Job 5:12

12 He disappointeth [parar] the devices [machashabah] of the crafty [`aruwm], so that their hands [yad] cannot perform [`asah] their enterprise [tuwshiyah]. KJV-Interlinear

12 'He frustrates the plotting of the shrewd, So that their hands cannot attain success. NASB

Eliphaz is, with discretion, using practical doctrines, which are true in themselves, to portray the reasons for Job's downfall. Though these principles do not apply to Job, we can still learn valuable lessons from them.

These sayings portray Gods outside influence on world activities. Gods objectives are good. The world's objectives are in opposition to good.

In the world, all of mans efforts inevitably counter the work of God, and fail.

We all grow up with ideas, with goals, with hopes for ourselves. Some folks, who happen to have greater resources than the average person, may pursue even grander schemes of power, control, wealth, and so forth.

There are two categories of people in this world, the good and the wicked. The good category includes all believers who are actively pursuing their spiritual life, who live continually in fellowship, and who are legitimately advancing in their spiritual life. This 'good' category has very few people in it.

The wicked category has everyone else. You probably do not think of yourself as wicked, but if you are not continually in fellowship, or do not monitor your life such that you can return to your fellowship status, through regular confession to the Father, then no matter how nice you think you are, you are in the wicked category.

For a more in depth study of confession and fellowship, review 1, 2, 3 John.

The upper class wicked, the rich and famous, the celebrities, the powerful and so forth, will try to direct the course of history. The lower or middle class wicked, the common everyday person, will try to get by in life by taking shortcuts, or pursuing quick success schemes, or by just plodding along from day to day in life, hoping only to get a decent life out of life.

However, God has a plan for each person in history. God has a plan for humanity in general. And every attempt by the individual, or group, or nation, or group of nations, to change the course of Gods plan, will inevitably fail. History is filled with examples of varying types of empires that have come and gone. All failing totally and completely.

History is filled with the stories of individuals who have failed because they have tried the easy way, or the shortcut path, or the hustle path, or the quick success path. Most of those stories are unrecorded and will never be known to the public. And yet they are probably the most common failure story in existence.

One bad decision after another. People often seem like they are running from one train wreck to the next in their life. Employment fails, work fails, business fails, marriage fails, families fail, you name it and failure is its legacy. And why is there such a high rate of failure in life? Because Satan is against us? Because we just have bum luck? Because there is a reason which we can point to for our failure?

No. None of these will give you the answer. All failure is due to the lack of a valid spiritual life.

The spiritual life is the easiest thing anyone can pursue, and yet nearly everyone alive on the planet, ignores their spiritual life.

How can reading the Bible achieve what hustling, and plotting, and cunning can't accomplish?

And that short answer is, 'Jesus Christ controls history.' That includes the course of nations, as well as the course of your life.

To get back on track understand one thing. God is not a genie. He will not wave a wand and make your life right over night when you have spent a lifetime messing it up. Some things take time.

Your first order of business is to get your spiritual life started, or re-started. Confess your sins regularly, and read your Bible, and pursue a daily study. Your spiritual life will develop over time. The spiritual life is not a one-weekend quick study, but should be viewed as a long term, life long commitment.

If you are in dire need, then seek help through organizations that help those in need. Whether it is a social government agency or private organization, swallow your pride and use their services to get yourself stabilized.

If you have gotten yourself into a deep hole, then expect that it might take some time to crawl out. From there look for work, or get educated, or do something through common sense that will compliment your life or skills.

Remember above all, that you are not in control over all the aspects of your life, God is. Commit yourself to God, which means pursue your daily Bible study, and then God will work out the day-to-day details of your life.

Continue to ignore God and just what can you expect?

The shrewd and the cunning are simply two terms for the function of arrogance in the minds of those who think that they can do better than God. And no matter who you are, whether filthy rich or dirt poor, by excluding God in your life, you will certainly fail in all that you do.

Most folks look at the fat bank accounts and wealth of others and wish they could be so 'unlucky,' if just for a little while. But don't let earthly things fool you.

Eventually we all die, and when we get to heaven, assuming that you have believed in Christ, only the content of your soul will be there with you. The content of your soul is what God bases His evaluation on, not your worldly accomplishments.

Avoid all of the quick and faddish schemes that will entice you to spiritual success if you will only follow their 1, 2, 3 plan.

There is nothing better, nor can anything replace, the learning of the Word of God based on a daily study plan that will continue throughout your entire life.

That is how you commit your life to God. That is how you regain control over your life. That is how you give your life to God.

God can do a much better job for you, than you can for yourself.

Now is the time to post a prayer.