In our last episode, Abram told the Egyptians that Sarai was his sister in order save his own skin, and today things get even messier. Sarai suggests they try to help God’s plan along by pulling a slave girl into Abram’s bed. And Abram says, SURE. Yikes. It would be hard to argue that the Lord chose Abram because of his upstanding moral qualities, because the Bible highlights his flaws rather than covering them up. Abram doubts, wavers, makes poor decisions, but ultimately he responds to the Lord’s instruction. The Lord makes promises, not because Abram deserves it or because His holy hands would be tied without Abram’s cooperation; instead, through his work in Abram’s life God will show the world his steadfast love and sovereign provision.

Genesis 16 - 1:02 .

Genesis 17 - 4:44 .

Genesis 18 - 10:56 .

Psalm 15 - 17:42 .

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Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Today, we’re introduced to Abram, a man who is called by God to leave his family and his country and venture to a land that God will show him. While we know Abram lineage, what we know of Abram’s character only begins after the Lord calls him to go. We learn that Abram is a man capable of great faith and great cowardice, as puts his wife in a compromising situation in order to save his own skin. Later, the Lord confirms his covenant with Abram by way of an ancient practice that would have been understood by the culture. By passing between the split carcasses of a series of animals, the one committing to covenant is basically saying, “May I become like this if I don’t fulfill my vow.”

Genesis 12 - 1:02 .

Genesis 13 - 4:34 .

Genesis 14 - 8:26 .

Genesis 15 - 13:07 .

Psalm 14 - 17:23 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Job has justified himself in his own sight, repeating again and again that God has been unjust, bemoaning his fate and complaining that a man should be able to take God to court. In today’s episode, God puts Job in his place by asking him a series of questions. This inquisition is designed to help Job see how finite, weak, and limited he is, while painting a vibrant picture of God’s power and authority. Job can’t even direct a wild animal to work for him, let alone conceptualize, create, and oversee the entirety of creation. In the end, Job relents and his relationship with God is restored to one of fruitful abundance.

Job 39 - 1:10 .

Job 40 - 4:45 .

Job 41 - 7:50 .

Job 42 - 12:35 .

Psalm 13 - 16:17 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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The young man named Elihu continues to present a case against Job and his friends, saying that the Lord doesn’t listen to empty cries or baseless claims to injustice. Moreover, the God who created all things is accountable to no one; in other words, He doesn’t owe anything to anyone– therefore nobody can say that He is unfair or unjust. The God who made all things also sees all things, knows all things, and will rightly judge all things. Man, with his limitations, cannot know or understand these things and therefore cannot claim to be a better authority than a sovereign God. As we reach chapter 38, we begin to hear a rebuke from God Himself.

Job 35 - 1:01 .

Job 36 - 2:56 .

Job 37 - 6:56 .

Job 38 - 11:05 .

Psalm 11 - 15:56 .

Psalm 12 - 17:02 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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As Job concludes his remarks on sin and suffering, he maintains that he has been faithful to the Lord, abstaining from lust and from adultery, that he has cared for those in need, and has kept himself from the worship of false gods such as the worship of sun and moon. When Job concludes his words, a young man named Elihu, who has yet to speak, begins to voice his anger. He has respectfully waited until those older than him have had their say, but they have argued inadequately against Job and Job has spoken with a self-righteous posture.

Job 31 - 1:01 .

Job 32 - 6:50 .

Job 33 - 9:43 .

Job 34 - 13:36 .

Psalm 10 - 18:22 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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It won’t be long before Job receives a proper rebuke from Elihu and then from God Himself, but until that time comes, Job continues to vent and express frustration with the situation he finds himself in. His friends have told him to repent of his evil, assuming that his sin is the cause of his current state. Meanwhile, Job continues to declare himself as pure, which is also untrue, but in his state of despair he doesn’t see his self-righteous posture. Job thinks so highly of himself that he unabashedly accuses God of not executing justice properly, and in so doing, exalts himself above His Maker. At times he gives God his due with words, but in his heart, Job is sure that God has treated him unfairly.

Job 27 - 1:01 .

Job 28 - 3:47 .

Job 29 – 8:04 .

Job 30 – 11:04 .

Psalm 9 - 15:34 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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Job’s friends are insulted that he would reject their wisdom, especially because they are drawing their conclusions from that which was commonly assumed by the culture and by their ancestors. Job wants to find comfort and consolation from his friends, but they continue to make a case against him. In an earlier speech, Job spoke of God’s justice, but as he responds to his friend Zophar at the beginning of our reading, we can see that he struggles, like many of us, to understand why the wicked are allowed to flourish while the righteous perish.

Job 21 - 1:01 .

Job 22 - 5:39 .

Job 23 - 9:55 .

Job 24 - 12:01 .

Job 25 - 15:51 .

Job 26 - 16:32 .

Psalm 8 - 18:24 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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The book of Job is a messy book because it deals with messy realities and messy relationships. In one sense, Job’s friends are right in that God is just and that sinful people do not flourish in the long run. They are wrong, however, to say that the reverse is necessarily true, because disheartening circumstances aren’t always caused by sin; sometimes they are simply the designs of God. He is our sovereign Maker and Sustainer, and He may do as He pleases. Job is an emotional wreck, and says some things he probably wouldn’t say if were at peace, but he still holds onto what he knows about the Lord and clings to that truth as he navigates hardship. In today’s reading, listen for some of the Messianic foreshadows that Job mentions in his longing and despair.

Job 16 - 1:01 .

Job 17 - 4:32 .

Job 18 - 6:52 .

Job 19 - 10:30 .

Job 20 - 14:46 .

Psalm 7 - 18:14 .

:::

Christian Standard Bible translation.

All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.

Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.

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