Hope Satisfies
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Key Verse: “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” Selected Scripture: |
THE NEW INTERNATIONAL Version translates our Key Verse as follows: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” This rendition of the verse seems to capture the proper thought. Our Heavenly Father has created a glorious plan which is being carried out according to his holy and perfect will. It cannot be thwarted by any person, power, or influence, whether in heaven, or on earth. God’s wonderful plan incorporates all of the aspects of his attributes—his wisdom, justice, love, and power. These can be seen in all aspects of his plan by those who have come to appreciate his perfect and harmonious character.
Concerning wisdom, James tells us that “the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated [obeyed], full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17) God’s wisdom is pure—that is, it is holy. Being first holy, it is also peaceable, gentle, easy to obey, and merciful toward all. Because these attributes of God’s wisdom are all in harmony one with another, it is truly “without hypocrisy.”
In the Book of Proverbs, we are also told of the importance of wisdom. “The fear [reverence] of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” “Wisdom is the principal thing.” (Prov. 9:10; 4:7) These words point out to us just what Job realized, as recorded in the verses of our lesson. Through his experiences Job came to appreciate that only after developing a complete reverence for the Almighty Creator, and a realization of his infinite wisdom, justice, love, and power, could he expect to receive the fullness of God’s blessings and mercy.
For the followers of Christ—he who perfectly displayed the qualities of his Father—keeping God’s character attributes in our minds and hearts will compel us to delight in doing those things that are in harmony with those attributes. The condition of our heart is all-important in this endeavor, and we are reminded of this by this sobering statement of Paul: “The word of God is quick [living, powerful], … and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”—Heb. 4:12
To develop complete heart loyalty to God means that we must put forth a continual effort to bring all the intents, motives, thoughts, words, and actions of our lives into subjection to the divine will to the greatest extent possible. Job testified that his words came from an “upright heart,” and thus could be found pleasing to God. “I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue. My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know. The Spirit of God hath made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”—Job 33:2-4, New International Version
We close this lesson with faith-strengthening words from the Prophet Isaiah: “Thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain. …Tell ye, … who hath declared this from ancient time? … have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.” “I am God, … Declaring the end from the beginning, … the things that are not yet done.” (Isa. 45:18,21; 46:9,10) We can have wonderful peace in knowing that what God has promised, he has always been able to perform. His righteous and merciful plan will not fail.