A Box of Turtles

Read: Job 34:16-20

There was a time many years ago when my father took me to a local pet store to buy some turtles for my plastic bowl. Having bought three of them, the salesperson put them in a small white box for easy transport. On the way home I could hear them scratching around inside the box so I peeked in to see how they were doing; they were climbing all over each other and seemed oblivious to their destination. This brought to mind the thought that God loves all of His children, even the ones who climb over each other to get somewhere. And like that box of turtles, He knows us all by name and by heart and He loves us equally.

I think about Elihu and how he must have been peeking into the box of Job and his two friends. As he digested each of their comments he heard nothing of value, yet offered this:

"for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. (v.2)who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?" (Job 34:19)

Father I thank you for all you do, and how you care for, and love each and every one of us. Please teach me daily how to live out your promise in all of my actions so that I may be like a mirror of your blessed Son and that others may come to know you through me.

God loves each of us, and sees our pain and hears our cries; we cannot know his ultimate plan for us. We need to trust in him fully for our deliverance.