Argue before God - Job 23-24

I am a great debater ... Just ask my wife. I love to win an argument. Just ask my kids. I love to demonstrate my ability to twist the facts into a plausible, but credible contention ... Just ask someone who knows me. This is not a strength in my life, but a flaw. Perhaps Job has the same flaw and why his words in chapter 23 resonate with me. He argues with his friends that he simply wants to have the opportunity to make his case before God (23:1-7). He believes if he can simply "get alone with God" he could argue his innocence and his righteousness ... And win!! Of course, his ability to argue his point/righteousness is contingent on one thing: He has to be able to find God (23:8-9). LOL!!! That strikes me as very humorous. Job's thought process is like this: I could convince my Judge of how worthy I am if I could but find my Judge. He goes on to say that if he goes to the left God isn't there and if he goes to the right God simply moves to another place. I suppose it would be humorous if were not so sad. This is how the world thinks. They think they can simply argue before God, yet in their sin they don't even like the light (24:14-17) much less have the ability to stand before Him. Since our righteousness is but "filthy rags" (see Isaiah) Job is fortunate he can't find Him. It is God who finds us and it is God who purifies us (23:10). Don't get too excited about arguing with God. It is best to listen to Him and believe in Him and let Him purify you. There is a reason we can't find Him. He reveals Himself to us. We can't win on the basis of our own righteousness. But He can win on His power to find us and redeem us. Job was wrong to want to argue his purity. He was correct that God will purify us Himself.