“me doy cuerta (I Realize)” (Job 42:1) [Spanish Jerusalem Bible Series - Job sub series] [Pandemic series]

“You gave me an accounting” of all that You can do;
“I realize” (in Spanish) is word-set which they use;
But here I see a difference, for Job has real-ized
The list he has been given, is real before his eyes.

“Capacity for projects” is what God has in spades;
Whichever He’s desiring to do, He has it made;
I sense a shift has happened in Job, as he speaks out –
A difference he perceives now, of which there is no doubt.

For God can take on projects like satan, in this yarn,
But Job has not the power to stand up to the harm
Which satan piled upon him, like blows from monster’s tail;
So much for former thinking that man can here prevail.

I think about pandemic, which sweeps across the land –
A microscopic virus which we cannot withstand;
It’s more than just pandemic, with virus as it’s cause,
It’s leadership’s reaction, which varies – makes us pause.

Politicizing illness for furtherance of power
Should not be that surprising in this pandemic’s hour;
For lust for power and riches defines post-Eden’s way;
In times of great pandemics, we find old satan plays.

Now read of Christ’s temptations in forty days of fast –
“Feed hungry”; “Strut your power”; “Seize kingdoms which are vast.” –
Don’t seem so strange on paper, these many years since then,
For we see present samples in news-hours once again.

But Job sees God has power to take on projects vast,
So shift in way Job’s thinking, makes real God’s hope at last –
For God and man may venture against some monstrous beast,
But best we see that power is best from God released.

A lust for power can blind us to what is going on;
We see in folks’ agendas to whom their hearts belong;
You cannot serve two masters, if “Strut” is whom you serve,
You will forsake the other, as you display your nerve.

So what I’m hearing – henceforth (old Job can see at last),
Is critical, for henceforth, self-will is in the past;
But now as he moves forward, God’s projects Job will do;
A lesson for rebuilding our lives, as we renew –

Like Job, the devastation; like exiles at return –
Who had to build the city, start jobs so they could earn
Their livelihoods, live freely in Promised Land again;
Applying exiles’ lessons, sidestepping endless pain.

Lord, thanks for Scripture’s lessons, and clues as we rebuild;
Thanks for fresh ways of living, of being more fulfilled;
We’ve had a glimpse – accounting of life around this globe –
We realize our strutting is silly to behold.

For me, it’s interactive, the voice which I prefer;
For others, active, passive – all these can now defer
Direction, and the power, to work with You instead;
Please open hearts and actions, as we buy You are led.

Thanks Lord for this.

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