YGT: Triple-A for the Broken

The Revised Common Lectionary Old Testament text for this past Sunday was Job 23. It described Job’s honest feelings with God after he’d lost his livelihood, his family has died, and his friends had turned on him. Job was brutally honest with God, sharing his frustrations and pain. When Job was at his lowest point, when he was completely broken in spirit, he expressed three things:



1.   Anger... “Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning." (v.2)

Job told God that he was bitter and confessed that he was complaining.  He didn't act as if he felt ok with how God was treating him.  He was open enough to say he was angry.


2.   Abandonment... “If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him." (v.8-9)

Job continued that everywhere he turned, it felt like God wasn't there.  God, who claims to be omnipresent*, is nowhere to be found.  Job doesn't sugarcoat this reality, but acknowledges it openly - God, I don't sense You anywhere.

3.   Assurance..."But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold." (v.10)

Job assured himself that God was still in control and that he would be better because of his testing.  Wow, Job found assurance in God even during his brokenness.  Job doesn't ignore his emotions, but he doesn't let them overrule his belief in God.  

If this is your story today and you find yourself broken, learn from Job.  We don't have to be politically correct with God.  That wasn't Job's pattern and it shouldn't be ours.  God is big enough to handle how we feel.  God can handle the truth.  

We should also learn to find our place of assurance, to remember that after this test we will come out as pure gold.   Admittedly, this is the tough part.  There's no easy way to do this.  But we must hold onto a seed of faith (a mustard seed even) that reminds us that God is somehow still in control of it all.  As we travel this earthly journey, God can handle and heal our brokenness.

Lord, we trust You, but that doesn't mean we always understand You.  Sometimes, we don't know what to trust.  You say You love us, but You allow us to hurt, to cry, to die.  How can this be?  Our anger is kindled when we see innocent people suffer and crooked people prosper.  Where are you in this?  I don't know, but I believe You're around.  You're somewhere and everywhere; watching, welcoming, witnessing, and waiting for us.  Please help our faith, please help our unbelief, please assure the broken.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Contrite,

j.a.g.

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*Romans 8:38-39 is an interesting passage to read alongside these verses

Jaelle

"Most blessed of women be Jael..."

Judges 5:25a

Our second daughter will be born two months from today. Her name will be Jaelle (pronounced Ja-el) and it was taken from the woman Jael in the Bible (Judges 4 & 5). In Hebrew, the name is “Yael” (there's no "J" sound in Hebrew), but we’ve made the name more convenient for English spellers and speakers.

We liked Jael for many reasons. First, and honestly, we liked how the name sounded. Secondly, we liked her. Jael was a courageous and heroic woman who killed a captain to save the Israelites. Her story is filled with intrigue and deception, but that doesn’t diminish it’s strength. This woman was “blessed” for her actions according to Judges 5. I’m reminded how God used an adulterer and murderer in David, a doubter and critic in Sarah, a curser and hothead in Peter. Many of the people we hold dear are clouded with imperfection and yet God has chosen them to bring Him glory.

As we were confirming the name for our daughter, it was very important for us to know what her name meant. When we looked online, we found some interesting definitions.  According to:

• thinkbabynames.com it means “mountain goat” 
• babycenter.com it means “to ascend” 
• allnamesmeaning.com it means “prominent” 

After being confused by the web (yeah, it's not always the best source), I tried to consider the name in its original Hebrew. The word ‘Yah’ in Hebrew is a name for God. It is an abbreviation of Yahweh (or Jehovah). The word ‘El’ in Hebrew is another name for God. This is a shortening of Elohim. El is also seen in many other names (Danielle – God is my judge, Michael – who is like God?). The combination of the words Yah-el (or Yael… or Jael…  or Jaelle) can be seen two ways:


a. God God (a repetition of God’s name)
b. Great God - In Hebrew, when you want to emphasize the greatness of something, you add a ‘Yah’ to it (like Hallelu-yah – great praise).



From our prayers, it's obvious to us that Jaelle will be someone great - we can see God’s name is all over her. That comforts us and makes us so, so anxious to meet her.

Yeremy,

j.a.g.

Darling Jaelle, we cannot wait to meet you.  God has charged us with stewarding another of His children.  We're so grateful to have been chosen to be your parents.  Please know that whatever happens in life - whatever people call you or whatever you're tempted to call yourself, God calls you His own.  Don't ever live under your namesake.  You are a living testimony of God's greatness.  I long to hold you... Until that day... and beyond... journey faithfully.  

In Christ's name, Amen.