Our Responsibility, His Provision
"Then Adonai answered Iyov" (Job) "out of the STORM". (CJB Job 38, caps added) We love to go from here and take it to the heights of God doing everything and the hope that HE will do...everything. However, this is the beginning of a confrontation with Job and his friends who stood by accusing him. God was letting Job know, Job is not God, but God is God and these things have not escaped His notice. Job had undoubtedly gone through alot and much more than most I know. However as you read the testimony of Job you will see endurance, trust, submission, frustration and searching not to mention a final desperation for an answer. By the end of the confrontation where God asked Job many questions to "enlighten" him and challenge all Job's knowledge, wisdom and understanding, Job came to a place of repentance, acknowledging 5 chapter later that "I know that you can do everything, that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" and in verse 6 he repents.
In retrospect of the Word of God Jezebel was an evil woman. Possibly the most evil woman in the world---ever. God even said in Revelation that He gave Jezebel time to REPENT but she was not willing. It was not her evilness that condemned her, but her unwillingness to REPENT. Job was willing and then followed through with repentance and fruit in keeping with it. Jezebel was not at all willing. Which one are you? After Job repented was when he got the "double for your trouble", however Jezebel received separation from God and nothing. One of the main definitions of repent is, "to make a WILLING purpose to AMEND....AND....TURN from sin". Perhaps we/you have done the turning but not the amending and you must ask yourself as we all must, are we "willing" to complete repentance and keep fruit for it? Are you "willing" to not only turn, but to amend? Only you can answer that...in your repentance. And to what must we repent as another definition is to "retreat to safety"? The ONLY place there is safety from the condemnation and sin is at the feet of Jesus...on the cross. He shed his own blood...for us...willingly to amend for our sin, being tempted in every way yet "turned" from sin. Turn to Jesus Christ. Repentance was a condition of preparation for the Messiah to come and make all things new. It is a place of rest, because it is a place of trusting HIS provision. Will you trust Him? Will you endure in your trusting? If you feel off base, will you repent and call upon Him? Our responsibility is to call and trust and to obey, but not to provide our own salvation. You see, it is the kindness of God that leads us not to salvation, but to repentance. Are you willing?
