Now My Eyes Have Seen You
“1 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.””
The Book of Job presents the story of a righteous man named Job who endures intense suffering and seeks to understand it, culminating in God’s response. In its final chapter, Job fully acknowledges God’s sovereignty and his own limitations.
Throughout the book, Job cannot comprehend his suffering, leading to prolonged debates with his friends. Job defends his own righteousness, while his friends attribute his misfortunes to sin. But when God appears and speaks, He reveals the futility of trying to judge His ways and providence by human understanding and logic. In response, Job confesses his ignorance and weakness, moving from a secondhand knowledge about God to a direct, experiential encounter with the Divine.
In Job’s final confession, we see the essence of true repentance—not merely regret for one’s mistakes, but rather a humble submission before God’s greatness and love. Recognizing his own frailty and lack of understanding, Job seeks God’s words and presence. This demonstrates a faith that goes beyond human limitations and rests in God’s grace.
Spiritual growth is not about increasing our “holy acts” or good deeds. Instead, it lies in becoming more attuned to God’s grace, acknowledging His sovereignty, and responding with gratitude and praise. Prayer is not an attempt to convince God of our logic or demands, but a humble act of honoring His lordship, transparently confessing our weakness, and listening for His voice. Like Job, when we entrust our lives and very being to God’s presence, we can experience genuine peace and restoration.
Prayer: Lord, we come before You this morning, confessing our weaknesses and acknowledging Your greatness and sovereignty. We praise You, who reigns over the matters we cannot fathom, guiding the world by Your word. We long to experience Your presence and hear Your voice in prayer. As we exalt You, help us commit our lives and obey Your will, for You alone are worthy. Amen.
(Note: This summary was created based on an AI draft.)
Devotional content is available on the Our Daily Bread website.