Job 21:5
Look at me and be appalled,
Clap your hand over your mouth.
For the first time in weeks it seems, my blood pressure is back to normal. (It went way up after this and back down again.) I have spent a lot of effort over the weekend trying to prepare to stay calm this week. I have plans and methods to stay that way as the week progresses. But really, it will come down to praying to God for the next step and doing so constantly.
‘Look at’ was also ‘turn to’ and ‘mark’. ‘Appalled’ was also ‘astonished’, ‘horrified’ and be appalled was also ‘take in the horror’.
‘Clap’ was also ‘lay’ and ‘put’.
My favorite team is the Houston Astros. They are losing more than expected because their pitching is not doing well. It could be the pitchers, the catchers, the pitching coaches, the manager, the general manager, or just bad luck. If I were the owner, I would be tempted to change the general manager and the manager and see if they can fix the catchers and the pitching coaches. If it is the pitchers, nothing else will help this year. If it’s bad luck, then the changes might not hurt. Either way, at this rate, he risks alienating the fan base.
In the story of Job, the fall of Job has alienated his fan base. God had blessed Job, and Job succeeded in being a great guy. But Job did not seem to be having a great impact on the people around him as far as getting them to know and love God as he did. So, God upset the apple cart to get everyone’s attention. He alienated the fan base to get them to be better fans.
Yordan Alvarez on the other hand is doing great individually. After some less than great results and injuries, he is playing as well as he did his rookie season. His fans are happy and enjoying watching him succeed again. This is like Job after his recovery. God blesses him again and others know why and are again able to learn about God through the story and life of Job.
Our lives can be like Job’s. We can know and love God and act accordingly. We can be placed in less than ideal circumstances to rely on Him and show others that we love God and He us. Then they too can know and love God.
Written 4/20/26, Posted 5/15/26, Job 491/~1070