Day 4.
And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. (Job 1:5)
Job is a book I usually read from the perspective of the sovereignty of God. That’s what it is overall about. But in reading about the character of Job at the beginning of the book I was struck by this verse. Job intercedes for his children’s pardon. He doesn’t know of specific sin, he just prays for God’s forgiveness and offers sacrifices for them. His diligence in this is inspiring. Job is a righteous man, according to the text, and yet he doesn’t take his children’s faith and righteousness for granted. Regularly he intercedes for them. In this he models for all of us parents to be so engaged with God over our children. The difference in our pleadings and Jobs is that we don’t offer a burnt offering for them but appeal instead to sacrifice of Christ knowing that it is enough to wash them clean. What a great comfort the gospel is! And yet, we can never for a moment take it for granted.
We see too that sin is, at its core, a kind of “cursing of God.” It shows a lack of respect for God and a form of rebellion. Sin is that serious. And so our sacrifice must be that great. Again, thank you Jesus!
Parents: do you intercede for your children in their sin, even their potential sin?
Children: do you see how bad sin is?
Pray for God’s forgiveness and heart cleansing of your children.
Chronological Reading Plan plus Psalms: Job 1-5, Ps 4
Sin is showing hatred to God. Yes sin is serious ut we often don’t take it serious when it means not getting what we want. Pray will pray that when we want to get even or have our own way that the Holy Spirit will show us our sin.
Yes I do see how bad sin is.