Job 30-32

June 6

Job 30-32

Job felt like God had left him. He felt like God had brought disaster upon him and had left him to suffer. He felt like God did not care what happened to him or the trials that he faced. Job had walked as a man of integrity, but the reward for his integrity seemed to be suffering.

Job was purposeful in his life of righteousness. He determined in his heart that he would walk in obedience to God. Even in the face of adversity, he determined to continue to serve God. Even though he felt like he was being unfairly targeted for punishment, he did not turn from his righteousness. One of the determinations Job made was; "“I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl." (Job 31:1, NIV) Men know that this is a problem. Women perhaps there are other covenants you need to make to remain pure in mind.

Job made a covenant with his eyes. He made an agreement not to look lustfully at a girl. When those thoughts came to his mind he turned them away. When temptation crouched at his door, he resisted. When his eyes saw a woman, beautiful in form, he bounced his eyes away from the girl to something that would redirect his mind. He reminded himself that the girl he was seeing was a daughter and a child of God.

There are certain temptations that we know are a struggle for us. When we know ahead of time we are going to struggle with certain temptations, the best way to overcome the temptation is to be prepared. We have to prepare our hearts and minds before we are in the situation that can drag us down. We have to decide how we will respond before we are in the heat of the moment. Job made a covenant with his eyes. When a beautiful woman was coming down the street, Job knew how to divert his mind; he had already developed a plan.

Temptation comes to all of us. How we handle temptation depends on how we have prepared ourselves. We cannot plan for every situation, but when we know we have an area where we are weak, we can prepare and protect our hearts and minds. Job determined to walk in righteousness. When trouble came, he continued to walk in righteousness. He did not understand why he was suffering, but he continued to maintain his integrity.

Paul wrote; "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, NIV) When we are prepared for the battle, we have a better chance of winning the victory over the temptations that seize our minds.