“11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”[e] 12 Jew and Gentile[f] are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[g]
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”[h]
16 But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, “Lord, who has believed our message?”[i] 17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. 18 But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have:
“The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world.”[j]
19 But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said,
“I will rouse your jealousy through people who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles.”[k]
20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying,
“I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me.”[l]
21 But regarding Israel, God said,
“All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious.”
ENCOURAGEMENT
day 20
“Zophar’s Second Response to Job Then Zophar the Naamathite replied:
2 “I must reply because I am greatly disturbed. 3 I’ve had to endure your insults, but now my spirit prompts me to reply.
4 “Don’t you realize that from the beginning of time, ever since people were first placed on the earth, 5 the triumph of the wicked has been short lived and the joy of the godless has been only temporary? 6 Though the pride of the godless reaches to the heavens and their heads touch the clouds, 7 yet they will vanish forever, thrown away like their own dung. Those who knew them will ask, ‘Where are they?’ 8 They will fade like a dream and not be found. They will vanish like a vision in the night. 9 Those who once saw them will see them no more. Their families will never see them again. 10 Their children will beg from the poor, for they must give back their stolen riches. 11 Though they are young, their bones will lie in the dust.
12 “They enjoyed the sweet taste of wickedness, letting it melt under their tongue. 13 They savored it, holding it long in their mouths. 14 But suddenly the food in their bellies turns sour, a poisonous venom in their stomach. 15 They will vomit the wealth they swallowed. God won’t let them keep it down. 16 They will suck the poison of cobras. The viper will kill them. 17 They will never again enjoy streams of olive oil or rivers of milk and honey. 18 They will give back everything they worked for. Their wealth will bring them no joy. 19 For they oppressed the poor and left them destitute. They foreclosed on their homes. 20 They were always greedy and never satisfied. Nothing remains of all the things they dreamed about. 21 Nothing is left after they finish gorging themselves. Therefore, their prosperity will not endure.
22 “In the midst of plenty, they will run into trouble and be overcome by misery. 23 May God give them a bellyful of trouble. May God rain down his anger upon them. 24 When they try to escape an iron weapon, a bronze-tipped arrow will pierce them. 25 The arrow is pulled from their back, and the arrowhead glistens with blood.[a] The terrors of death are upon them. 26 Their treasures will be thrown into deepest darkness. A wildfire will devour their goods, consuming all they have left. 27 The heavens will reveal their guilt, and the earth will testify against them. 28 A flood will sweep away their house. God’s anger will descend on them in torrents. 29 This is the reward that God gives the wicked. It is the inheritance decreed by God.”
