Look Into The Eyes of Those Suffering - Job 6-8

Job 6:28-30 (ESV)

“But now, be pleased to look at me,

for I will not lie to your face.

Please turn; let no injustice be done.

Turn now; my vindication is at stake.

Is there any injustice on my tongue?

Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

Look at me!   When people feel unseen, it is as though they feel they have no value.   When Job’s friends first showed up to visit him, this is what we read:

Job 2:12-13 (ESV)

And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.

When the three friends showed up they could not look at him and could hardly recognize him.   Apparently, as this first dialogue with them unfolds, they still cannot look him in the eyes.  In essence Job is say, “Please look at me. Quit looking away.  If you could see in my eyes and look deep you would see that I am not lying!”    The challenge we have as we read Job is that God has already told us that Job is righteous.  We have seen the acts of Satan come against Job.   However, his three friends show up with a particular world view.   Their view of pain and suffering is retribution oriented.  They only have the view that if someone is suffering it is because they are doing something wrong against God and God is punishing them for it.  But they are wrong.  They can’t (or won’t) change their world view just because Job claims he is innocent.   The story of Job, however, is about the suffering of the innocent (a picture of what will happen to Jesus centuries later).    Instead of changing their world view they condemn Job.  Job wants them to look at him.  Really look at him.  He wants to be seen.   He wants them to know that he innocent and He is trusting and walking with God.   Yet, his friends refuse to even look at him and hear him.   This might be as painful to him as the loss of his family, his riches and his health.   We are to look at others when they are in their grief and suffering.  We are to see them.  Yes, some may be there because of their open sin against God (think of David and the loss of the baby after his adultery).   But others might be there because Satan is trying to dissuade the innocent from following God.   We are to see them.  Don’t put your worldview onto others and make them live your view of life in their life.  See them!