17 May Job 17

In Job 17, Job expresses despair as he reflects on his fading life, feeling abandoned and misunderstood by friends. He pleads for justice from God, clinging to hope despite his suffering and the seemingly hopeless outlook on his future.

Keep Moving Forward

Job 17:6-9 (NLT): "God has made a mockery of me among the people; they spit in my face. My eyes are swollen with weeping, and I am but a shadow of my former self. The virtuous are horrified when they see me. The innocent rise up against the ungodly. The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger."

In this chapter, Job continues responding to Eliphaz, lamenting that his suffering has become a public spectacle. He feels mocked and rejected, even by the righteous who are perplexed at his plight. His suffering raises deep questions, leaving others wondering: "Job is a good man; why is he facing such trials? Does God truly protect the righteous?" This troubling question remains central as Job’s friends grapple with his affliction.

The remarkable truth

Yet in verse 9, Job affirms a remarkable truth: "The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger." Here, Job declares that righteousness brings resilience, a faith that grows stronger despite adversity.

This call to persevere echoes Exodus 14:15 (ESV), where, trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, God tells Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward." Despite following God’s lead, the Israelites faced a terrifying obstacle, much like the believer who remains faithful yet encounters hardship. However, God's command to move forward reassures them, teaching us to trust and act in faith even when fear and doubt arise.

When the Israelites obeyed, they saw God’s glory, as noted in Exodus 14:31 (NLT): "When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses." Their faith in God deepened through their experience, just as Job’s resolve to “keep moving forward” calls believers to trust God’s guidance through their trials.

As Isaiah 58:11 (NLT) promises, "The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." Just as Job’s steadfastness inspires us, these verses encourage us to lean on God, assured that He strengthens and sustains us, revealing His purposes through our journey of faith, worship and action.