Closer To Heaven
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TAKOMA PARK, MD – Washington Adventist University professors Nicholas P. Miller and C. Jonathan Scriven have called for revisions to the U.S. Presidential Religious Liberty Commission’s draft report, Americans’ First Freedom, arguing that while it offers a strong defense of religious liberty, it falls short in its historical analysis and treatment of religious minorities. In […] Source: https://atoday.org/wau-scholars-urge-revisions-to-presidential-religious-liberty-commission-report/
The Biblical Person of the Day
Oholiab – the gifted helper in building the sanctuary
Profile
Short storyOholiab was a gifted man from the tribe of Dan and was chosen by God for a special task. Together with Bezalel, he worked on the construction of the tabernacle, Israel’s sanctuary in the wilderness.
The tabernacle was not an ordinary building project. It was the place where God’s presence was to become visible among the people.
Oholiab contributed craftsmanship, artistic ability, and practical wisdom to this task. He worked with fabrics, colors, wood, metal, and other materials.
His work did not take place in the spotlight of great speeches, but through careful hands and faithful cooperation.
Together with Bezalel and other gifted people, Oholiab helped carry out God’s plans precisely.
His story shows that supporting work is also highly significant. Not everyone has to be the leading voice in order to make an important contribution.
Oholiab reminds us that God uses people with many different abilities, including those who work in the background and help create something beautiful through faithfulness.
The decisive momentGod equips Oholiab to work together with Bezalel on Israel’s sanctuary.
7 special things about Oholiab
Strengths & weaknesses
gifted
reliable
creative
able to work well with others
did not stand in the spotlight
had to carry out very precise and responsible work
The mistake that shaped himThe Bible does not report any particular personal mistake of Oholiab.
His life is marked above all by giftedness, cooperation, and faithful service in a sacred task.
Key verse“And behold, I have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.” (Exodus 31:6)
The life lessonFaithful cooperation is valuable, even when it does not stand in the spotlight.
Application for todayDo not underestimate the value of your abilities simply because you are not in the foreground. Supporting work can also be greatly important.
A question for youWhere can you faithfully use your abilities today, even if others are in the spotlight?
ContextOholiab lived during Israel’s wilderness journey and took part in building the tabernacle.
ConnectionOholiab worked closely with Bezalel and helped produce the sanctuary of Israel.
Oholiab shows that God uses not only visible leaders, but also faithful workers who serve with talent and dedication in the background.
See you tomorrow with the next biblical person!
The Life Story The Life Story of Oholiab – Faithful Cooperation in God’s House 
A man from the tribe of DanOholiab came from the tribe of Dan and lived at a time when Israel was traveling through the wilderness. The people had been freed from Egypt and were learning step by step how to live as God’s people.
During this time of transition, God gave His people not only commandments, but also the task of building the tabernacle. It was to be a visible place of encounter with God.
Oholiab was chosen for this task, not because of political power or public position, but because of his abilities and his willingness to help.
A gift with a purposeGod gave Oholiab special abilities for artistic craftsmanship. He knew how to work with materials, design, produce, and combine beauty with usefulness.
His gift was not secondary. It was part of what was needed for the construction of the sanctuary.
His story shows that craftsmanship and creative abilities are valuable before God when they are placed in the service of a good purpose.
At Bezalel’s sideOholiab worked together with Bezalel, who is named as the main person responsible for the work on the tabernacle. Oholiab therefore did not stand alone in the spotlight, but was an important worker at his side.
This does not make his role less important. Great tasks require people who work together, complement one another, and share responsibility.
Oholiab shows that there is dignity in being a faithful co-worker and in contributing one’s abilities to the success of a greater mission.
Work on the sanctuaryThe tabernacle was the place where Israel was to meet with God. Every curtain, every object, and every detail had significance.
Oholiab’s work therefore had to be done carefully, precisely, and reverently. It was not only about making something beautiful, but about making something that would reflect God’s presence and holiness.
His hands worked on things that became important for the worship of the whole nation.
Beauty and serviceOholiab was probably involved in work with fabrics, colors, embroidery, and design. Such tasks required patience, precision, and an eye for detail.
Not every part of the work was highly visible, yet many small details helped make the whole project worthy and beautiful.
His life reminds us that beauty, care, and art can be part of serving God.
Many hands for one missionMany people worked together in building the tabernacle. Each person contributed something: materials, skills, time, and dedication.
Oholiab was part of this shared work. He showed that God’s mission is not fulfilled only through a few great personalities, but through many faithful hands.
This is one of the important messages of his life: work done in the background can be indispensable.
Faithfulness without the spotlightThe Bible does not tell us much about Oholiab. There are no long speeches from him and no dramatic personal events.
Yet his name remains in the Bible because his service was important. God saw his gift, his work, and his contribution to the sanctuary.
This shows that a life does not have to be loud in order to have meaning before God.
The lasting message of his lifeOholiab shows that every person can become part of a greater mission through the abilities they possess. His story makes it clear that God also sees the faithful workers who do not stand in the foreground.
It reminds us that supporting work is not secondary when it is done with dedication, care, and faithfulness.
Final thoughtOholiab was not a great speaker or a well-known leader of the people. Yet his hands helped shape a place where Israel was to meet with God.
His life shows how valuable quiet, faithful, and gifted service can be.
His life story shows: Even when you are not in the spotlight, your faithful contribution to God’s work can be indispensable.
Nel Vangelo di Giovanni, Gesù restituisce la vista a un uomo cieco attraverso un gesto semplice e inaspettato.
La sua storia ricorda che le risposte non sempre arrivano come immaginiamo. Spesso la speranza entra nella nostra vita da strade che non avevamo considerato. 🕊️ Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4Aw0eHF3PTo
This prayer is for the person who remembers when worship felt real and now wonders where that feeling went. Type "Amen" in the comments. Source: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xg_fI9OBFUA
Bible Stories to Marvel At
Job Chapter 19 – Job Knows: My Redeemer Lives
A Ray of Light in the Middle of Pain
IntroductionBildad had spoken harshly again. His words had come over Job like dark clouds. He had spoken about the light of the wicked going out, traps along the way, and a name being forgotten. To Bildad, these were warnings. But to Job, they sounded like new accusations.
Job was still sitting in the middle of his suffering. His body was sick, his soul was weary, and his friends did not make his heart any lighter. They explained, judged, and warned, but they did not comfort him. Again and again, Job had to hear that his suffering must surely have some hidden cause in his own guilt.
In this chapter, Job gives a deeply moving reply. He expresses how deeply the words of his friends have wounded him. He feels oppressed, broken, and abandoned—not only by his friends, but also by many people who had once been close to him.
Job describes his loneliness so honestly that we can almost hear the heaviness of his heart. People who once knew him turn away. Relatives keep their distance. Servants no longer listen to him. Even children mock him. Job feels as though he is alone in a world that no longer recognizes him.
But in the middle of this darkness, something wonderful happens. Suddenly, a sentence shines out from Job’s words that still comforts people today: he knows that his Redeemer lives. Job does not yet understand everything. His pain has not disappeared. But deep within him, a light is burning that says: God has not yet spoken the final word.
The Biblical Story
Job Asks How Long His Friends Will Torment HimJob began his reply with a sorrowful question. He asked his friends how long they would continue to torment his soul and crush him with words. To him, their speeches were not like medicine, but like blows against a wounded heart.
They had already accused him many times. Again and again, they had told him that his suffering must surely reveal something about his guilt. But Job did not feel understood. Instead of receiving comfort, he received pressure.
He told them that they were not ashamed to treat him harshly again and again. This was a serious accusation. Job wanted to show them that their words were not harmless. They struck him deeply.
Sometimes people think: They are only words. But words can be heavy. They can lift someone up or push them down. Job’s friends had spoken many words, but they had not strengthened his heart.
Job Feels Oppressed by GodThen Job spoke about something even more difficult. He said that he felt oppressed by God. To Job, his suffering was not merely a human problem. He sensed that God’s hand was involved in his life, but he did not understand why everything had become so dark.
Job cried out for help, yet it seemed to him that no one answered. He complained about injustice, but he found no judge who would give him justice. He felt as though his path had been blocked and as though God had placed darkness over his way.
For children, we can imagine it like this: someone is walking along a path and wants to find the way home. But suddenly, the path is blocked with stones, and darkness falls everywhere. The person calls out, but no one answers. That is how lonely Job felt.
Job did not say this because he had forgotten God. He said it because he was wrestling with God. He knew that God was powerful. That was exactly why his questions were so difficult: Why does God allow me to suffer like this? Why can I find no way out?
Job Describes His Broken LifeJob spoke of how God had taken away his honor. He had once been a respected man. People listened to him, sought his advice, and honored him. But now everything was different.
He felt torn down like a house that had once stood firm and then collapsed stone by stone. His hope was like a tree torn out by the roots. It was not merely one branch that had broken off; his entire foundation seemed to be gone.
These images show how deeply Job felt the changes in his life. He had not only lost possessions. He felt as though his whole life had been torn apart. What had once been secure was secure no longer.
And yet Job kept speaking. He put his pain into words. He showed that when something breaks within us, we may speak about it before God. God also hears words that sound heavy and sad.
Job Feels Surrounded by EnemiesJob said that God’s anger had burned against him and that he felt treated like an enemy. He described his suffering as though entire armies were advancing against him and surrounding his tent.
This is a powerful image. A single tent looks very small when many enemies surround it. Job felt exactly that way: small, weak, and pressed on every side.
His body was sick, his friends did not understand him, his heart was full of questions, and God’s presence felt hidden. All of this together was like an army of troubles marching against him.
But here too, Job is speaking from his feelings. He honestly describes how everything feels to him. He does not try to make his distress sound better than it is. His words show how deeply a person can suffer and still continue wrestling with God.
People Turn Away from JobThen Job’s lament becomes even more personal. He says that his brothers and acquaintances have grown distant from him. People who were once close now keep their distance. Relatives stay away, and friends forget him.
This was especially bitter for Job. Suffering is already difficult when people stand beside us. But when others withdraw, the pain becomes even lonelier. Job felt not only sick, but abandoned.
Many things had also changed in his own household. Guests and maidservants saw him as a stranger. Even his servants no longer answered when he called them. Job, who had once been honored, now had to beg, and yet he was still ignored.
This shows how much his world had changed. People had once come to him. Now many seemed to avoid him. He was still the same Job, but his suffering had changed the way others looked at him.
Even Closeness Feels Far AwayJob went on to say that even his breath had become unpleasant to his wife and that people from his own family turned away from him. Children despised him, and when he tried to stand, they spoke against him.
This is a very sad passage. Job is not only describing outward loss, but deep loneliness in the most personal parts of his life. People who should have been especially close now felt far away.
His closest friends detested him, and those he loved turned against him. These words show how rejected Job felt. He was not merely a sick man sitting in ashes. He was a person longing to be seen and loved.
We can explain it to children this way: it hurts to be sad and then also feel as though no one wants to be with you. Job knew that feeling very deeply.
Job Pleads for MercyJob describes his body with very sorrowful words. He says that his bones cling to his skin and that very little strength remains. His illness has visibly marked him.
Then he cries out to his friends: Have mercy on me! Show me compassion! This cry comes from deep within his heart. Job does not want to hear any more accusations. He needs mercy.
He asks his friends why they are pursuing him as though they were God. Why do they not stop attacking him with their words? Why are they not satisfied after accusing him again and again?
This is an important moment. Job says clearly what he needs: mercy. Not another speech. Not another explanation. Not another warning. But compassion.
Job Wishes His Words Would RemainThen Job expresses a special wish. He wants his words to be written down. He wishes they could be recorded in a book or carved into stone with an iron stylus.
Why does he want this? Because he does not want his truth to be lost. If people misunderstand him, then his words should remain. If his friends condemn him, then someone in the future should be able to read what Job truly said.
It is like a cry sent into the future. Job wants his suffering not to disappear as though no one had ever seen it. His words should bear witness: I suffered, I asked questions, I was misunderstood, but I did not stop seeking God.
And indeed, his words have remained. People still read them today. Children and adults still hear Job’s lament and realize that God did not forget these words.
Job Knows: His Redeemer LivesThen comes the bright sentence that shines in the middle of Job’s darkness. Job says: “I know that my Redeemer lives.” He believes that in the end, someone will stand up for him.
A redeemer is someone who helps, saves, and stands up for another person. Job feels abandoned by people and judged unfairly. But he believes that there is a living Redeemer who will not forget his cause.
This is astonishing because Job is still suffering. His illness has not disappeared. His friends have not apologized. His questions are still unanswered. And yet Job speaks this sentence full of hope.
It is like a star suddenly becoming visible in a dark night. The night is still there, but the star shows that darkness is not everything. Job does not yet see the full light, but he holds on to this hope: My Redeemer lives.
Job Hopes to See GodJob continues by saying that one day he will see God. Even though his body is wasting away and his life is threatened, he believes that his story will not simply end in darkness.
This hope is very deep. Job does not merely say: Perhaps everything will somehow get better. He says: I will see God. Not as a stranger, but with my own eyes. His heart longs for this.
For Job, this means: people may misunderstand him, but God knows the truth. People may abandon him, but God remains the final witness. His body may be weak, but God’s power is stronger than death.
This is one of the most beautiful moments in Job’s story. It shows that true hope can shine in the middle of the deepest pain—not because everything is easy, but because God is greater than all darkness.
Job Warns His FriendsAfter this light of hope, Job turns once more to his friends. He warns them not to continue pursuing him and accusing him falsely. They should understand that judgment and justice belong to God.
Job is saying: Be careful with your judgments. You think you can explain my situation simply. But you cannot see into my heart, and you do not fully know God’s ways.
This is an important warning. People should not act as though they stand in God’s place. Only God knows the full truth of a person’s life. Therefore, we must be careful when we judge.
Job’s friends had spoken a great deal. But Job shows them that harsh words against a suffering person are dangerous. Whoever judges without mercy is also under God’s watchful eye.
A Light Remains in the NightAt the end of this chapter, Job is still sick and lonely. His friends have not understood him. Many people have turned away from him. His questions remain difficult.
But the chapter does not remain only dark. In the middle of Job’s lament stands a light that cannot be put out: My Redeemer lives.
Job holds on to the hope that God will reveal the truth in the end. He believes that his suffering has not been forgotten and that he will see God. This hope is stronger than the words of his friends.
Job shows us that hope is not always loud laughter. Sometimes hope is a quiet, steady sentence spoken through tears. A sentence that says: I do not yet see everything, but I know that my Redeemer lives.
What This Chapter ShowsThis chapter shows how deeply Job suffers because of the words of his friends and because of his loneliness. He feels abandoned, misunderstood, and oppressed. Therefore, he asks for mercy instead of further accusations.
This chapter also contains a wonderful declaration of hope: Job knows that his Redeemer lives. In the middle of illness, loss, and darkness, he trusts that God knows the truth and that his story has not been forgotten.
SummaryJob answers his friends and asks how long they will continue tormenting him with their words. He describes how he feels oppressed by God and abandoned by people. Relatives, acquaintances, servants, children, and friends turn away from him, and Job pleads for mercy. Then he wishes that his words could be written down permanently. In the middle of his deep lament, Job makes a great declaration of hope: he knows that his Redeemer lives and that he will see God. Afterward, he warns his friends not to continue judging him too quickly.
Message for Children TodayWhen someone is suffering, they often do not need many explanations, but mercy. We can learn not to overwhelm people with words, but to stay lovingly close to them.
Job also shows us that even when we feel alone, we may still hope that God has not forgotten us. God sees our tears, knows the truth about us, and is greater than every darkness.
Reflection
Why does Job ask his friends for mercy?
Why did Job want his words to be written down?
What does the sentence “I know that my Redeemer lives” mean?
Invitation to Job Chapter 20
Zophar Responds with a Serious WarningJob has spoken about his loneliness and yet, in the middle of his pain, confessed: “My Redeemer lives.” A bright sentence of hope has shone in the darkness.
But his friends are still not ready to truly understand Job. Now Zophar will answer. He too speaks harshly and believes that the happiness of the wicked lasts only a short time.
Will Zophar hear Job’s hope, or will he once again offer only his own explanation?
Come and discover the next chapter!
Preview of Job Chapter 20 When Zophar Warns Against False HappinessZophar hears Job’s words and becomes restless. He thinks Job must finally understand that the happiness of the wicked quickly passes away.
Why does Zophar speak so excitedly?
What images does he use for false happiness?
And why does his warning fail to help Job once again?
In the next chapter, we will hear Zophar’s serious speech and see how difficult it is when friends only warn, but do not truly comfort.
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