Still Awake?

A little closer to Jesus every evening.

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August 4

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The Joy That Comes from Jesus

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Matthew 2:10–11

“When they saw the star, they were filled with exceedingly great joy. They went into the house and found the child with Mary, his mother. Then they fell down and worshiped him.”
Matthew 2:10–11

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When was the last time you felt truly joyful?

Perhaps because you passed an exam.

Because you received good news.

Because of a vacation.

Or simply because you were able to spend time with someone you love.

Joy is one of God’s most beautiful gifts.

Yet it is often temporary.

Today we rejoice.

Tomorrow, the moment has already passed.

The joy of the wise men was different.

Matthew even writes that they were “filled with exceedingly great joy.”

Why?

Because they saw the star again?

Not only because of that.

The star was important. But it was never the destination.

It was only the guide.

The destination was Jesus.

How quickly we sometimes confuse the guide with the destination.

We rejoice in beautiful experiences.

In success.

In recognition.

In gifts.

But all these things can make us happy only for a moment.

The joy that lasts can be found only in Jesus.

When the wise men entered the house, something remarkable happened.

Matthew does not write that they first greeted Mary.

He does not say that they admired the house.

He does not even mention that they spoke about their long journey.

Their eyes fell upon Jesus.

And immediately, it was clear what they should do.

They fell down and worshiped him.

Try to imagine that moment.

They had been traveling for months.

They had covered many miles.

They had experienced uncertainty.

Perhaps others had laughed at them.

Perhaps they themselves had sometimes doubted.

But now they finally stood before Jesus.

In that moment, every hardship was forgotten.

Sometimes our lives are similar.

We are on the way.

We hope.

We wait.

We pray.

And often we wonder whether the journey is worth it at all.

The story of the wise men gives us a wonderful answer.

Yes.

Every step toward Jesus is worthwhile.

Perhaps you do not recognize that today.

Perhaps your faith sometimes feels dry.

Perhaps you read the Bible and think:

“Why do I not feel anything?”

The wise men surely had days when all they could see was sand, heat, and exhaustion.

But they continued.

And eventually, they stood before Jesus.

I believe that many people are searching for joy, but in the wrong places.

They look for it in likes.

In recognition.

In success.

In relationships.

In money.

All these things can be beautiful.

But none of them can permanently fill the emptiness of our hearts.

We were not created for that.

We were created for fellowship with God.

Augustine once wrote:

“Our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.”

Perhaps this is precisely why some people have everything and are still unhappy.

And why others have so little and yet live with deep peace.

True joy does not depend primarily upon our circumstances.

It grows wherever Jesus is at the center.

That is why, this evening, I do not wish you success above all else.

Nor perfect grades.

Nor a life without problems.

I wish you something far greater.

That you may encounter Jesus.

For wherever Jesus is, a joy begins to grow that reaches deeper than every feeling.

A joy that endures even through difficult days.

A joy that no one can take away from you.

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Think About It

What does your joy depend upon at the moment?

What would need to happen for you to be happy tomorrow?

And what would change if Jesus himself became the greatest joy of your life?

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Prayer

Dear Father,

thank you that true joy does not depend upon my circumstances, but upon you.

So often I search for happiness in the wrong places.

Please turn my eyes toward Jesus again and again.

Give me a heart that rejoices in your presence.

And help me never to forget that the greatest joy is not found in what I receive, but in the One whom I encounter.

Thank you that Jesus is here.

Today.

And tomorrow as well.

Amen.

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Sleep well.

The greatest joy is not waiting for tomorrow.

It has a name:

Jesus.

See you tomorrow.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%8c%99-still-awake-08-04-2026-%f0%9f%98%8a-the-joy-that-comes-from-jesus/

From Babylon to the Eternal Kingdom

Historical, Spiritual, and Prophetic Poems from the Book of Daniel

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Chapter 1 – Miniseries 4

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The Prophetic Preparation

How God Shaped His Servants for Greater Tasks

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Poem 5 – God Prepares His Servants

Heaven Sees Farther Than Humanity

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Day after day, Daniel looked back
upon the road behind his steps.
So much had changed along the way,
yet God’s faithfulness remained greater.

From Judah all the way to Babylon,
from temple courts to royal throne,
the Lord had faithfully guided him
and touched each step along the road.

When Jerusalem’s walls had fallen
and many hopes had broken with them,
the future seemed both dark and heavy,
as though no morning could remain.

But God saw farther than humanity,
beyond the present and the passing years.
He knew the ending from the beginning
and guided all things by His will.

What Daniel could not understand
was safely held in God’s fatherly hand.
The pathways that appeared so strange
would serve a higher purpose still.

The Lord prepares His servants well
long before He opens any door.
He shapes their faith in quiet depths
according to His wise and gracious will.

No one becomes prepared at once
for the great tasks of their appointed time.
Heaven works from year to year
upon what later will be clearly seen.

The school of Babylon was far more
than scholarship and human learning.
God used each hour they spent there
as preparation for His Word.

The king’s own table, plain and small,
was also part of God’s great plan.
There Daniel learned while still so young
how deeply faithfulness can matter.

The test appeared so small to others,
yet reached into the depths of life.
For character grows on in secret
through choices faithfully made each day.

Hananiah learned the same devotion,
and Mishael stood steadfast too.
Azariah likewise was being shaped,
like gold refined within the fire.

Heaven rejoiced to see
what God began within these men.
For every victory in their walk of faith
prepared the way for what would follow.

Babylon saw only young men
instructed by accomplished teachers.
But angels saw far more than this:
God was preparing His own servants.

No one within the kingdom knew
that momentous days were drawing near.
No one yet knew what would unfold
when God began to lift the veil.

A dream would soon invade the night
with images ordained by heaven.
The king would stand without an answer,
and no one would know what to say.

Then it would clearly be revealed
why God had long prepared Daniel.
For those entrusted with mysteries
must first learn how to trust completely.

The Lord does not give revelation
to hearts concerned with self alone.
He seeks the person who is ready
to walk in humility and faithfulness.

Therefore every trial held value
that nourished Daniel’s growing faith.
Therefore every difficult season
formed part of God’s eternal purpose.

The same divine path still remains
that God’s own wisdom lays before us.
He often leads through hidden years
before revealing greater tasks.

Some ask amid their darkest season:
“Why does God lead me down this road?”
Yet often only later do we see
how good His plan had always been.

The Most High never makes a mistake;
His eyes behold what we cannot see.
He knows the road no one else knows
and leads us safely to the end.

Daniel learned this day by day
while Babylon surrounded him.
He knew that God’s own hand alone
would always be his strength.

Thus the Lord prepared him
for service at the royal court.
Not fame, not power, not human praise,
but God’s own guidance bore him onward.

And when God’s appointed hour arrives,
what He prepared becomes revealed.
Then it is often clearly seen
that faithfulness is never wasted.

And so this truth continues shining
through every age and every place:
the Lord prepares His servants well
long before He opens any door.

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Prophetic Reflection

God often works for a long time in secret before He acts in public. His ways differ fundamentally from human expectations. While we often seek quick solutions, visible success, and immediate results, God usually works quietly, patiently, and step by step. He lays the foundation before allowing the structure to appear. He develops the roots before the fruit becomes visible. His greatest work therefore often begins where human beings see nothing extraordinary.

Daniel is a powerful example of this divine principle. As a young man, he was carried away from his homeland. Jerusalem lay in ruins, the temple had been desecrated, and his future appeared destroyed. From a human perspective, his deportation to Babylon was a tragedy. No one at that time could have imagined that this painful road would become the beginning of one of the most significant prophetic ministries in the entire Bible.

At first, Daniel did not understand why God permitted him to walk this path. He did not know why he had to leave his family, his homeland, and the temple. He could not see the decades ahead. He knew nothing of Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams, the visions concerning the world empires, the lions’ den, or the revelations about the time of the end. All he could see was the next step. Yet precisely there, he learned to trust God even when His ways remained hidden.

In retrospect, it becomes clear that no experience was accidental. Every chapter of Daniel’s life formed part of God’s preparation. His education at the Babylonian court gave him knowledge of language, culture, and government. His service under several kings taught him wisdom, patience, and responsibility. Challenges strengthened his faith. Trials deepened his fellowship with God. Even painful experiences became instruments through which the Lord shaped His servant.

Heaven shapes character before entrusting responsibility. God knows that a person given great tasks without a firmly established character could easily fail. He therefore gives maturity before influence. He teaches humility before granting honor. He teaches obedience before giving authority. He teaches trust before revealing great mysteries. In God’s kingdom, inward preparation always precedes outward calling.

This principle appears throughout the Bible. Joseph spent years as a slave and prisoner before governing Egypt. Moses lived for forty years as a shepherd in the wilderness before leading Israel. David learned to trust God as a shepherd and fugitive before becoming king. Paul spent time in the solitude of Arabia before beginning his worldwide ministry. Even Jesus spent most of His earthly life in the obscurity of Nazareth before His public ministry began. God never bypasses the path of preparation.

The hidden years therefore possess immeasurable value. People often experience seasons of waiting as stagnation or even as regression. Yet from God’s perspective, they are frequently the most fruitful years. Although little may appear to happen outwardly, the Holy Spirit is working deeply within the heart. He purifies motives, strengthens faith, teaches patience, and prepares the person for what is still to come.

Many trials reveal their meaning only in retrospect. Daniel may have understood only years later why God had led him to Babylon. We likewise often understand God’s ways only afterward. What appears today to be a closed door may tomorrow become the beginning of a new calling. What seems today like defeat may later prove to have been necessary preparation for a greater ministry. God wastes no experience in the lives of His children.

The Lord still leads His children along paths they do not initially understand. Some experience seasons of waiting, uncertainty, or suffering. Others carry responsibilities whose meaning remains hidden. Still others wonder why God closes certain doors and opens others. Yet the Lord sees farther than we can see. He knows not only the present moment, but the entire journey to its destination.

From a Seventh-day Adventist perspective, this principle also applies to the preparation of God’s end-time people. The Lord does not begin preparing His church only when the final prophetic events unfold. He is already working today within the hearts of believers. Every experience, trial, and decision of faith can become part of this preparation. God is shaping a people who will remain faithful to Him during the decisive hours of world history because they have already come to know Him during the quiet years of life.

Daniel therefore teaches us to trust God even when we cannot yet recognize His plan. We do not need to know every answer in order to follow Him obediently. It is enough to know that the Lord knows the way. The God who led Daniel through Babylon still guides His children safely today. He loses sight of none of His purposes and completes what He has begun.

The Most High sees the end from the beginning. What appears to us as separate and unrelated events belongs, in His hand, to one perfect plan. We may therefore continue forward with hope. God’s preparation never ends in chance, but always in the fulfillment of His gracious will.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.’” (Isaiah 46:10)

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%91%91-from-babylon-to-the-eternal-kingdom-ch-1-%f0%9f%94%a5-miniseries-4-%f0%9f%93%96-the-prophetic-preparation-%e2%9c%a8-poem-5-god-prepares-his-servants/

Bible Stories to Marvel At

Where God’s miracles become great – for little and big children

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Job Chapter 39 – God Shows Job the Wild Animals

When Animals Tell of God’s Wisdom

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Introduction

In the previous chapter, God had answered Job from the storm. After the many words of Job’s friends, after Job’s laments, and after Elihu’s long speeches, the Lord himself finally spoke. Yet God did not immediately explain every mystery of Job’s suffering. First, he led him to wonder.

God asked Job about the foundation of the earth, the boundaries of the sea, the morning, the depths of the ocean, light and darkness, snow, hail, rain, wind, stars, clouds, lightning, lions, and ravens. Job was to recognize that the world is filled with wonders that human beings can neither create nor control.

Now God’s answer continues. But God does not speak only about the heavens, the sea, and the weather. He directs Job’s attention toward the animal world. He asks about animals that are free, wild, strong, swift, mysterious, or dangerous. God speaks about mountain goats and deer, the wild donkey, the wild ox, the ostrich, the horse, the hawk, and the eagle.

Not all these animals live close to human beings. Some live in the mountains, some in the wilderness, some run across vast plains, and some soar high into the sky. Many of them cannot simply be controlled by people. Yet none of them lies beyond God’s knowledge.

This chapter shows that God knows the times when animals give birth, their paths, their strength, their freedom, their courage, and their limits. What human beings cannot direct still remains in God’s hand. The wild animals become living witnesses to God’s wisdom.

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The Biblical Story

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God Asks About the Mountain Goats

God begins with a question from the world of the mountains. He asks Job whether he knows the time when the mountain goats give birth. These animals live in places that are difficult to reach—among rocks, heights, and steep paths.

People may occasionally see a mountain goat from a distance. But who knows the exact hidden moment when a young animal is born? Who watches over these quiet moments in the mountains?

Job cannot say, “I am there. I know every birth. I count every new breath.” But God knows. No rock is too high, no ravine too hidden, and no animal too small for his eyes.

This is comforting for young and grown-up hearts. God does not see only the great things that people admire. He also sees the quiet wonders that no one notices. Even a young animal in the mountains is not forgotten by him.

God Knows the Time of the Deer

God then asks whether Job can observe the time when the deer give birth. Does Job know when they lie down, when their young are born, and when the pains of birth are over?

These questions are gentle and profound. Birth is a mysterious moment. New life begins, and yet much of it happens in secret. Animals do not need a human being to explain everything to them. God has given them their paths, instincts, and times.

A deer does not give birth at Job’s command. It does not need a human clock, a human calendar, or a human plan. God has ordered its time.

Job is to recognize that countless wonders take place in creation without human direction. Yet God knows every single one of them. His wisdom reaches into the hidden moments of life.

Young Animals Grow and Go Their Way

God describes how the young animals grow strong, mature in the open fields, and go away. They do not return as though they must always remain under human care. They enter the life God has given them.

This is a wonderful picture of growth. A small animal begins weak and needs protection and time. But then it becomes stronger. It stands, walks, jumps, and eventually goes its own way.

Children can imagine a young deer standing uncertainly on its slender legs at first. Then it learns to walk, jump, and follow its mother. Later, it becomes more independent.

God shows Job: I care for life that you hardly ever see. I accompany growth that you cannot control. My care is greater than human attention.

Who Gave the Wild Donkey Its Freedom?

God then speaks about the wild donkey. He asks: Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosened its bonds? This animal does not live like a domesticated donkey in a stable. It loves the freedom of the steppe and the wilderness.

The wild donkey does not belong to human beings. It carries no burdens for them and does not wait for their commands. It runs through vast, empty landscapes and seeks its life there.

For Job, this is a powerful image. Human beings like to arrange and control things. But God has also created creatures that remain beyond human control.

The freedom of the wild donkey is not a mistake. It is part of God’s creation. God delights not only in domesticated animals close to people, but also in wild animals that live in distant solitude.

The Wilderness Is Its Home

God says that he gave the steppe to the wild donkey as its home and the salt land as its dwelling place. What seems dry, lonely, and harsh to human beings is a living space for this animal.

The wild donkey laughs at the noise of the city. It does not hear the shouts of a driver. It searches the mountains for pasture and looks for every green plant.

This reveals God’s diversity. Not every creature lives in a soft, safe, and comfortable place. Some animals are made for harsh landscapes. They find food and freedom where human beings would hardly wish to live.

This is astonishing for young and grown-up hearts: God created not only gardens, but also deserts. Not only domestic animals, but also wild creatures. Not only nearness, but also vast open spaces.

Will the Wild Ox Serve You?

God now asks about the wild ox. It is strong, powerful, and untamed. God asks Job whether this animal would be willing to serve him or remain beside his manger at night.

A domestic ox can be harnessed, led, and used for work. But the wild ox cannot simply be treated like an obedient working animal. Its strength is not subject to Job’s command.

Job cannot simply bring it into his stable and say, “Now you will work for me.” The power of this animal remains beyond human control.

God is showing that there is power in his creation that human beings cannot use however they wish. They may admire it, but they cannot rule over it.

Can Job Harness the Wild Ox to the Plow?

God continues by asking whether Job can bind the wild ox to the furrow with a rope. Will it plow the valleys behind Job? Will Job trust it because its strength is great?

This is almost like a small test. An animal may be strong, but strength alone does not mean that it will be useful to human beings. If it cannot be guided, its power cannot simply be employed for human plans.

One might say to children: A very strong animal is not automatically a good helper. If it does not listen, it cannot be given work that must be done in an orderly way.

God reminds Job that he cannot simply use the forces of creation according to his wishes. God, however, knows every animal and its place.

Can Job Entrust His Harvest to It?

God asks whether Job would entrust his harvest to the wild ox. Would he expect this powerful animal to gather the grain and bring it to the threshing floor?

Certainly not. The wild ox is strong, but it is not obedient like a domesticated working animal. Its strength is impressive, but it is not available for the work in Job’s fields.

This reveals an important difference: Not everything strong is available for human use. Not everything powerful exists to fulfill human wishes.

Creation does not belong to human beings like a box of tools. It belongs to God. Humanity may use and care for it, but humanity is not lord over everything.

The Ostrich Spreads Its Wings

God then directs Job’s attention toward a strange animal: the ostrich. Its wings flap joyfully, yet it does not fly like the stork or the hawk. It is built differently, guided differently, and astonishing in a different way.

The ostrich is an animal full of mysteries. It has wings, but it does not fly high into the sky. Instead, it can run swiftly across the ground. It appears awkward and amazing at the same time.

One might say to children: Not every animal uses its wings in the same way. One bird can fly high, while an ostrich runs with tremendous speed. God made every animal special.

God shows Job that his creation does not always correspond to human expectations. It is filled with surprises.

The Ostrich Leaves Its Eggs in the Dust

God describes how the ostrich leaves its eggs upon the ground and allows them to be warmed in the sand. It does not consider that a foot might crush them or that a wild animal might break them.

To human eyes, this appears strange and careless. A person might ask: Why does it not protect its eggs more carefully? Why does it not build a secure nest like other birds?

Yet God speaks about this to show that even such puzzling things remain within his hand. Not everything corresponds to human ideas of wisdom.

Job is to recognize that the world contains more than things he can immediately understand. Some animals appear contradictory and yet belong within God’s wise creation.

An Animal Without Human Wisdom

God says that the ostrich appears harsh toward its young, as though they were not its own. It does not care for them in the way human beings would expect. God also says that he did not endow it with wisdom or give it a share of understanding.

These words sound unusual. The ostrich does not appear as an example of special care, but as an example of how different animals can be. Some possess astonishing instincts, while others appear unwise in certain ways.

Yet this, too, belongs to God’s creation. God does not make every animal the same. Each has its own place, its own nature, and its own limitations.

For young and grown-up hearts, this is a lesson: We do not need to understand everything immediately in order to recognize that God is greater. Creation is more diverse than our own thoughts would make it.

When the Ostrich Runs, It Laughs at Horse and Rider

God then reveals the other side of the ostrich. When it rises and begins to run, it laughs at the horse and its rider. It can move with astonishing speed.

What seemed strange a moment ago now appears wonderful. The ostrich does not fly like other birds, but it runs with great power. Its strength lies somewhere human beings might not first expect.

This is a beautiful lesson. Sometimes people judge too quickly. They see what someone cannot do and overlook what God has given that person.

The ostrich reminds us that God distributes gifts differently. Not every creature is made for the same task. Yet each one reveals something of God’s creativity in its own way.

Who Gave the Horse Its Strength?

God now speaks about the horse. He asks Job whether he gave the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane. The horse appears full of power, beauty, and movement.

A strong horse can run swiftly, jump, carry, and pull. Its mane flows, its muscles work, and its body seems made for movement.

For young and grown-up hearts, a horse is often an impressive animal. It can appear gentle, but also full of energy. When it gallops, one senses strength and freedom.

God asks Job: Did you make this? Did you form this strength? Job must recognize: No. This beauty and power come from the Creator’s hand.

The Horse Leaps Like a Locust

God asks whether Job makes the horse leap like a locust. Its powerful snorting is frightening. It paws the ground in the valley, rejoices in its strength, and charges toward the weapons.

The horse is not described here as a peaceful animal in a meadow, but as a warhorse. It is courageous, impetuous, and full of energy. It does not retreat from danger.

One can imagine the ground trembling beneath its hooves. The horse senses the battle, hears the noise, and presses forward. It is a picture of courage and power.

Job did not give this animal its courage. He did not place the fire within its heart. God alone created it this way.

The Horse Is Not Afraid of Battle

God describes how the horse laughs at fear. It is not frightened and does not turn away from the sword. The quiver, spear, and javelin rattle, yet the horse continues forward.

The image is powerful. Human beings may use a horse in battle, but they did not create its inner strength. The courage of the horse is part of God’s mysterious creation.

One might say to children: A horse can sometimes be easily frightened, but the warhorse in this picture is full of fire. It hears the call to battle and runs forward.

God shows Job that even courage, strength, and movement in animals are wonders that Job did not create. He may see them, but he cannot bring them into existence.

The Horse Hears the Trumpet

God says that at the sound of the trumpet the horse neighs and senses the battle from far away. It hears the voices of the commanders and the battle cry.

The horse is shown as an animal in its element. Where a human being might tremble, the horse presses forward. Its nature is filled with strength and readiness.

Such images may feel unfamiliar to modern readers because war is sorrowful and destructive. Yet God is not expressing delight in suffering. He is revealing the astonishing strength of an animal that human beings did not create.

Job is not first meant to think about battle, but about the wonder of creation: Who gave this animal such power, such fire, and such boldness? God alone.

Does the Hawk Fly by Job’s Wisdom?

God then asks about the hawk. Does the hawk fly by Job’s wisdom? Does it spread its wings toward the south because Job commands it?

A hawk is swift, alert, and graceful. It glides through the air, uses currents of wind, and sees from a great height what is happening on the ground.

Human beings can admire the flight of a hawk, but they did not give it the ability to fly. They did not design its wings or place its paths within its heart.

For young and grown-up hearts, this is a beautiful thought: Birds do not fly because human beings taught them. God gave them everything they need to cross the sky.

Does the Eagle Soar at Your Command?

God continues by asking whether the eagle rises at Job’s command and builds its nest in the heights. The eagle lives high above, far beyond human control.

It builds its nest upon rocks and high cliffs. From there, it looks far across the land. Its eyes can see prey from a great distance. Its wings carry it to heights human beings cannot reach.

Job cannot command the eagle where to live. He cannot send it upward merely by speaking. The eagle does not follow Job’s plan, but the order God placed within it.

God is showing that even the majestic creatures of the sky belong to him. They live freely, but not apart from God. They are wild, but not beyond his wisdom.

The Eagle Sees from Far Away

God describes how the eagle lives upon the rock and searches for prey from there. Its eyes look far into the distance. Where human beings can hardly recognize anything, the eagle sees clearly.

This is astonishing. God has given each animal special abilities. The eagle possesses sharp eyes, powerful wings, and a dwelling place in the heights.

One might say to children: When you can barely see something from the ground, the eagle can see much farther from above. God made it that way.

Through these questions, Job is reminded that God’s wisdom is visible not only in great stars and oceans, but also in the eyes of a bird.

The Eagle’s Young Also Live Within God’s Order

God speaks of the eagle’s young drinking blood and gathering where the slain are found. This image is harsh and difficult, but it reveals the reality of the wild natural world.

Not everything in the animal world appears gentle and friendly to human beings. There are hunters and prey, strength and danger, life and death. Creation is beautiful, but it is also awe-inspiring.

God shows Job a world much greater than human ideas of comfort. Wild animals also have their place within this world. God knows them all.

Job cannot direct every movement of these animals. He cannot explain why every creature is the way it is. But God knows.

The Wild Animals Reveal God’s Wisdom

At the end of this chapter, Job stands before an entire world filled with animals. Mountain goats, deer, wild donkeys, wild oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks, and eagles pass before his inner eye.

Each animal tells a different story. The mountain goat speaks of hidden care in the mountains. The deer tells of God’s knowledge of the times of birth. The wild donkey reveals freedom. The wild ox reveals untamed strength. The ostrich reveals surprising uniqueness. The horse reveals courage. The hawk and eagle reveal height, vision, and movement.

God is not saying, “Job, your suffering is unimportant.” Rather, God is saying: Job, you live within a creation that is far greater, deeper, and more mysterious than you can comprehend. Since you cannot even direct these animals, trust that my wisdom also reaches those places where you understand nothing.

For young and grown-up hearts, this is an invitation to wonder. Every animal God created can remind us that the Creator sees more, knows more, and cares more fully than human beings can imagine.

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What This Chapter Reveals

This chapter shows that God knows and provides for the wild animals. He knows the times when mountain goats and deer give birth, the freedom of the wild donkey, the strength of the wild ox, the uniqueness of the ostrich, the courage of the horse, and the flight of the hawk and the eagle.

This chapter also shows that human beings cannot control everything. Many animals live beyond human control, but not beyond God’s wisdom. God knows their paths, their abilities, and their place within creation.

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Summary

In Job chapter 39, God continues his answer from the storm and directs Job’s attention toward the animal world. He asks whether Job knows the times when mountain goats and deer give birth. He speaks about the wild donkey that lives freely in the wilderness and about the wild ox whose strength human beings cannot simply use for their work. God describes the ostrich, which appears strange yet runs swiftly; the horse with its strength and courage in battle; the hawk that spreads its wings; and the eagle that lives high upon the rock and sees from far away. The chapter shows that God’s wisdom is visible in every animal and that human beings can admire many things without being able to control them.

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Message for Young and Grown-up Hearts Today

We learn that God’s creation is filled with wonders. Every animal is different. Some are strong, some swift, some free, and some mysterious. God knows them all and has given each one its place.

We also learn that we do not need to control everything in order to trust God. If God knows and provides for the wild animals, then he also knows our lives. His wisdom reaches beyond our understanding.

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Thoughts for Reflection

Why does God show Job so many different animals?
What do the wild donkey, the wild ox, the horse, and the eagle reveal about God’s creation?
Why can wonder at animals strengthen our trust in God?

Invitation to Job Chapter 40

Job Becomes Silent Before God

God has led Job through the wonders of creation. He has shown him the earth, the sea, the stars, the weather, and the wild animals. Job has seen that God’s wisdom is greater than human understanding.

Now God will ask Job directly whether a human being can contend with the Almighty. Job will answer, but not with many explanations. He will become silent and place his hand over his mouth.

What happens when a person realizes that God is greater than all his questions?

Come along and discover the next chapter!

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Teaser for Job Chapter 40

When God Speaks About Strength and Humility

Job will become small and silent before God. Yet God’s answer is not finished. The Lord will continue speaking and ask Job whether he wishes to discredit God’s justice. Then God will show him a mighty creature: Behemoth.

Why does Job place his hand over his mouth?
Why does God ask about justice, power, and humility?
And what does Behemoth reveal about God’s creative power?

In the next chapter, Job will become silent before the Lord—and God will lead him even deeper into wonder at his power.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%a7%92%f0%9f%93%9a-bible-stories-to-marvel-at-08-04-2026-%f0%9f%8c%bf-job-%f0%9f%a6%8c-chap-39-god-shows-job-the-wild-animals/

God’s Wisdom for Your Everyday Life

Words for Life

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Theme 1: The Fear of the Lord

The Beginning of True Wisdom

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1.7 The Reward of Humility

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Bible Text:

“The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is riches, honor, and life.”
Proverbs 22:4

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Guiding Thought

True fear of God leads to humility—and humility opens the heart to God’s blessing, God’s guidance, and true life.

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Humility is not among the most popular virtues of our time. Many people want to appear strong, present themselves confidently, assert their opinions, and be noticed. We live in a culture in which people are expected to present themselves, prove themselves, and make their presence known. Those who are quiet are quickly regarded as weak. Those who yield are sometimes overlooked. Those who do not place themselves at the center seem unimportant.

Yet the book of Proverbs gives us a different perspective. Before God, humility is not weakness. Humility is spiritual strength. It is the attitude of a person who has recognized: I am not the center. I need God. I cannot save myself, guide myself, or make myself perfect.

Proverbs 22:4 connects two things: humility and the fear of the Lord. This is no coincidence. Those who truly honor God become humble. The fear of the Lord reminds us who God is and who we are. God is holy, wise, eternal, just, and full of love. We are limited, dependent, and in need of his grace.

A person who fears God does not need to make himself appear greater than he is. He does not have to pretend that everything is under control. He may be honest. He may learn. He may ask for help. He may allow himself to be corrected. Humility does not mean feeling worthless. Humility means not drawing one’s worth from pride, achievement, or recognition, but from a relationship with God.

Pride says: “I know better.”
Humility says: “Lord, teach me.”

Pride says: “I do not need anyone.”
Humility says: “I need God’s grace.”

Pride says: “My way is right.”
Humility asks: “Lord, is this your way?”

The Bible repeatedly shows that pride is dangerous. Pride makes people blind. It prevents insight. It destroys relationships. It hardens the heart against God’s voice. A proud person may even appear religious and still be inwardly far from God. He may speak the right words but remain unwilling to be changed.

Humility, by contrast, opens the heart. A humble person listens. He allows God’s Word to speak personally to him. He does not regard correction as an attack, but as an opportunity for growth. He does not always have to win. He does not always have to be right. He knows that standing rightly before God is more important than appearing strong before people.

Proverbs 22:4 speaks of a reward: “riches, honor, and life.” These words must be understood spiritually. God does not automatically promise earthly wealth in the form of possessions, luxury, or outward success. The Bible shows us many faithful people who were not rich in a material sense. Yet they were rich before God.

The riches God gives begin in the heart. They are the riches of peace. The riches of a clear conscience. The riches of wisdom. The riches of a relationship with God. The riches of a character that is not ruled by every temptation. Those who walk humbly with God are not poor, even when they possess little. They have something that this world cannot buy.

Honor, too, does not primarily mean human applause. True honor comes from God. It does not consist in everyone admiring us, but in our lives being approved before God. It is a great honor to be guided, shaped, and used by God. It is an honor to be a person through whom others can see God’s love, patience, and truth.

Finally, the verse speaks of life. This may be the deepest reward. The fear of the Lord leads to life because it connects us with the source of life. Humility leads to life because it causes us to stop fighting against God. Pride separates. Humility opens. Pride hardens. Humility heals. Pride wants control. Humility trusts.

Jesus himself shows us what true humility looks like. He, the Lord of heaven, did not come in pride, but in gentleness. He served. He washed feet. He did not seek human honor. He was obedient even unto death. In him we see that humility is not weakness. Humility is love in its purest form.

Those who follow Christ are invited to learn the same attitude. Not self-glorification, but surrender. Not arrogance, but service. Not insisting on being right, but speaking the truth in love. Not placing the self upon the throne, but giving God first place.

For us as Christians who are waiting for the return of Jesus, humility is essential. It is not enough to know the right teachings if the heart remains proud. It is not enough to speak about truth if we are unwilling to be changed by the truth. Final preparation for Christ is not only knowledge, but character. And character grows where a person lives humbly before God.

Perhaps humility is so difficult precisely because it touches our ego. We want to be acknowledged. We want to be taken seriously. We do not want to appear weak. Yet God’s way is different. He does not exalt those who make themselves great, but those who allow themselves to be led by him.

Humility is revealed in everyday life. It is revealed when we apologize. When we listen instead of immediately defending ourselves. When we accept correction. When we serve others without needing to be noticed. When we thank God instead of praising ourselves. When we admit that we need help. When we say in prayer: “Lord, not my will, but yours be done.”

This is the way of wisdom.

The fear of the Lord and humility belong together like root and fruit. Where God becomes great, the self becomes smaller. Yet precisely in this, a person is not humiliated, but set free. Free from constant comparison. Free from the pressure to prove oneself. Free from the fear of not being enough. Free to trust God.

Perhaps God is inviting you today to release a proud area of your heart. Perhaps there is a situation in which you insist on being right. Perhaps there is a relationship in which you should take the first step toward reconciliation. Perhaps there is a decision in which you rely more on your own security than on God’s guidance. Perhaps there is a habit in which you need God’s correction.

Humility often begins with one simple sentence:

“Lord, I need you.”

This sentence is not a sign of weakness. It is the beginning of spiritual strength. God can guide a heart that opens itself to him. He can change a person who is willing to learn. He can work through a life that does not seek itself, but honors him.

The reward of humility is not always visible to the world. Yet it is precious before God. Riches that do not pass away. Honor that does not depend on people. Life that comes from God’s presence.

Therefore, the way of the fear of the Lord is also the way of humility.

Not I at the center.
Not my will first.
Not my honor as the goal.

But God.
His wisdom.
His way.
His life within me.

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Application for Today

Ask God today to show you where pride influences your heart. Pay special attention to situations in which you defend yourself, refuse to listen, or insist on being right.

Choose one concrete step of humility: apologize, listen, serve, give thanks, or consciously place God’s guidance above your own opinion.

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Questions for Reflection

1. Where do I find it difficult to be humble?
2. In which area do I want to remain in control instead of trusting God?
3. How can I reflect God’s character through humility today?

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Prayer

Lord, teach me true humility. Forgive my pride, my self-reliance, and my desire to place myself at the center. Help me to exalt you and allow my heart to be shaped by you. Give me courage to accept correction, serve others, and place your will above my own. Grant me the riches of your presence, the honor of a faithful life, and the life that comes from you alone. Amen.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%a7%ad-gods-wisdom-for-your-everyday-life-%f0%9f%99%8f-topic-1-the-fear-of-the-lord-%f0%9f%91%91-1-7-the-reward-of-humility/

The Biblical Person of the Day

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Melchizedek – The King of Peace and Priest of the Most High

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Profile

• Name: Melchizedek
• Time of Birth: unknown
• Place of Birth: presumably Salem
• Time of Death: unknown
• Age: unknown
• Role: king of Salem and priest of God Most High

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Short Story

Melchizedek appears only briefly in the Bible, yet his significance is extraordinarily great. He meets Abram after Abram’s victory over the kings, when Abram had rescued his nephew Lot.

When Abram returned, Melchizedek came out to meet him. He brought bread and wine and blessed Abram in the name of God Most High, the Creator of heaven and earth.

Melchizedek was not only king of Salem, but also a priest of God. In this way, he united royal dignity and priestly ministry in one person.

Abram recognized the spiritual significance of this man and gave him a tenth of everything. In doing so, Abram showed that Melchizedek held a special position before God.

His name means “King of Righteousness,” and as king of Salem he is also associated with peace. Melchizedek therefore represents righteousness, peace, blessing, and priestly ministry.

Later, Melchizedek is mentioned in the Psalms and interpreted in the New Testament as an important type of Christ.

His story shows that long before the Levitical priesthood, God already had a priest who pointed toward a greater and eternal reality.

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The Decisive Moment

Melchizedek meets Abram, brings bread and wine, blesses him, and thereby becomes a mysterious pointer to the later priesthood of Christ.

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7 Special Facts About Melchizedek

1. He was king of Salem
2. He was priest of God Most High
3. He blessed Abram after his victory
4. He brought out bread and wine
5. He received a tenth from Abram
6. His name means “King of Righteousness”
7. He is interpreted in the New Testament as a type of Christ

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Strengths & Weaknesses

righteous
peaceful
priestly
recognized by Abram
very little is known about his personal life
his identity remains mysterious and is described only briefly

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The Failure That Shaped Him

The Bible reports no personal failure of Melchizedek.
His life is primarily characterized by blessing, righteousness, peace, and his priestly significance.

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Key Verse

“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.” (Genesis 14:18)

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The Life Lesson

True spiritual greatness is revealed not in personal glory, but in blessing others in God’s name and pointing them toward God’s rule.

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Application for Today

Seek a life that unites righteousness and peace. Be a person through whom others can experience God’s blessing, encouragement, and nearness.

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Question for You

Where can you be a person of peace today and strengthen others in God’s name?

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Context

Melchizedek meets Abram after Abram’s victory over the kings and the rescue of Lot. His brief appearance comes near the beginning of biblical salvation history and points far beyond his own time.

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Connection

Melchizedek is connected with Abram, Salem, the tithe, and the later biblical understanding of Christ’s eternal priesthood.

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Conclusion:

Melchizedek shows that God’s work is greater than human systems. As king and priest, he becomes a sign of righteousness, peace, and a blessing that points to Christ.

Until tomorrow, with the next biblical person!

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The Life Story

The Life Story of Melchizedek – King of Righteousness and Priest of the Most High

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A Mysterious Figure

Melchizedek is one of the most mysterious people in the Bible. He enters the story suddenly, without any detailed description of his origin, family, or life journey.

It is precisely this brevity that makes his appearance so striking. He does not come with a long biography, but with profound spiritual significance.

His name and ministry point to something greater. Melchizedek stands like a ray of light in the early history of Abraham and shows that God has his servants even where people do not expect them.

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Abram Returns from Victory

The encounter with Melchizedek takes place after a serious conflict. Abram had learned that his nephew Lot had been taken captive, and he went out to rescue him.

With his men, Abram pursued the enemies, defeated them, and brought back Lot together with the stolen possessions.

After this victory, Abram could easily have become the center of attention. Yet at this very moment, Melchizedek appears and directs attention toward God Most High.

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Bread and Wine

Melchizedek came out to meet Abram and brought bread and wine. These gifts were signs of refreshment, hospitality, and peace.

After battle, danger, and exertion, Abram was met not first by another demand, but by an act of blessing and provision.

The bread and wine make this encounter especially meaningful. They remind us that God not only calls his people into conflict, but also strengthens them and gives them peace.

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King of Salem

Melchizedek was king of Salem. The name Salem is associated with peace, and Jerusalem is later connected with this place.

As king, Melchizedek represents order, dignity, and authority. Yet his rule is not described through violence or pride, but through blessing.

He appears not as a conqueror, but as a king of peace who meets Abram in the name of God.

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Priest of God Most High

Melchizedek was not only a king, but also a priest of God Most High. This is remarkable because the Levitical priesthood did not yet exist at that time.

His ministry shows that even before Israel and before the sanctuary service, God had people who knew him and served him.

Melchizedek blessed Abram and spoke of God as the Creator of heaven and earth. In doing so, he made clear that Abram’s victory had not come through his own strength, but had been given by God.

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The Blessing upon Abram

Melchizedek blessed Abram with words that emphasized God’s greatness and faithfulness. He did not merely speak good things over Abram, but led him toward the worship of the Most High.

He declared that God had delivered Abram’s enemies into his hand. Abram’s success was therefore interpreted correctly: not human strategy, but God’s help stood at the center.

In this way, Melchizedek became a man who did not allow victory to remain attached to human glory, but gave the honor to God.

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The Tithe

Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. This action shows that Abram recognized Melchizedek’s priestly position.

The tithe here was not an external obligation from the law of Moses, because that law had not yet been given. It was a voluntary acknowledgment of God and his authority.

This makes one thing clear: True gratitude recognizes that everything comes from God and honors him also through what one possesses.

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A Reference in the Psalms

After this encounter, Melchizedek disappears from the narrative, but his name is mentioned again later. The Psalms speak of a priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

This gives his figure prophetic significance. His priesthood is not described as an ordinary succession of office, but as a pointer to a greater and enduring order.

Melchizedek therefore becomes a bridge between the early history of Abraham and the later hope of the Messiah.

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A Type of Christ

In the New Testament, Melchizedek is interpreted especially in the book of Hebrews. There it is shown that Christ is not a priest according to the order of Aaron, but according to the order of Melchizedek.

This means that Jesus’ priesthood is greater, more comprehensive, and not bound by the limitations of the Levitical service.

Melchizedek himself remains a human figure from early biblical history, yet his person prophetically points to Christ, the true King of Righteousness and Peace.

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The Lasting Message of His Life

Melchizedek shows that God brings together righteousness, peace, and priestly blessing. His brief encounter with Abram makes clear that God’s rule is connected not only with power, but also with blessing.

His story reminds us that spiritual authority does not need to be loud. Sometimes a brief encounter is enough when it is filled with God’s truth, peace, and blessing.

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Concluding Thought

Melchizedek appears only briefly, yet his name remains significant throughout the Bible. He blesses Abram, receives the tithe, and points toward a greater Priest.

As king of Salem and priest of God Most High, he unites peace, righteousness, and worship in one person.

His life story shows: Where God’s righteousness and peace come together, a blessing arises that points far beyond the present moment.

Source: https://fulfilleddesire.net/%f0%9f%91%a4-the-biblical-person-of-the-day-08-04-2026-%f0%9f%8d%9e-melchizedek-the-king-of-peace-and-priest-of-the-most-high/