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In this episode, we delve into the profound narrative of the Book of Ruth, a timeless story rooted in biblical history. Explore the themes of loyalty, redemption, and divine providence as we navigate through Ruth's poignant journey alongside Naomi, her mother-in-law. Discover how this classic love story also emphasizes virtuous womanhood and commitment, unfolding during a period when Israel was without a king.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. We join Alan J. Huth as he shares Bible passages and comments from over 30 years of his personal Bible reading journals.
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Today we begin the book of Ruth. I will use my ESV Study Bible book introduction to look at the book of Ruth. The story of the book of Ruth takes place in the time of Judges, before a king reigned over Israel, probably around 1000 BC. The book is named for its main character, Ruth, a Moabite woman who marries Boaz. They eventually have a son, Obed, who is the grandfather of King David. Therefore, Ruth is an ancestor of the Messiah, Jesus. The theme of Ruth is how God's people experience His sovereignty, wisdom, and covenant kingdom even under difficult circumstances. Kindness and redemption are two key themes. The book of Ruth is the Bible's classic love story. Few stories in the Bible are told from a woman's viewpoint, but in Ruth, the writer gives attention to feminine values and feelings. Also, Boaz, in his role as kinsman redeemer, presents a striking figure of a man who embodies the Lord's own kindness. The book of Ruth exalts virtuous womanhood and strong manhood. Ruth is one of the only two books in the Bible named after a woman, Ruth and Esther. Interestingly, Ruth is a Gentile woman who marries a Hebrew man. Esther is a Jewish woman who marries a Gentile man. Ruth is not only a love story, it is a tremendous example of how redemption changes everything. Our guest reader for the Book of Ruth is my wife, Terry. Terry and I have been married for over 42 years. We met in high school at age 15, dated four years, and married at 19. We have been together our whole lives. She is a homemaker, raised our three children, and now focuses on our five grandchildren. Terry has been a member of the Ezra Project Board of Directors since we started in 2002. She is our Special Events Coordinator. Terry will read the last two chapters of the Book of Ruth, so we'll listen to Faith Comes by Hearing's reading of Ruth, Chapter 1.
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Ruth Ruth 1
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In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Malan and Kilian. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives. The name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other, Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Malan and Kilian died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,
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Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you, in the house of her husband.
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Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept, and they said to her... No, we will return with you, to your people.
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But Naomi said, Turn back, my daughters. Why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.
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Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. And she said...
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See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Return after your sister-in-law.
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But Ruth said, Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me, and more also if anything but death parts me from you.
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And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, Is this Naomi?
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She said to them, Do not call me Naomi. Call me Himera, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?
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So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabite her daughter-in-law with her, who returned from the country of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
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To help us through the book of Ruth, I've selected three of my personal Bible reading journals. The first one is the first Bible reading journal I ever wrote back in 1983 when I was 28 years old. The next one is 14 years later in 1997 when I was 42 years old. And we'll use 2011, another 14 years later, when I was 56 years old. So those are the three journals we will use in the book of Ruth. In 1983, after reading Ruth chapter 1, I wrote the first seven books focused on the nation of Israel. Ruth begins to focus on the family of the Messiah within the nation. Ruth was a Moabite woman, descendant of Lot. In 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament that year, and I read the whole book of Ruth on one day, and I summarized the book this way. I wrote, nice story, but isn't it against God's instructions for Boaz to marry a Moabite? Yet she and he become the genealogy of David and Jesus. In 2011, I was reading the whole Bible in a year. So I was reading Old Testament passages and New Testament passages each day. So on this day, I read all the chapters of Ruth, and I read some passages out of Luke. Concerning Ruth, I wrote... Interesting that this story is about a Jewish man marrying a Moabite woman, which I thought was prohibited by the law, and that this union is blessed by God as the lineage of King David and the ancestor of Jesus himself. The story also shows God's sovereignty and reward for faithfulness. Ruth to Naomi. The story of Ruth begins with a Jewish family. Eli Melech and his wife Naomi were from Bethlehem and the tribe of Judah. They have two sons, but then Naomi's husband dies. The two sons took Moabite wives. I mentioned in my journal that I thought that was against the law of God. So let me read my ESV Study Bible footnote concerning this. Ruth's husband was Malan. There was no formal prohibition against marrying Moabites. However, marriage to Moabites was discouraged because of their commitment to other gods, such as Moloch, the Balaam debacle, Israel's debauchery with Moabite women in the wilderness, and the ten-generation Moabite male exclusion from the assembly of the Lord. So, I guess I learned something here, and that's that it's not prohibited. It was just discouraged to marry a Moabite. The two sons of Naomi both die, leaving the Moabite women without husbands. Naomi, the mother of the two sons, now intends to return to her homeland of Judah. Naomi graciously frees her daughters-in-law to go back to their homelands as well. But Ruth refuses to do so. Ruth demonstrates incredible loyalty to Naomi, her mother-in-law. In verse 16, the word says, Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also, if anything but death parts me from you. Naomi and Ruth returned to the city of Bethlehem, and the whole town is stirred up because of them. It had probably been many years since Naomi was in Bethlehem, so maybe they were excited to see her again. Or maybe they were concerned because she left with a husband, and she came back without one. Anyway, it was a reunion, and the whole town was stirred up. She left with the name Naomi, but now she calls herself Mara, which means bitter. Naomi is bitter because God has taken away her husband and her two sons. She returns desolate, childless, and as a widow. She has suffered, and she probably thinks her suffering is some kind of condemnation from God for some sin that she is unaware of. But this is not the end of the story of the book of Ruth, only the beginning. Maybe like Naomi, you think you've been dealt a bitter hand from the Lord. Maybe you've suffered greatly. Maybe you've lost members of your family. Maybe you've been divorced. Maybe you're suffering under a health issue. Maybe you've lost your job. Maybe, like Naomi, you feel bitter against God. But again, this is only chapter 1 of the book of Ruth. So let's see what God does with Naomi's bitterness. It may give you hope for your own bitterness. Father, we thank you for the opening chapter of the book of Ruth. The scene is set, a scene of bitterness, disappointment, like many of us may feel from time to time in our lives. We look forward to what you might teach us in the book of Ruth that may soften our own bitterness toward you. Life doesn't always turn out the way we want it, but that doesn't mean it doesn't turn out the way God wants it. Teach us, Lord, to hang in there with you, even if life gets bitter or difficult, even when it doesn't turn out the way we think it should. Teach us sovereignty through your word. For it's in Jesus' name we ask it. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. To support AdBible, visit EzraProject.net, the donate button. For a one-time gift of $39 or more, we will send you a free copy of one of our day-by-day through the Bible books. And for a gift of $100 a month, we will send you the entire 11-volume series covering all 66 books of the Bible chapter by chapter. You will get a book a month for the first 11 months of your $100 a month contribution. So support the Ezra Project today by going online and hitting the donate button at EzraProject.net.
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The ESV Bible, the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, ESV, text edition 2007, all rights reserved. English Standard Version, ESV, and the ESV logo are registered trademarks of Good News Publishers, used by permission.
In this episode of Add Bible, we delve into Ruth chapter 2, unraveling the providential encounters that define Ruth's journey with Naomi and Boaz. As Ruth commits herself to gleaning in Boaz's fields, we witness the unfolding of God's sovereign plans through acts of kindness and favor. Listen as we explore the deeper meanings behind Ruth's humble resilience and Boaz's generous spirit, reflecting on how these biblical narratives echo in our contemporary lives.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. We join Alan J. Huth as he shares Bible passages and comments from over 30 years of his personal Bible reading journals.
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Today we are in Ruth chapter 2. Listen to Faith Comes by Hearing's reading of the 23 verses of Ruth 2. Ruth 2
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Now Naomi had a relative of her husband's, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
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And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her,
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Go, my daughter. So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem, and he said to the reapers, The Lord be with you. And they answered, The Lord bless you. Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, Whose young woman is this?
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And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, She is the young Moabite woman who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. She said, Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers. So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.
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Then Boaz said to Ruth, Now listen, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.
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Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner? But Boaz answered her,
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All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.
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Then she said, I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.
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And at mealtime Boaz said to her, Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.
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So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain, and she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over.
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When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, Let her glean, even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her, and also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.
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so she gleaned in the field until evening then she beat out what she had gleaned and it was about an ephah of barley and she took it up and went into the city her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned she also brought out and gave her what food she had left over after being satisfied and her mother-in-law said to her
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Where did you clean today and where have you worked? Blessed be the man who took notice of you.
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So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, The man's name with whom I worked today is Boaz.
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And Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, May he be blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead. Naomi also said to her, The man is a close relative of ours, one of our redeemers.
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And Ruth the Moabite said, Besides, he said to me, You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished all my harvest. And Naomi said to Ruth, her daughter-in-law,
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It is good, my daughter, that you go out with his young women, lest in another field you be assaulted.
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So she kept close to the young women of Boaz, cleaning until the end of the barley and wheat harvests. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
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At 28 years old, in 1983, when I read Ruth chapter 2, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, Ruth gleans grain in the field of Boaz. Boaz rewards Ruth for generosity toward Naomi. Two acts of kindness, Ruth and her concern for Naomi, and Boaz and his treatment of Ruth. At 42 years old in 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament that year, and I read all of Ruth on one day, and I summarized that in the podcast concerning chapter 1, so we move on to 2011. At 56 years old in 2011, I was reading the whole Bible that year, so I was reading Old and New Testament passages on the same day, and I read all of the book of Ruth on the same day, and I again summarized that in chapter 1. Before I get into the book of Ruth, chapter 2, I do want to make a comment about these Bible reading journals. You'll notice I read the Bible differently many years. In 1983, I read Ruth chapter by chapter. In 1997, I was reading the whole Old Testament. And in 2011, I was reading the whole Bible. I share those things so that you too can alter the way you read the Bible. To keep life in your Bible reading, you don't need to read the Bible the same way each year. So here in my journey through the book of Ruth over various years and various decades, you can see already three different ways to read the Bible. Chapter by chapter, read just the Old Testament or just the New Testament, or read the whole Bible. I encourage you to try all three methods. Now let's look at Ruth chapter 2. In chapter 1, Naomi and Ruth show up in Bethlehem. Ruth goes right to work, getting a job gleaning in the field so that they can have something to eat. Verse 3 says she happens to show up in the field belonging to Boaz. Do we really believe that, that she just happened to show up there? Right here in chapter 2, we begin to see God orchestrating his sovereignty in the life of Boaz, the life of Ruth, and the life of Naomi, though they may not know it at all. Boaz obviously takes notice of Ruth. Maybe it was because she was new in town. Maybe it was because she was attractive. Maybe it was just because there was a woman in his field and he wanted to know who she was. Or maybe it's because it was ordained by God. Boaz takes special interest in her and gives her great favor in his fields. He even instructs his young men not to lay a hand on her. Ruth illustrates her humble spirit. Verse 10, She fell on her face bowing to the ground and said to him, Why have I found favor in your eyes that you should take notice of me since I am a foreigner? The story of Ruth's love and care for her mother-in-law, Naomi, had obviously reached Boaz's ears. He says in verse 11, All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me. So Ruth's reputation has already preceded her in Bethlehem. What would be told of you? What do people see in your behavior? Are you acting in such a way that people would take notice of you? Ruth has showed up in town, and her behavior is being observed by many. Boaz goes the next step. He instructs his young men to treat her with even more favor. Verse 16, And also pull out some from the bundles for her, and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her. Boaz is making sure that Ruth has enough for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. I mentioned in my journal back in 1983 two acts of kindness, Ruth and her concern for Naomi and Boaz and his treatment of Ruth. the practical application of ruth chapter two may be this regardless of your circumstances make the best of it get to work do the best you can and watch god work ruth did so gleaning from early morning all day with just a short rest Next, she fell on her face and bowed down to the ground when she met Boaz, illustrating a spirit of humility and gratefulness. Then she even saved some of her meal for her mother-in-law, Naomi. Yes, even in difficult circumstances, let your light shine before men. And maybe you're on the other end of the stick like Boaz is. Maybe you can provide kindness to someone today. Someone who doesn't have everything you have. Someone who may be suffering under a difficult circumstance right now. Maybe you could be a provider for such a person today. Father, we thank you for the acts of kindness that we see in Ruth chapter 2. Oh, our world needs kindness today. Help us, Lord, as Christians. Look around our world and see where we can be kind to someone today. And as we do, may we understand that you are working around us in our lives. You are sovereign. And you can provide a blessing, even under new or difficult circumstances. To God be the glory. In your name we pray. Amen. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We'll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don't want to follow the AdBible radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I've attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I've used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you're going to enjoy it.
Join us as we delve into Job 42, the final chapter that wraps up our 30-day venture through the compelling story of Job. Witness the restoration of Job's fortune and the renewal of his life after unspeakable trials. Job's sparking repentance and acknowledgment of God's sovereignty serve as eternal lessons for us to remain steadfast in our own life challenges. As we explore reflections from over three decades of journaling, gain valuable insights into maintaining faith and trust in the divine, even when life's trials feel insurmountable.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today we reach Job chapter 42, the last chapter of the book of Job, and the last of our 30-day adventure through this book. We'll see Job respond to God one more time, we'll see God speak, and we'll see God restore everything to Job. Let's listen in to the last chapter of the book of Job, chapter 42. Job 42
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Then Job answered the Lord and said, I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know. Hear and I will speak. I will question you and you make it known to me. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
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After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
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My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has. Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly." for you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has.
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So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the Lord had told them. And the Lord accepted Job's prayer. And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first daughter, Jemima, and the name of the second, Keziah, and the name of the third, Karenhapik. And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. And after this Job lived 140 years and saw his sons and his sons' sons four generations. And Job died an old man and full of days.
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We'll take a look for the last time at those journals I've been using through the book of Job. We'll begin with 1984 as I finished the book of Job with chapters 41 and 42. And I wrote, Job repents. God restores him. 41.11 says, Who has given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. And 42.2 says, I know that thou can do all things. Thirteen years later, in 1997, I finished the book of Job. With chapters 35 through 42 on the last day, I wrote, God speaks to Job and his friends. Prepare yourself like a man. I will question you and you shall answer me. God puts Job in perspective. He never ever addresses Job's issues but declares his sovereignty. Everything under heaven is mine. When Job has a chance to answer, he laid his hand over his mouth. I will not answer. There is no answer or question to God. He simply repented for ever questioning God. Lord, forgive me for whining or ever questioning you. Give me strength to live in your sovereignty. And 18 years later, in 2015, I finished the book of Job by reading chapters 40 through 42 on the same day. And I wrote, God calls those who question him fault finders. Job desired, waited for the opportunity to present his case before God. He now has the chance to do so and he says nothing. We are so small before God, our articulation is babbling. Doubtful if any of us are going to question God or present our futile case before him. God never answers Job. He never explains what happened to Job. He reminds Job of how big he is. Job responds, God restores the fortunes of Job. after he prayed for his friends. Job lives 140 years, so his suffering may have been a very short trial in his life. How am I handling my trials? In this last chapter of the book of Job, Job does speak to God. Let's go back and see what he had to say. In verse 2, I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. In verse 3, he says, Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job never argues his case before God, does he? Nor will we. Job understands he has no case before God, nor do we. So Job never does understand what happened back in chapter 1, in the book that carries his own name. God does not need to explain himself. After Job successfully faces his trial, this test from God Almighty, Then the Lord restores everything back to Job. Verse 10, And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Verse 12, And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. Verse 16, And after this Job lived 140 years. And verse 17, And Job died an old man and full of days. Notice too, the restoration of Job only came after he was restored to his friends. He had to pray for them, and God said he would hear that prayer from Job. How do you feel after completing the book of Job? Do you feel a little let down that God never tells Job what really happened? Do you feel challenged by your own personal trials and how Job was handled his and he remained faithful? And are you questioning whether you can remain faithful during the trial that God has you in? Or do you feel like you're on the way out of a trial and that you will be restored? Has Job helped build your faith and trust in God? Do you feel sorry for your questioning of God through your life? And do you feel like repenting? Like Job did. Again, look at verse 6. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job repented. Do you need to? When we started Job, we said the theme of Job is can God be trusted? It responds to our heart's desire to question God, to wonder about our faith in a sovereign God when things don't appear to be going right. We said Job questioned God, but while demonstrating unshakable faith... Has our journey through Job given you unshakable faith? Let's close out our journey through the book of Job in prayer. Father, we thank you for this book, a book of despair, a book of trial, a book of trouble, a recap of a life much like our own. Job suffered. He lost it all, but his faith never wavered. As you put us through the tests of life, may we be like Job. May our faith never waver. Thank you for strengthening us through this book. Thank you for reminding us the trials will come in our lives. Thank you for reminding us of who you are. You're bigger than any trial we will ever face. And thank you for the promise of restoration. You restored Job. May you restore us as well. Thank you for the lessons of life in the book of Job. Holy Spirit, apply them to each of our journeys. as we continue our sojourn on the earth. Job had many more years to live after this trial. We may too. So thank you for the promise of restoring us. We give you all the praise and the glory. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. Our radio programming is set for 2025. We will cover 44 of the 66 books of the Bible using the Ezra Project day by day through the Bible 11 book series. We start at January 1 with the writings of the Old Testament historical books beginning with Job. We will cover seven more historical books until spring when we jump into the New Testament writings of Mark, Peter, James, Jude, and Hebrews. By summer, we will go back to the Old Testament writings of all 13 of the minor prophets. We'll finish 2025 with the writings of Paul. Maybe you don't want to follow the Ad Bible Radio programming in your daily quiet time. Okay, I offer you an alternative plan. Read the Bible chronologically starting any day you want. The Bible is not organized the way things occurred. You can order an Ezra Project Chronological Bible Reading Journal and experience an amazing journey through the Bible in the order things actually occurred. The first time I read the Bible chronologically, it was an aha experience. While reading Kings and Chronicles, I read the prophets who were alive at the time. In the New Testament, you read about a miracle or a parable by all four gospel writers on the same day. It was a very educational and inspiring way to read the Bible. One user said this about our chronological Bible reading journal. Some years ago, I used a couple of spiral notebooks for my journaling. I've attached pictures of the book, the first edition of the Ezra Project Bible Reading Chronological Journal. That was the picture he sent. I live in Phoenix now, and I cannot find any place that has this type of journal. I've used many types of journals recently, but this seems to work the best for my needs. Please let me know if these are still available. Yes, they are. In fact, it is our number one best-selling product of all time. Visit azureproject.net and order a chronological Bible reading journal today and start your chronological journey through the Bible. I know you're going to enjoy it and want to share it with others. To support AddBible, visit EzraProject.net, the donate button. For a one-time gift of $39 or more, we will send you a free copy of one of our day-by-day through the Bible books. And for a gift of $100 a month, we will send you the entire 11-volume series covering all 66 books of the Bible, chapter by chapter. You will get a book a month for the first 11 months of your $100 a month contribution. So support the Ezra Project today by going online and hitting the donate button at ezraproject.net.
Join us as we journey through the book of Job, where God questions Job, inviting him to respond. Job’s remarkable decision to remain silent speaks volumes about humility before the divine. This episode provides a commentary on the beauty of recognizing our small place in the universe compared to God’s vastness. We also discuss the benefits of Bible journaling, which offers a new perspective on scripture reading and a way to cultivate a closer relationship with God through reflective writing.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today in Job chapter 40, God calls Job a fault finder. He invites Job to respond. Job wisely responds. chooses silence, and God continues to speak. So let's listen to Job chapters 40 and 41.
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Job 40 And the Lord said to Job, Shall a fault-finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.
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Then Job answered the Lord and said, Behold, I am of small account.
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What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer. Twice, but I will proceed no further.
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Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Dress for action like a man.
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I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like His? Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity. Clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together. Bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. Behold behemoth. which I made as I made you. He eats grass like an ox. Behold his strength in his loins and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together. His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. He is the first of the works of God. Let him who made him bring near his sword." For the mountains yield food for him where all the wild beasts play. Under the lotus plants he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. For his shade, the lotus trees cover him. The willows of the brooks surround him. Behold, if the river is turbulent, he is not frightened. He is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth. Can one take him by his eyes or pierce his nose with a snare? Job 41. Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook or press down his tongue with a cord? Can you put a rope in his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many pleas to you? Will he speak to you soft words? Will he make a covenant with you to take him for your servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you put him on a leash for your girls? Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hands on him. Remember the battle. You will not do it again. Behold, the hope of a man is false. He is laid low even at the sight of him. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame. Who can strip off his outer garment? Who would come near him with a bridle? Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror. His back is made of rows of shields, shut up closely as with a seal. One is so near to another that no air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they clasp each other and cannot be separated. His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the dawn. Out of his mouth go flaming torches, sparks of fire leap forth. Out of his nostrils comes forth smoke, as from a boiling pot in burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame comes forth from his mouth. In his neck abide strength, and terror dances before him. The folds of his flesh stick together, firmly cast on him and immovable. His heart is hard as a stone, hard as the lower millstone. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid at the crashing they are beside themselves. Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin. He counts iron as straw and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee. For him sling stones are turned to stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rattle of javelins. His underparts are like shark pot shirts. He spreads himself like a threshing sledge on the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. Behind him he leaves a shining wake. One would think the deep to be white-haired. On earth there is not his like, a creature without fear. He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride.
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In 1984, at 29 years old, I read Job 39 and 40 on one day and 41 and 42 on the second day. Concerning chapters 40 and 41, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, God continues lecture to Job. He gives Job opportunity to respond. Job declares, Behold, I am insignificant. What can I reply to thee? Praise God Almighty. And to those who won't believe, I referred to chapter 40, verse 8. Will you condemn me that you might be justified? Related to chapter 41, I wrote concerning verse 11. Who has given to me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole earth is mine. In 1997, at 42 years old, I read Job 35 through 42 on the same day. And concerning chapters 40 and 41, I wrote, Everything under heaven is mine. And I was referring to verse 11 of chapter 41. I continue to write, When Job has a chance to answer, he laid his hand over his mouth. I will not answer. There is no answer or question to God. In 2015, at 60 years old, I read Job 40 through 42 on the same day. Concerning chapter 40 and 41, I wrote, God calls those who question him fault finders. Job desired. He waited for the opportunity to present his case before God. He now has the chance to do so, and he says nothing. We are so small before God, our articulation is babbling. Doubtful any of us are going to question God or present our futile case before him. I continue to write, God never answers Job. He never explains what happened to Job. He reminds Job of how big he is. Chapter 40 opens with this question to Job from God himself. Shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it. Are you a fault finder? Do you find fault with God? Do you question him? Do you question how he's been treating your life? Do you really want to contend with God Almighty? Job answers very wisely. Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. Friends, I think we forget who God is. We think we have equality with God or we think we have standing with God. We might have an image of him of being five foot eight coming on a white horse someday. No, that is not the picture of God we're seeing in these last few chapters of Job. I hope all of us get the practical application out of these last few chapters that God is God. He is mighty. He is all-powerful. He is uncomprehendable. And we are of small account before Almighty God. God reminds Job and he reminds us in verse 8, Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Oh, if you've ever done that, plead for God's forgiveness. He is God. We are not. He is our Creator. We are His creation. Another application from this chapter is may we lay our hand over our mouths. May we refrain from criticizing God, questioning God, even cursing God. And lastly, may we comprehend, may we understand the sovereignty of God. Whatever is happening in our lives can work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. That's Romans 8, 28. So my prayer as we finish out the book of Job is that we have not been hearers only, but doers. We can apply these very principles we're learning to our lives. We can live better because we've been in the book of Job. But we're not finished. In chapter 42, the last chapter, Job has another chance to answer God. So we look forward to the wonderful concluding chapter of the book of Job. Father, we bow our heads and our hearts humbly before you. We thank you for reminding us of who you are and who we are in you. Lord, we bend the knee. We bow our heads and our hearts and simply praise and worship you. We lay our hand over our mouths in silence. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. You have probably noticed I refer to my personal Bible reading journals in AdBible. I took an honors English class in high school and learned about journaling. I kept a journal in high school probably related to that class, and then I quit. For some reason, I started journaling my Bible reading about 10 years later. I don't know why I decided to journal my Bible reading, but my first journal is dated 1983. Back then, I bought spiral-bound notebooks from a retail store. Nothing fancy. But when I started the Ezra Project, I decided to publish Bible reading journals. You can find two of them on our website at ezraproject.net. Why journal? It will change the way you read the Bible. If you struggle with your daily quiet time, try it. If you know you're going to write something down after you read, you will pay more attention to what you're reading. It can be as simple as your favorite verse in the passage or the major point you got out of the passage. You decide. It's your journal. And it's not a personal journal. It's a Bible reading journal. So you shouldn't have to worry about someone finding it and reading it. I wanted to print a bumper sticker once called Real Men Journal. I figured it would look good on the back of the pickup trucks. Well, you know, I never printed it because I knew it wouldn't sell. But get an Ezra Project Bible reading journal at EzraProject.net. I know you're going to enjoy it.
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And want to share it with others.
In this gripping episode of Add Bible, we continue our exploration into the book of Job on day 28 of our spiritual journey. After a prolonged dialogue between Job and his friends, the narrative takes a transformative turn as we finally hear God speak from the whirlwind. This powerful encounter between the divine and the human captures the magnitude of God’s sovereignty and wisdom, raising profound questions about the nature of creation and our place within it.
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Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
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Today is day 28 in our 30-day journey through the book of Job. Today, after 37 chapters of Job and his friends conversing with each other, God is going to speak. We're going to listen. The faith comes by our hearing's recording of chapters 38 and 39 as the Lord speaks from the whirlwind.
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Job 38 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man. I will question you, and you make it known to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understandings. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know. Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk? or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy, or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, Thus far shall you come and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed. Have you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the dawn to know its place that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld and their uplifted arm is broken. Have you entered into the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare if you know all this. Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And where is the place of darkness that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for you were born then and the number of your days is great. Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt? To bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man. To satisfy the waste in desolate land and to make the ground sprout with grass. Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth? And who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Maserath in their season, or can you guide the bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings that they may go and say to you, Here we are? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the water skins of the heavens when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together? Can you hunt the prey for the lion? Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket? Who provides for the raven its prey when its young ones cry to God for help and wander about for lack of food? Job 39 Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does? Can you number the months that they fulfill? And do you know the time when they give birth, when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young? Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open. They go out and do not return to them. Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey, to whom I have given the arid plain for his home and the salt land for his dwelling place? He scorns the tumult of the city. He hears not the shouts of the driver. He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing. Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger? Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes? Or will he harrow the valleys after you? Will you depend on him because his strength is great? And will you leave to him your labor? Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor? The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. She deals cruelly with her young as if they were not hers. Though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider. Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane? Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying. He paws in the valley and exults in his strength. He goes out to meet the weapons. He laughs at fear and is not dismayed. He does not turn back from the sword. Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear and the javelin. With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground. He cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says, Aha! He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains and the shouting. Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold. From there he spies out the prey, his eyes behold it from far away. His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he.
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In 1984, I read Job 35 through 38 on the same day. And concerning chapter 38, I wrote, God speaks to Job. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? God points out the smallness of man and the bigness of God. Praise God for his sovereignty. He was, is, and will remain in control. In 1997, I read Job 35-42 on the same day, and I wrote, God speaks to Job and his friends. Prepare yourself like a man. I will question you, and you shall answer me. God puts Job in perspective. He never even addresses Job's issues, but declares his sovereignty. And in 2015, I read Job 38 and 39 on the same day, and I wrote, God speaks. He answers Job out of a whirlwind. Well, rather than answer Job, he questions him. We think we're going to question God when we get to heaven. I don't think so. God reminds us, He is the Creator, not evolution. Does 38.22-23 refer to end times? And I put a parenthesis around Revelation 16.21. I continue to write, God also reminds us, He, not us, is the author of wisdom and understanding. Beyond the fact that God created the heavens and the earth, He made it clear He also governs the created. As God does, He raises the level of conversation way above our personal agenda. That ends my journal entries. Let's take a look at Job 38 and 39. The very first verse of 38 says, Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. Then he declares, I will question you. I mentioned in one of my journals, some of us think we're going to have a few questions for God when we get to heaven. As I said then, I don't think so. The questions that God asks Job are unanswerable. I said in another one of my journals, God raises the level of conversation beyond our personal agenda. None of God's response in chapters 38 and 39 have anything to do with what Job is going through. God reminds Job and his friends, and he reminds us, he is God. He is the creator and controller of all things. For 37 chapters, Job longed to plead his case before God. Now he has an audience before God Almighty. What do you think he thinks now? We're going to find out in the next chapter. Our practical application from Job 38 and 39 is forget about questioning God. Forget about how you've been treated on your sojourn on the earth. Forget about what you think is fair or unfair. Bend the knee. Bow your heart to the God of the universe. Honor him with all your heart, soul, mind, and spirit. And maybe he will spare us questioning us when we get to his throne room. Father, we thank you that you do answer us. like you are answering Job here in these chapters. We pray, Lord, that we could even have some level of comprehension of who you are and when you answer us what it really means. Lord, thank you for putting sovereignty and perspective in these two chapters. Thank you for reminding us to set our personal agenda aside. Thank you for reminding us who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind. Any understanding we have, any wisdom we have, comes from you. To God be the glory. Great things you have done. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. After listening to AdBible, you may wish members of your family or friends would find a personal relationship with Jesus like you have. But we know most Christians have never shared their faith with anyone else. In fact, it's about 95% of us. Maybe you want to, but you just don't know how. I was not very good at it either, but I had a desire to get better at it. Maybe you do too. Check out our teaching on how to share your faith without a fight at EzraProject.net. Sharing our faith is not a gift some have and some don't. It's a command to go and make disciples. Learn how to do it, or at least give it a try. Visit EzraProject.net. Find how to share your faith without a fight. I know you're going to enjoy it.
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And want to share it with others.
