Chapter 40 contains God’s strongest rebuke to Job. In verse 2, God asks Job if he, though he has found fault in the others, if he is going to argue with God and seek to find fault with Him as well! In verses 3-5, Job replies by essentially saying he has already said too much. He recognises his place before… Read more →
Joe Fleener
Lover of Christ & His Gospel, Husband to Mandy, Father to three wonderful children, & Servant to the Local Church. Joe earned a Master of Divinity degree from Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary in 2003, completed his Masters of Theology courses in 2005 and moved to New Zealand with his family in 2006. Joe has served as a Bible College lecturer and “lay preacher” (churches, camps, conferences, etc.) in the US and New Zealand. In addition, Joe has taught courses for Bible Colleges in South Africa, Romania, Ukraine, and Australia. From 2010 to 2014, Joe served as the Associate Pastor at Howick Baptist Church in Auckland. Since August 2014, he has been privileged to serve as Pastor of Rolleston Baptist Church. Joe also serves in the following ministry roles here in New Zealand: Steering Committee, Stand for the Gospel | Coordinator, TIM Training Course | Board Member, Gospel Training Trust | Adjunct Lecturer, Grace Theological College. Finally I serve as a trainer for BibleWorks. Infrequently, Joe blogs on his personal blog where you can learn a lot more about him and his family over the years.
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 39
In chapter 39 of Job God continues to speak. As He does, He continues to ask Job rhetorical questions. These questions continue to demonstrate God’s power and authority over His creation. Yet, even more, they demonstrate his immanent care for His creation. God is all powerful, yet He is not distant from His creation. He meets the needs of all… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 38
I usually write these in the morning… However, I am wide awake tonight… I just stood in a carpark and prayed with two young adult siblings from our church who just learned their little brother died only hours ago on the North Island in a motorbike crash. Life in this broken, fallen world is so hard; so full of sorrow;… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 37
Chapter 37 is a very interesting chapter when read in light of the first verse of 38. In chapter 37 it seems like an actual storm or whirlwind is approaching. Elihu is taking something he and they are actually seeing and referencing it as a display of God’s majestic power and authority. Little does Elihu know, it will be out… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 36
In this chapter, Elihu continues in his speech to describe and defend God. Yet his view of God is still incomplete and distorted. Even more, I can only imagine what must have been going through Job’s mind when he heard Elihu say verse 4! Further evidence that Elihu has a very serious case of “young man’s disease”. Yet, at the… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 35
A lot of Christians are functional Deists. Elihu seems to be as well. A Deist believe God exists. They believe God is the Creator. They believe He may one day return to set things right in His creation. But in the meantime, He is distant and has nothing to do with our everyday lives. Elihu has a firm grasp of… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 34
34 consecutive days of pondering Job. I don’t actually know if anyone else is still reading these. 🙂 In New Zealand, today is our first day of life under Level 3. Full Lockdown is over, for now. Many are returning to some kind of work, yet there are many who are still working from home or are home from school… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 33
Elihu jumps into the content of his speech with this chapter. Most of this opening portion addressed to Job, Elihu spends telling Job to be quiet and listen to him as he will teach him wisdom. He does give the option for Job to answer him if he can but quickly seems to assume he can’t and just continues with… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 32
In Job 32 we meet one of the most enigmatic characters in all of the Bible. Elihu wasn’t named among Job’s counsellors/visitors in chapter 1. He isn’t named by God when God rebukes Job’s friends in chapter 42. He has the longest speech of any of the human speakers in Job, yet Job does not reply to him. Elihu tells… Read more →
Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 31
In this chapter, Job’s final appeal, he stands in his integrity. He outlines a number of “ifs” essentially saying if he is guilty of any offences to which he has been accused, then what he is experiencing is what he deserves. Yet, he does not believe he is guilty of any of these things. He stands before God in his… Read more →