GETTING TOO BIG FOR OUR BRITCHES
Job 22:29,30 When men are brought low and you say, “Lift them up!” Then he will save the downcast. He will deliver even one who is not innocent, and who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands.
Have you ever heard the expression, “You are getting too big for your britches!” It’s kind of a old saying I think, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you haven’t. The first time I heard it I wish I hadn’t! I was about twelve years old and I had just walked into the kitchen and dad said something to me and I don’t remember what I said or did, but the next thing I knew my dad had my shirt knotted up in his hand and he had me pinned up against the wall. Then came the words of correct, Hay, you’re getting a little too big for your britches! I quickly apologized, and he released me with a very stern look and said don’t do that again. I once again quickly told him that I wouldn’t. Like I said that I don’t remember what I said, but I knew I didn’t want dad to do that again, and he never had too. Dad had demonstrated a little tough love, and I benefited from it. I never doubted that my dad didn’t love me, because he did.
In some ways God was showing Job some tough love too. The reason I say this by looking at chapters 38-41. God begins answering Job’s accusations of his being unjust, and that Job would like to put God in his place if he could. As God begins to speak, he does out of a storm. The storm was a way of putting the fear of God back in Job. Job had certainly gotten to big for his britches! God was about to put the hammer down so to speak!
“Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!” I can almost see Job hang his head and slowly begin to back up. Job knew that he had overstepped his bounds big time. All he could do was to shut his mouth and wait until the wrath of God had ran it’s course. Finally Job got his chance to respond to the Lord, and it is certainly different that before Chapter 38. Job said, “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” God received his apology and in return blessed him greater than what Job had ever been blessed before. Job had just taken a step in the direction of becoming more Christ-like.
The apostle Peter rebuked Jesus not only once but twice. The first time Jesus wanted to wash his feet, and Peter didn’t want him to. The next time Peter said Jesus couldn’t go to the cross, and Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan.”The apostle Paul began as a Pharisee wanting to kill all of Jesus’ followers, until Jesus knocked him off his donkey and made him blind with a brilliant beam of light. Like with Job, Peter and Paul were both reconciled to the Lord. You see it was never God’s will to end his relationship with them, but rather to perfect it just like my dad with me.
Sometimes God has to bring us down before he can lift us up. One thing we can be sure of is that it will never be God’s intention to leave us down. When Jesus was lifted up on Calvary’s cross, it was God’s way of reaching down to us, just to lift us up.
Have you been going through some tough times in your life? Don’t give up on the Lord. He is only a sigh away. His speciality is lifting his children up.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, please help us to always be humble never forgetting where we came from. Thank you for loving us so much. We ask this in your holy name.
