Menu
Join us as Alan J. Huth shares his personal reflections on the principles found in Matthew 18. From the story of childlike faith to the necessity of avoiding temptation, Alan navigates through each verse with thoughtfulness. We also hear a heartfelt testimony of how a near-death experience awakened a lifelong commitment to daily Bible reading and living a purpose-driven life.
SPEAKER 01 :
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.
SPEAKER 05 :
Today we are in Matthew chapter 18. We'll listen to Faith Comes by Hearing's recording of the 35 verses of Matthew 18. Matthew 18
SPEAKER 04 :
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
SPEAKER 03 :
And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin... It would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world for temptations to sin, for it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes. And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire." And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire. See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector." Truly I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. Then Peter came up and said to him,
SPEAKER 02 :
Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?
SPEAKER 03 :
Jesus said to him, I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold with his wife and children and all that he had in payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, "'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'" And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. And seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, Pay what you owe. So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, Have patience with me, and I will pay you. He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.
SPEAKER 05 :
Chapter 18 opens with the story about childlike faith. And I think I have childlike faith. But then when I thought about it, I thought, what does it even mean? Childlike faith is when a child jumps off of the monkey bars into a parent's arms. She doesn't even think about it, and that's because she trusts the parent. I also think of the bright, wide-open, innocent eyes of a child when hearing a story or seeing something new and simply believing. And then I think about childlike faith, that they try new adventures because they have not yet been discouraged or jaded with failure. So what I mean by childlike faith is that I trust. I trust in the Lord. I believe. And I trust and I believe even after discouragement or failure. The next principle of the chapter is that temptation is necessary. Now, I don't want to believe that, but that's what verse 7 says. For it is necessary that temptation come. But the next two verses remind me that I am to avoid temptation as best as I can, because temptation can lead to sin and sin to hell of fire. Now let's look at verse 10. It says, Now, I don't know what you think about children having guardian angels, but this verse gives a lot of credence to that, doesn't it? Again, it does say, See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. And isn't it cool that our angels always have God's attention? I also hope that I never grow out of my guardian angel, that it's not just when I'm a child, but that I also still have angels watching over me this day, and that they have direct access to God Almighty in heaven. In my journal in 2016, I wrote about the next section in this chapter. I titled it, Sin Correction. And I wrote four steps. Step one, go tell him alone. Step two, take one or two others. Step three, tell it to the church. Step four, if there's still no reconciliation or no repentance or no forgiveness, break fellowship. Is this how we handle sin today? Do we go tell that person alone or share with that person? And if that doesn't work, then do we take a few others and go visit with them? And if that doesn't work, do we get the church involved? Or do we just gossip about it through, quote, prayer requests? Hey, we need to pray for so-and-so and then share the story. And next comes this great verse, verse 20. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them. And what does that tell us? It tells us we ought not be lone ranger Christians. We need to be in fellowship, which means being in the church, which means maybe being in a small group, which means having a core of Christian friends around us that we can gather and pray for one another. But it means don't be a Lone Ranger Christian. And the chapter closes with forgiveness. In my journal in 2007, I wrote about this passage. We also need to forgive and be forgiving. People will stumble and cause others to stumble. So be forgiving. We will also stumble and cause others to as well. And we need forgiveness too. I have been forgiven a debt I cannot pay by Jesus, so forgive others. And I followed those entries with a listing of my prayer that day. Help me resist temptation. Keep me from falling. Help me be forgiving. Father, thank you for forgiving me more times than I deserve. And therefore, by that pattern, I too am to forgive others more times than maybe I think they deserve. Your forgiveness is unlimited. May mine be also unlimited. Also, Lord, lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. You might wonder how I became a daily Bible reader. When I was 15 years old, a buddy and me stole his father's car. We could steal his father's car because his father was in Vietnam, serving in the war. So he was never home. So we took the car that day. Neither one of us with a driver's license. And we took off out east of Colorado Springs on a dirt road. We were flying down this dirt road at 60 miles an hour. And he lost control of the car. We began to spin, and we were going down the road, fishtailing, and he spun the wheel of the car 60 miles an hour. The car tumbled, crushed the top, tucked the wheels under, totaled the car. I was on a dirt road. I don't know if I was thrown out of the car or crawled out of the car, but I looked at that car, and I thought, am I even alive? Am I broken? Am I bleeding everywhere? And I began to pat myself down, and I felt like I was okay. So I stood up, and I was uninjured, amazingly. The sheriff came to draw up the accident. He said, it's a miracle you guys are alive. I got home that night, went down into my bedroom. My mother came to me and said, you ought to thank God you're alive. I was laying on my bed, and I was thinking about the day's activities, and I just thought, wow, I could have been dead today. I wasn't the driver. I was the passenger. I wasn't in control, but God was. At that moment, I figured out at 15 years old, God could take my life any time. He could have that day. So as I laid there, I thought, okay, you could take my life any day. So you saved my life today for a reason. For whatever reason that is, I'm going to live for you and that reason. As I said that, I heard a voice say to me, there's a Bible on your bookshelf. Get it down and read it. I must have heard something, because I got up, I went over to the bookshelf, and I pulled down a Bible. I opened it to the first page, just like I would any other book, and I began to read God's Word. I read Genesis chapter 1. The next day I read Genesis chapter 2. The next day I read Genesis chapter 3. And a chapter a day, I began to read God's Word at 15 years old. If you do that, by the way, it'll take you about three and a half years to finish reading the Bible a chapter a day. And that's a good plan. So that's how I became a daily Bible reader. And when I finished going through the Bible the first time, at 18 years or so, I just started over because I thought that's what Christians did was read their Bibles every day. So that's how I became a daily Bible reader.
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.
SPEAKER 01 :
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.
SPEAKER 02 :
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
SPEAKER 04 :
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.
SPEAKER 05 :
After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
SPEAKER 03 :
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.
SPEAKER 05 :
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.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
SPEAKER 01 :
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.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
SPEAKER 04 :
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.
SPEAKER 05 :
Then Job answered the Lord and said, Behold, I am of small account.
SPEAKER 03 :
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.
SPEAKER 05 :
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Dress for action like a man.
SPEAKER 04 :
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.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
SPEAKER 03 :
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.
SPEAKER 01 :
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.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
SPEAKER 03 :
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.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
SPEAKER 03 :
And want to share it with others.
Join Alan J. Huth as he reflects on Elihu's speeches in Job chapters 36 and 37. Through his personal Bible reading journals, Alan examines the themes of divine justice, majesty, and the humility required to truly understand God's commands. This episode invites us to pause and recognize the profound beauty and order within God's creation, encouraging a deep respect and fear for the Almighty. Amidst personal reflections and scriptural insights, we find a moment to praise and acknowledge the wonders of God.
SPEAKER 01 :
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.
SPEAKER 03 :
Today in Job chapters 36 and 37, the young man Elihu extols God's greatness and proclaims God's majesty. These are his final words before the Lord himself speaks in chapter 38. We can't wait, right? But until then, let's listen to Elihu in chapters 36 and 37. Job 36
SPEAKER 02 :
And Elihu continued and said, Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar, and ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly, my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Behold, God is mighty and does not despise any. He is mighty in strength of understanding. He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right. He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted. And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction, then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly." He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity. If they listen and serve Him, they complete their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness. But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge. The godless in heart cherish anger. They do not cry for help when he binds them. They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes. He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity. He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping and what was set on your table was full of fatness. But you are full of the judgment on the wicked. Judgment and justice seize you. Beware, lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength? Do not long for the night when peoples vanish in their place. Take care, do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction." Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed for him his way? Or who can say, You have done wrong? Remember to extol his work of which men have sung. All mankind has looked on it. Man beholds it from afar. Behold, God is great, and we know him not. The number of his years is unsearchable." For he draws up the drops of water, they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? Behold, he scatters his lightning about him, and covers the roots of the sea. For by these he judges peoples, he gives food in abundance. He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. Its crashing declares his presence. The cattle also declare that he rises. At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place. Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth. After it, his voice roars. He thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with his voice. He does great things that we cannot comprehend. For to the snow he says, Fall on the earth. Likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man that all men whom he made may know it. Then the beasts go into their lairs and remain in their dens. From its chamber comes the whirlwind and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God, ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture. The clouds scatter his lightning. They turn around and around by his guidance to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen. Hear this, O Job, stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge? You whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind, can you, like him, spread out the skies hard as a cast metal mirror?" Teach us what we shall say to him. We cannot draw up our case because of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them. Out of the north comes golden splendor. God is clothed with awesome majesty. The Almighty, we cannot find him. He is great in power. Justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore, men fear him. He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.
SPEAKER 03 :
Back in 1984, in that second journal I ever wrote, I read Job chapters 35 through 38 on the same day, and I wrote, Elihu finishes mouthing off. And jumping 21 years later, when I read Job 36 and 37 in 2015, I wrote, Elihu now speaks on God's behalf, 36, 2 through 3, claiming to have perfect knowledge, 36, 4. Really? God blesses the righteous and binds up the wicked. He once blessed Job, but now afflicts him. Elihu honors God, 36, 26, and proclaims his majesty. we all agree thirty seven fourteen and twenty three he concludes with he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit thirty seven twenty four an accusation of job's position For the most part, I think we would agree with what Elihu had to say in these two chapters. He believes he's a spokesman for God himself. Let's look at the opening verses of 36. Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf. I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker, for truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. That may be some of that pride we saw earlier in Elihu, or it might be that he absolutely believes he's speaking on God's behalf. I turn to my footnote in my English Standard Version Study Bible concerning these verses. Elihu presents his final speech as something offered on God's behalf, emphasizing that unlike Job, he has understanding that comes from outside himself, and that he is perfect in knowledge, something he will later ascribe also to God in 37.16. Again, he seems more arrogant than he realizes, as young men sometimes do. even so in possibly his youthful arrogance he seems to have a pretty good grasp of god thirty six five behold god is mighty and does not despise any he is mighty in strength of understanding thirty six seven he does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous thirty six twenty two behold god is exalted in his power who is a teacher like him 36.26. Behold, God is great, and we know him not. The number of his years is unsearchable. He equates God's voice to thunder.
SPEAKER 1 :
37.2.
SPEAKER 03 :
Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He attributes thunder and lightning and rainstorms and snow all to the majesty of God. And we would agree. And from 37, 14 on, he challenges Job, do you really know God? He claims no one can understand the wondrous works of God Almighty. And again, we probably would agree. Verse 14, consider the wondrous works of God. Verse 15, do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancing of the clouds? Verse 18, can you like him spread out the skies? And finally, the majesty of God in the last couple of verses. Out of the north comes gold and splendor. God is clothed with awesome majesty, the Almighty. We cannot find him. He is great in power, justice, and abundant righteousness. He will not violate. Yes, Elihu, we agree. And he closes with this, therefore men fear him. Hallelujah. Yes, we should have fear, a healthy respect for this majestic God. And then he lays that last claim before Job once again. He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. That may be true, but that's not Job's problem, as we're going to find out in the last few chapters of this book. Friends, my prayer every time I record an Ad Bible episode is that you hear from God and not from me. I pray for God's anointing. But I would never claim, as Elihu did, for truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you. Far from that. Yet I do hope that I have something to say on God's behalf. I hope even through these chapters that we gain a healthy understanding of the majesty of God. Reading the Bible, listening to the Bible, always helps us understand God more. Even through the words of Elihu, that is true in these chapters. Our application is this. Today, take a moment to consider the wondrous works of God. Today, look up to heaven. Look at the majesty of creation, whether it's the sun shining, the rain pouring, the snow falling, or the ice melting. All of it comes from the hand of our Almighty God. Stop and consider the wondrous works of God today. Father, you deserve all the glory, all the majesty, all the praise, all the worship we can muster. We offer it to you. Amen. As you consume the news of our day-to-day, you may become hopeless. So visit EzraProject.net and read Living in Goshen. It will brighten your countenance and renew your trust in God. Even as plagues rain down all around us, you can live in Goshen and not be affected. Visit EzraProject.net and read Living in Goshen today. I know you're going to enjoy it and want to share it with others.
