing Job’s ignorance and weakness, Job began to feel the conviction of his sin. The Lord spoke of the hippopotamus as a prime example of God's amazing handiwork that far exceeds man in bulk and strength, further proving God's enormous power. Eventually, Job repented and said to God, "I had heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance." He realized his guilt and abhorred himself as a sinner. When we are willing to humble ourselves before God, the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin. Here we have a choice: to agree saying I have sinned or to argue saying we are innocent. It is only after we confess and repent of our sin that the LORD is able to lift us up and fill us with His peace. In the end, after Job prayed for his friends, he was MORE blessed than before! HALLLELUJAH - OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL! (Read Job)