This week we are taking a look at Genesis 5-11 and Job 3-8. Each character is epic because of his or her encounter with God. Just like you. Just like me.
“Little captures our imagination more than a good story. What about a great movie that draws you in and inspires your replay button – hours and even days after you have returned to your own every day!? The “classics” endure because they are able to cross-culturally ignite minds over multiple generations.
A real modern tragedy exists in that we reject our own stories as “average” or “too ordinary” to matter to anyone else. We are robbed of our sense of wonder at an early age and slip into a tepid mediocrity created by special effects, highly paid actors and actresses, and million dollar ambient budgets. We believe we have nothing to offer because we have come to believe that story must be dramatic and “big” in order to matter. But nothing could be further from the truth.
Each of our stories is the REAL story, and the special mark upon each one of our lives is of huge human value. Our story is one that unfolds with uniqueness, beauty, and meaning – whether we believe it or not. It is time to become story-tellers once again. It is time to listen, laugh, cry, and experience one another as we impart our uniqueness within the isolating world around us.” – from the book Curious Journey
Read deeply into Job’s journey of suffering, and marvel at the historic account of Noah and his family. Imagine the things they told their kids! It is easy to look at the pain and suffering in life as pay-back. This is not what is happening in these two men’s stories. Job and Noah share things in common. They are both victims of the events of their lives – of being human. Each chose the path of fearing God – yet both were rewarded with deep suffering and loss. It isn’t as though Noah didn’t mourn the loss of his neighbors and of his pre-flood life! While suffering is not a path we would choose, God uses trials to produce righteousness and peace within our souls. If we can reconcile ourselves to the imperfection of the world in which we live, we are on the way to a satisfied mind.
Check out these added podcasts by entering one into the search function to the right:
Adam: Conflicted Heart
Job: Suffering Heart
Noah: Faith Survivor
Your “Deeper” question guides for Genesis and Job can give you added insight into each book. Asking good questions means arriving at deep thoughts!
You can reach us at [email protected] if you have observations or questions.
Dave & Burnadette
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