Acts 9:23-43
Staring in verse 23, since Saul’s conversion, three years have passed. For this man who once persecuted Christians, his life is now in danger by the Jews. When Saul hears of their plot, his friends help him to escape out of the house he was in by putting him in a basket and lowering him out of the window.
Saul comes to Jerusalem and tries to meet with the twelve apostles, but they would not meet with him because they knew of his reputation. Barnabas was a trusted Christian who knew Saul’s conversation was real. He became a bridge for Saul with the twelve apostles.
Saul is bold about Jesus. He stays in Jerusalem for some time, until he gets into a dispute with the Hellenists, the Greek Jews, who then attempt to kill him. Christians help Saul to escape, sending him home to Tarsus.
The churches in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were multiplying.
In verse 32, we see Peter traveling out of Jerusalem and going to many places. He ministers supernatural healing to Aeneas in Lydda, and because of the miracle, many to the Lord in that city.
The people of Joppa hear is near to their town, so they send for him to come pray for Dorcas, who had recently died. We see the faith of the people in bringing him in and then taking Peter to Dorcas’ body. The mourners were there, showing Peter the beautiful things she had made. Peter sends those who were grieving out of the room. Sometimes for miracles to happen, anyone who is not in faith needs to be put out of the room. As a result of this miracle, many believed on Jesus.
Miracles are meant to be received and enjoyed. Miracles also are to point others to salvation in Jesus. We are thankful for the miracles we experience today! Praise the Lord!
Job 19-20
Job is placed in a time before the Mosaic Law was established, yet there is justice for righteousness. Job has not sinned against God, yet he is experiencing what would be consequences for sin.
We don’t know how long Job’s suffering endured. It could have been days, weeks, or years. We simply do not know.
Job has not knowingly sinned. He feels there is no justice. He says that his suffering is coming from God Himself. God did allow it, but the troubles were coming from Satan.
This book of poetry that was written before Christ is not a lesson that sickness and poverty are tools that God uses to test us now that we are under a covenant in Christ’s blood where the effects of sin are removed.
In Job 19:25-27, Job states his faith in God, saying, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself. And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!”
A redeemer is one who pays a price to purchase someone out of bondage. This passage shows Job’s expectation that someone will redeem him out of his suffering. This is what Jesus came to do.
In chapter 20, Zophar has no mercy for Job. His friends believe strongly that sin brings punishment and righteousness brings peace; therefore, Job has sinned. It seems to me that they want to convince Job he is wicked and needs to repent so that his troubles will leave.
People are far from perfect. Even Christians who have been born again, taught the Word, and led by the Spirit are known to disappoint one another, judge one another, try to manipulate and control one another. This is why we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. He is the only One who will love us perfectly with His undeserved favor. When others fail us or we fail others, we can look to Jesus to heal and restore us and our relationships.