God Speaks To Us in Mysterious Ways

I am slowly coming back into my church life, a life I abandoned over a decade ago. One of the things I am trying to begin again is a daily devotional. In the past, I was an undisciplined reader of the Bible. I would go days or weeks without reading on my own, then suddenly rip through a few books over the course of an afternoon. There was often no reason behind choosing what I read other than satisfying my own curiosity.

As a fledgling Christian in a new church, I am again opening my Bible to read. this time I am going by a set reading plan used by the church, a daily guide to reading the bible that will allow thentire tet to be read in a years time. Today was my first reading.

God works in mysterious ways. The driving force behind my leaving the church so long ago was the death of my twin sister. I wanted to challenge God. I wanted Him to explain Himself, to justify to me why he had allowed her death. I was arrogant and childish.

The passage selected for my reading today from the Old Testament was Job, chapters 39 and 40. It is God's answers to Job's challenge to Him. Job wanted a chance to prove his innocence before Him, to argue his case against what had befallen him. I will jump right into Job 40:1-8

¹ The LORD said to Job:

² "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!"

³ Then Job answered the LORD:

⁴ "I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.

⁵ I spoke once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I will say no more."

⁶ Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:

⁷ "Prepare to defend yourself;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

⁸ "Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

This was written thousands of years ago. However, it is God speaking to me. It is God answering my challenge. Is it coincidence that on my first day of devotional reading I am directed to exactly what I need to read? Directed by a bookmark that simply has dates and assigned reading for that day? This reading plan was set long before I rededicated my life. However, that plan does have one verse on it:

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11.

God is always ready to speak to us, we simply need to listen.