DAY 21    Read Job 17 through 21.

Today's reading finds Job still in the depth of despair because of his afflictions, but even in this extremity he does not lose his hope in eventual redemption.

Memory gem:  "I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25).

Thought for today:
"The Man Who Looked Like a Shadow."  This may seem like a strange description, but we find the text for it in Job 17:7: "Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow."

Sometimes, when we see a person who has been very sick and has become exceedingly emaciated, we say, "He looks like a shadow--the wind might blow him away."  So here we find this great man of God saying that all his members had become as a shadow.  Physically he was a shadow of his former self.  He had gone through so much trouble, so much worry, and so much suffering that he just seemed like a shadow.

But no matter what the world outlook is, the up-look is always good.  If trouble leads us to trust in Jesus, it has been a blessing in disguise.  Trust in trouble is the greatest lesson we can learn in life.  We learn that "God is...a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:10), and with David we can say, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Psalm 56:3).

Note:  Verse 26 of Job 19 poses several problems for translators.  The KJV inserts three words: "though," "worms," and "body" in an attempt to make it readable.  A more literal rendering of the Hebrew would be "And after my skin hath been destroyed, this shall be, even from my flesh shall I see God" (RV margin).  The word rendered "in" (KJV) or "from" (RV) also has a variety of meanings.  In any case the verse indicates a belief in a bodily resurrection.

DAY 20    Read Job 11 through 16.

Today's reading follows the pompous arguments of Job's friends until the poor sufferer exclaims, "Miserable comforters are ye all!"

Memory gem:  "Man that is born of woman is of few days, and full of trouble" (Job 14:1).

Thought for today:
Why does trouble come to Christians?  The apostle Peter was put to death for his faith, and it is maintained by some that all of the apostles except John died a martyr's death, and he was exiled to the Isle of Patmos.  The disciples of Jesus were persecuted by the emperors of Rome, and in every age right down to the present, many of His followers in some part of the world have suffered for their faith--and it will continue to be so.

John Bunyan spent twelve years in Bedford Jail.  The Pilgrim Fathers left their homeland to find religious liberty.  David Livingstone endured loneliness, wearisome journeys, tropical fever, and finally died on his knees at Ujiji.  John G. Patton gave up civilized society and spent his life among cannibals.  Baptist missionaries were cruelly slain in the Philippines.

Yes, Christians have trouble--all men do, whether Christians or not.  Someone has said that the only way to avoid trouble is to avoid being born.

So much of the trouble in this world is unnecessary trouble, but it is no less trouble.  The only way to live through it without ruin is to learn how to trust God, for "he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him" (Proverbs 30:5).  Trusting in God is trusting in Jesus, for He came to make the heavenly Father known to men.

DAY 19    Read Job 6 through 10.

Today's Reading: Poetic language recounts the lengthy debate between Job and his three would-be comforters.  The friends try to blame Job for his troubles, and the sufferer steadfastly maintains his innocence.

Memory gem:  "Oh that my grief were thoroughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!"  (Job 6:2).

Thought for today:
The so-called friends of Job had the idea that there was just one reason for his affliction, for his terrible physical condition, and that was his sin.  It was the general belief of the people in those days that God's divine government rests upon an exact and uniform correlation between sin and punishment.  In other words, that afflictions always come as divine punishment for something that the sinner involved has done, that he is punished unless he repents and submits to God's chastisement.  In turn, these punishments lead to the correction and amendment of life when the sufferer repents and turns to God.  This is often true.  But the fact of suffering was, according to their view, proof of the commission of some special sin, and they tried to apply that principle to the case of Job.

Well, Job answered their arguments one by one.  We must remember, of course, that the direct object of this trial that had come to Job was to ascertain whether or not he would deny or forsake God.  But we know that this great question had really been settled insofar as God was concerned, for He Himself had said that Job was a good and upright man.  For Him that question was really settled.

Job denied the theory of these men that punishment always follows guilt and so proved the commission of wrong.  He admitted that God is just.  So there was only one thing for him to do, and that was to pray and plead with God to give him an open trial so that all might see that he had been faithful and had not committed any sin calling for these terrible punishments.  He thought that if he could die, he would be delivered from his sorrow and trouble.  So he prayed to be hidden in the grave until the day when God would try his cause and show him to be upright.

DAY 18    Read Job 1 through 5.

Today's reading:  Nobody can be absolutely sure when Job lived, but various kinds of evidence indicate a period between Jacob and Moses.  The story opens with the beginning of Job's troubles.


Memory gem:  "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22).

Thought for today:
Sooner or later trouble comes to us all, for it's the common lot of human beings.  Many of us remember this childhood jingle: "Never trouble trouble, till trouble troubles you."  That is, never look for it.  But we don't have to; it comes, unsought, and all too soon and too often.  "Man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward," the book of Job tells us (Job 5:7); and it is certainly an authority.  Yes, trouble comes to both good and bad--to saint and sinner--to all men everywhere.

Back in the old days many people had the idea that trouble was a sure sign of God's anger and that the person suffering must be bad.  In other words, they thought that trouble was God's finger pointing out the sinner.  But we know that was a wrong idea.  While it is true that evil does come back upon the doer, it is not always apparent in this world.

And you will remember that Job had a lot of trouble.  He lost everything he had--his property was destroyed or stolen; his children were killed--and in his loss and grief he himself was struck down with a terrible sickness.  Even his wife advised him to renounce God and die (see Job 2:9).  But it is clear that all these troubles did not come to Job because he was a bad man.  He did not understand why he should suffer so much, and sometimes he said so in forceful language; but he never "charged God foolishly" (Job 1:22) nor gave up his faith in Him.

----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Job 1:1.  "Uz"--This area cannot be located positively.  Evidence seems to indicate a region southwest of Damascus.

DAY 17    Read Genesis 49 and 50; 1 Chronicles 1.

Today's reading brings us to the end of Genesis and the conclusion of Joseph's remarkable life.  The story ends on a note of optimistic faith in God's providential dealings.

Memory gem:  "As for you, ye thought evil against me: but God meant it unto good"  (Genesis 50:26).

Thought for today:
Have you ever seen an old-fashioned blacksmith hold a heavy piece of iron on the anvil and lightly touch it here and there with a small hammer to show the spots that needed pounding, while some great giant fellow strikes it with a heavy sledge?  I have often watched this on my grandfather's forge, while the sparks flew about my ears.

Someone has said that God often permits us to be pounded about in trials and tests, but He means it for our good.  He may permit the devil to help pound the saints into shape, but He guides the blows.  And here is a word from the apostle Paul about trials--and he ought to know about them, he had so many.  He says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it"  (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Men may bring us into trouble, and our whole life seem to be ruined, but God!  Don't forget those words, friends; but God will bring you good.  He will see you through at last.  Give your heart to Him, and when you are God's child His promises are yours, for "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us"  (Romans 8:16-18).

DAY 16    Read Genesis 46 through 48

Today's reading tells of Jacob's incredulous reception of the news about Joseph, followed by the move of Jacob's clan to Egypt, and ends with the unusual circumstances in Jacob's blessing Joseph's two sons.

Memory gem:  "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our heart unto wisdom"  (Psalm 90:12).

Thought for today:
Let's go back to old Egypt, to that day when Joseph brought Jacob, his father, before Pharaoh.  As the king looked upon the noble face of the patriarch, he said, "How old art thou?"  And Jacob replied in those wonderful words that we find in Genesis 47:9: "The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage."

In this beautiful oriental expression he humbled himself, and yet he was the greatest man there, because the next verse tells us that "Jacob blessed Pharaoh."  And the Holy Bible assures us that the lesser is blessed of the greater.  Can't you see the royal head of Pharaoh bowed as the hands of the aged shepherd were laid upon him in blessing!  You see, age was more imperial than authority--the old shepherd greater than a mighty king.

As you grow older, there are two words that you will say more and more.  They are these: "I remember."  The experiences of your youth will mean more and more to you as you get older.  You will live again in the school days, the happy days of vacation, the days at home with father and mother, brothers and sisters, and friends.  Those days will glow with a golden hue as time goes on, and you will say, "I remember."

DAY 15    Read Genesis 43 through 45

Today's reading concludes the dramatic encounter of Joseph with his brothers.  We notice particularly Judah's touching appeal for Benjamin's release.

Memory gem:  "Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren"  (Genesis 44:33).

Thought for today:
The brothers had to go down to Egypt to find Joseph.  It was a long, hard journey through a land blasted by drought and famine.  But you need not go through any weary desert, nor must you travel to some far-off foreign land to find Christ.  You can reach Him at once with the hand of faith.

So, my friend, if you feel a hunger in your heart, if the famine has begun, find your way to Christ at once.  Turn to Him by faith.  Come to Jesus now in simple prayer.  Bow before Him.  He is your brother, as Joseph was the brother of his brothers.  Christ became a man, yet He is the divine Son of God.  He understands our feelings and our need--and He loves us.

Like Joseph's brothers, who rejected him, we may have rejected Jesus, but He has never rejected us.  He loves us.  He has redeemed us.  He longs for our repentance and our love.  If we would come to Him in faith, He will not turn us away.  This is His blessed invitation: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;...and ye shall find rest unto your souls"  (Matthew 11:29, 29).

What better day than today in which to respond to Him!

----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Genesis 44:5.  "Divineth''--the mention of this practice does not prove that Joseph had taken up this superstitious practice.  He was willing to have his brothers believe that he could read their thoughts in order to unnerve them and lead them to abandon pretense.

DAY 14    Read Genesis 41 and 42

Today's reading continues the story of Joseph--his exaltation from a forsaken prisoner to the position to the position of prime minister of Egypt.

Memory gem:  "And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?"  (Genesis 41:38).

Thought for today:
Now we take another step in the story of Joseph.  We see him before Pharaoh, where he was exalted as a ruler of Egypt.  First, his exaltation revealed God's purpose for Egypt.  Second, it manifested God's righteousness in bringing Joseph out of prison.  Third, it established his position--next to Pharaoh.

Last of all, we notice Joseph's office.  Why was he exalted?  What was the purpose for it?  It was not for his own sake, but that he might be a channel of blessing to the world.  So with our Saviour.  He was exalted that He might be a Prince and a Saviour (see Acts 5:31).  Joseph was exalted that he might provide food in time of famine, and all who came to him received what they needed.  Some authorities say that his Egyptian name, Zaphnath Paaneah, may be interpreted "the bread of life."  Our Lord was the Bread of Life" (see John 10:10).

There is quite a difference here, however, between Joseph and Jesus.  The people who came to Joseph had to bring money to buy bread, but we may receive the Bread of Life "without money and without price"   (Isaiah 55:1).

There was one sole condition of blessing during the years of famine in Egypt--just one--and that was unconditional submission to Joseph.

Friend, in things spiritual, this is the one and only requirement--unconditional, unquestioning, unwavering surrender, submission, and trust in Christ.  When we come to Him in this way, all our spiritual needs are provided for and our hopes at last realized.

----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Genesis 41:49.  "Corn"--an old English expression for any kind of grain.  This word in the Bible never means what Americans call "corn," the New World Indian corn.

DAY 13    Read Genesis 37 through 40.


Today's reading is the first installation of one of the greatest stories of all time--the story of Joseph and his brothers--written by one of the greatest writers of all time--Moses.

Memory gem:  "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"  (Genesis 39:9).

Thought for today:
There are special ways in which the story of Joseph foreshadows the life of Jesus.

First of all, we consider Joseph and his father.  Joseph was the beloved son of his aged father.

Second, as with Joseph and his brothers, Jesus "came unto his own, and his own received him not"   (John 1:11).

Third, Jesus was sold for money, just as Joseph was.  He was betrayed and sold by his brethren for twenty pieces of silver.

The fourth great fact is Joseph's humiliation.  He was tempted and yet sinned not.  He was alone in the dungeon through no fault of his own.  He was the means of blessing to the butler, and a messenger of judgment to the baker.

Jesus took upon Himself the form of a servant (see Phillipians 2:7).  He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin (see Hebrews 4:15).  He was alone, forsaken by God and man.  Christ was the means of blessing to the penitent thief of the cross, but He was the occasion of judgment upon the impenitent thief.

----------------
Difficult or obscure words:
Genesis 37:25-36.  "Ishmaelites" and "Midianites"--Two possible explanations are offered: (1) The caravan included men of both groups.  (2) The two names were used interchangeably in common parlance.  In either case only one caravan was involved.

DAY 12    Read Genesis 34 through 36

Today's reading has some unlovely episodes and an account of Jacob's deep sorrow at the death of his beloved Rachel.  But through it all shines the promise of God's loving care.


Memory gem:  "I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went" (Genesis 35:3).

Thought for today:
Often God's protective hand is over us when we do not know it.  One time, in the Colorado Rockies, a hunter with his young grandson stood in the deep snow and looked at a giant pine that had been killed by lightning.  The wind was blowing and the tree swayed in the stormy gusts.  After a few moments' rest they started on, when without warning the mighty pine crashed to the ground and covered the tracks they had made in the snow only a few seconds before.  There was but a step between them and death.  They bowed their heads right there and thanked God for His protecting mercy.  This experience made a profound impression on that boy--I know, for I was that boy.

Here is another point: The troubles and sorrows that come upon us can be the means in God's providence of drawing us back to Himself.  No religion except the religion of Christ brings to those in trouble the mighty truth that even our sorrows may be a manifestation of God's mercy rather than of His wrath.  In Hebrews 12:6, 7 we read: "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If we endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?"