Ezekiel 14:12-14

New International Version (NIV)

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, if a country sins against me by being unfaithful and I stretch out my hand against it to cut off its food supply and send famine upon it and kill its people and their animals, even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord.

For meditation

1. Can you visualize a proud parent standing at a game and screaming, “That’s my boy”? What makes that proud father disregard everybody and common civility to create such a scene?
2. Isn’t it about the quality and result of the play of his son? Isn’t the applause an expression of pride in that child? Is the bragging misplaced?
3. Even though you may feel a little irritated with that parent’s continued screaming, wouldn’t you quietly wish your son could play that way? Don’t we all wish for that opportunity?
4. Have you ever thought about God wishing He had the same pleasure in you? Do you know how much pride He desires to take in the quality of your life and its impact on the world around you (John 15:16)?
5. Can you look through the eyes of your spiritual imagination and see the twinkle in the eyes of the Almighty when He bragged about Job to Satan (Job 1:8; 2:3)? Is that not the same feeling God expressed when He spoke about Moses and Samuel in Jer. 15:1, and about Noah, Daniel, and Job in Ezekiel 14? So, do you see how much delight and pride God takes in His obedient and faithful children?

I pray you’re able to grasp God’s desire for opportunity to brag about you to the unbelieving world and the heavenly host and give Him the joy as a proud Father.

So, may you receive divine power to undergird your determination to bring a sparkle in the eyes of your Father in heaven; and may He give you a double portion of His blessings, as He rewarded Job for his steadfast devotion, according to His bounteous grace in Christ Jesus, amen!

Shalom