Job Replies: Where Is God?
Then Job answered and said:
“Today also my complaint is bitter;
my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his seat!
I would lay my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would know what he would answer me
and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; he would pay attention to me.
There an upright man could argue with him,
and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
When you read scripture it is often a text you read but don’t always feel. You don’t know what the situation is and if you can even relate to what the writer of the Bible text is even saying. For many years I have read this text. I have read this Bible reading scheduled for almost 40 years. So, every March I am going to be in Job 23, 24. But this is the first time I can feel a small portion of what Job is writing in these words. He has lost all he has. He has lost his children. I have watched parents bury their children but never experienced that, until now. I am writing this a few days after my son took his life. He was in mental despair and found no more hope. The situation is very far in comparison to Job. I am NOT the righteous man Job was. But I do now know what it is like to want to ask God questions. To want to hear His answers to my pain. I want to know what I could have done differently. I want to know what to confess that was sinful, neglect, ignorance or wrong that I did that might have contributed to my son’s pain and this tragic loss. I want to confess that. I also, however, want to come through this as gold. I want my feet to hold fast to His steps. I don’t want to depart from His commandments, I want to treasure His words as the portion of my food. In the above passage I only included the first 12 verses of chapter 23. The closing verses sum up Job’s response to his trauma. They sum up my response to this trauma, as well:
Job 23:13-17 (ESV)
But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.
Therefore I am terrified at his presence;
when I consider, I am in dread of him.
God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me;
yet I am not silenced because of the darkness,
nor because thick darkness covers my face.
No, I will continue to proclaim His glory and continue to proclaim His goodness. It is by faith I move forward and it is by His mercy and grace I claim the day for Him!! Job started the chapter with the question, “Where is God?” He answers it in chapter 23 by simply saying He is unchangeable and who can turn Him back?
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