"I cry to You, O God,
but you don't answer.
I stand before You,
but you don't even look."
Job 30:20
Ever been in one of those places when all you can do is pray that you will see light somewhere at the end of the tunnel? Certainly Job was at that point. As we continue to sit with him and his three friends, we can sense the hopelessness of his situation. Of course we know the end of the story, so we really don't get the full effect of what it must have been like for him. Hindsight has its advantages, but it can also cloud our understanding if we only see it from a backward glance. Job didn't have our bird's eye view. He was looking at his life from the pit of despair, without understanding of how, when or why.
In spite of all Job's pain and suffering, and no matter how much he feels God has unfairly dealt with him, one thing remains constant in his life - he knows that there is a God and the last thing you want to do is quit believing in Him.
I wonder how we would bear up under the scrutiny and counsel of Job's friends. In their effort to make us soul search for some deep, dark sin that is causing such sickness and devastation, would we be tempted to start nitpicking every little flaw we can find in ourselves, hoping to find the root of the problem. Job knew he had done nothing to incur God's wrath on this level and he was not about to admit something he didn't do. As he examines his life for his gross imperfection, he can't find it. His friends keep looking for the hidden "weapons of mass destruction," but their ammunition dumps keep coming up empty. And so Job does what we all have a tendency to do when we can't find answers - he blames God!
Job's accusations that God is wrong because he is innocent, ushers in the voice of Elihu, the young man who has been sitting listening to all this. As I listen to this young man speak, I've asked myself, "What is he saying different than the other three. He certainly isn't proclaiming Job's innocence! And why does God later indict Job's three friends, while He says nothing about Elihu?" The answer is rather simple; Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came with one aim - to uncover Job's guilt! Elihu also had only one intent - to defend God's justice!!! Elihu has no idea why Job is sitting on this ash heap, but He knows that God's wisdom and His character is just and right.
We end the week with Elihu telling Job, "Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. For you have added rebellion to your sin, and you speak many angry words against God." How profound are his words!!! It is quite frightening to hear the counsel of many IN THE CHRISTIAN world today. They encourage struggling individuals to express their anger toward God. "He's a big God, He can take it," they explain. If we are frustrated because God is not doing things the way that is most convenient to us, wouldn't we be far wiser to say, "Oh God, forgive me for my negative attitude. If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that You are a good God and You love me. Give me wisdom and understanding. Give me patience. Prove my character. And when I emerge from the other side of this dark tunnel, may I know You even better." Elihu may have been a young fellow, but I think his words are certainly worth taking to heart!
In spite of all Job's pain and suffering, and no matter how much he feels God has unfairly dealt with him, one thing remains constant in his life - he knows that there is a God and the last thing you want to do is quit believing in Him.
I wonder how we would bear up under the scrutiny and counsel of Job's friends. In their effort to make us soul search for some deep, dark sin that is causing such sickness and devastation, would we be tempted to start nitpicking every little flaw we can find in ourselves, hoping to find the root of the problem. Job knew he had done nothing to incur God's wrath on this level and he was not about to admit something he didn't do. As he examines his life for his gross imperfection, he can't find it. His friends keep looking for the hidden "weapons of mass destruction," but their ammunition dumps keep coming up empty. And so Job does what we all have a tendency to do when we can't find answers - he blames God!
Job's accusations that God is wrong because he is innocent, ushers in the voice of Elihu, the young man who has been sitting listening to all this. As I listen to this young man speak, I've asked myself, "What is he saying different than the other three. He certainly isn't proclaiming Job's innocence! And why does God later indict Job's three friends, while He says nothing about Elihu?" The answer is rather simple; Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar came with one aim - to uncover Job's guilt! Elihu also had only one intent - to defend God's justice!!! Elihu has no idea why Job is sitting on this ash heap, but He knows that God's wisdom and His character is just and right.
We end the week with Elihu telling Job, "Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked. For you have added rebellion to your sin, and you speak many angry words against God." How profound are his words!!! It is quite frightening to hear the counsel of many IN THE CHRISTIAN world today. They encourage struggling individuals to express their anger toward God. "He's a big God, He can take it," they explain. If we are frustrated because God is not doing things the way that is most convenient to us, wouldn't we be far wiser to say, "Oh God, forgive me for my negative attitude. If there is one thing I know for sure, it is that You are a good God and You love me. Give me wisdom and understanding. Give me patience. Prove my character. And when I emerge from the other side of this dark tunnel, may I know You even better." Elihu may have been a young fellow, but I think his words are certainly worth taking to heart!
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I've had quite a number of journeyers (several of them who have not signed up as followers and probably wouldn't blog if their lives depended on it) tell me that they really enjoyed the questions I posted a couple weeks ago. They said that it made them pay greater attention to what they are reading. So for those who like the added stimuli, I'm posting a question for each day's reading. Hope it encourages you to dig deeper.
Monday - Job is sure that when God is finished trying him, he will come forth as gold. What are the three things Job has done that gives him this assurance?
Tuesday - What is it that Job vows never to do?
Wednesday - Where are earth's greatest treasures found and how does that relate to finding wisdom?
Thursday - This question is a bit more complex. Job is judging his life. He lists things he has done or not done. Summarize each of his claims in one sentence. For example:
I made a covenant with my eyes not look with lust at a young woman. = I vowed never to lust or commit adultery.
Once you have finished the list, does this list resemble any other list we are familiar with and why is that significant?
Friday - I have two questions for today. (actually three)
1. How does God speak to man and for what reasons?
2. How does God discipline?
Monday - Job is sure that when God is finished trying him, he will come forth as gold. What are the three things Job has done that gives him this assurance?
Tuesday - What is it that Job vows never to do?
Wednesday - Where are earth's greatest treasures found and how does that relate to finding wisdom?
Thursday - This question is a bit more complex. Job is judging his life. He lists things he has done or not done. Summarize each of his claims in one sentence. For example:
I made a covenant with my eyes not look with lust at a young woman. = I vowed never to lust or commit adultery.
Once you have finished the list, does this list resemble any other list we are familiar with and why is that significant?
Friday - I have two questions for today. (actually three)
1. How does God speak to man and for what reasons?
2. How does God discipline?
5 comments:
I did the question for Thursday.
1. Job said: He didn't lie or was deceitful.
2. I have walked with God.
3. I have not been unfaithful to my wife or desired my neighbor's wife.
4.I have treated my servants justly.
5.I have given to the poor and widows.
6. I have clothed the naked.
7. I helped the orphen.
8. I have trusted in God not mamon.
9. I have blessed my enemy.
10. My door was alway open to strangers.
11. I have not hidden my sins.
12. I took good care of my land.
Reminds me of the Sermon on the Mount.
God speaks in a dream - a vision of the night or talks to a man direct - or through an angel.
Sickness, chastened with pain, food becomes repulsive, looses weight.
Thanks Kathy. Does anyone see anything else?
When I was reading through then it reminded me a lot of the 10 commandments.
I am going to paraphrase many of the things Job said as he examined his life.
1. I haven't lusted (committed adultery)
2. I haven't deceived anyone (lied)
3. I haven't coveted what belonged to my neighbor
4. I haven't served other gods
5. I haven't stolen
6. I haven't murdered
7. I've loved my neighbor
Yep! Before the 10 commandments were ever give, Job was already living by them!
Hi Shirley,
I´m amazed how smart Job was!!! And I can see that he combined the ten commmandments (which he didn´t read before) and the list of the sermon of the mount (which he never heard before, either). Job has got an enormous insight into the grace and mercy of God! He did not only live by law but also by grace. He was looking for someone (Jesus), a man who raises from the death and a man who mediates between God and men.
Monday:
three things:
1. He stayed on God´s way.
2. He did, what God commanded him to do.
3. He maintained God´s word in his heart.
Tuesday: Job vowed never to lie and speak badly or unrightous.
Wednesday: The earth´s greatest treasures are found deep in the earth. The same with wisdom, only god knows the way to wisdom and you have to look and search deeply. He is looking for wisdom in us, his people. Because if there is wisdom in his people it can be revealed and come out to the surface.´
What do you think?
Friday: How does God speak?
I thought the same you wrote afterwards. Elihu was like a forrunner for the word of God. He prepared the way for God to speak the same but in a deeper way. I want to be like Elihu, because he didn´t accuse Job but said truth. He stayed humble and gracious.
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