“. . . he knows the way that I take” (Job 23:10)

February 25, 2013

God Knows

James MacDonald - Senior Pastor - Harvest Bible Chapel

Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.

—Job 23:8-11

God sees you on the road you are walking today. As Job put it, “. . . he knows the way that I take” (Job 23:10). He sees the steps you must take today to get through this hard place. Proverbs 5:21 tells us that “A man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.” This means God not only watches the winding of your road today, He is also thinking about every step and everything you must step over. Wow! God is considering your next fork in the road too, the good choice and the dismal, misery-inducing one. Your Father in heaven is reflecting about what you are going to decide. Even though He has known from eternity past every detail of your life, He is still meditating upon it as it plays out. That blows me away.

God knows the way that you take. He wants you to succeed in the testing you are experiencing. Considering His great love for you, do you honestly think He would let you go through more than you can handle? No. He won’t let this hard season knock you off the path of your highest usefulness to His kingdom. He has already scouted the path ahead and will be with you during the rough stretches. And He wants to help you make sure you don’t drive yourself off that high road.

God is near to you when your heart is broken and saves you when your spirit is crushed (Psalm 34:18). God draws near to you during a hardship unlike at any other time in your life. Maybe this is why the desperate need comes. Maybe this is the very moment God is seeking to engineer—the moment of your turning as never before to Him.

If this is your moment and you don’t know how to pray, God even knows that. Romans 8:26 tells us God’s Spirit prays for us when we don’t have words. Just start praying and sharing your heart. Thank God that He knows the way you take.

                     

Journal

•        What difference does it make for me to know God has already reviewed everything that will occur in my life?

•        Read Job 23:10 again. What does it mean for me to “come out as gold”?

Prayer

Almighty God, help me remember Job’s testimony and David’s prayer in Psalm 139:3, “You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Thank You for the comfort of knowing that no obstacle enters my life that You have not seen and approved for its usefulness for me. Now guide me as I live out that trust this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.