Job 6-9
Yesterday's reading spoke of how Job's friends sat with him silently for 7 days, which very admirable. I even spoke of how that's a good example of what do to with someone going through grief and pain is to just be there with them. Unfortunately, after reading today's passage, his friends decided to speak...and it wasn't the most uplifting or encouraging word.
Job 6:8-10 - "If only my request would be granted and God would provide what I hope for: that He would decide to crush me, to unleash His power and cut me off! It would still bring me comfort, and I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Chapters 6 & 7 detail Job's response to one of his friends, Eliphaz. In the midst of all Job has gone through, he begins to try and process why all this is happening. With all the pain and suffering he has endured, he cries out to God, his friends and pretty much anyone to will listen. Here is where I can connect with Job. During the most painful moments of my life, I think that I have the perfect solution to whatever the problem is. Many times, I feel like Job in verse 8 (chapter 6) when he says, "If only my request would be granted and God would provide what I hope for." However, I have come to realize that my ideas for what I think God should do, and God's idea of what He wants me to do usually don't match up. This goes back to the refining process I wrote about in a previous blog. This truly turns into a test to see how faithful I am to what I say I believe about God, because, in the end, I want to be able to say what Job said in verse 10, "...I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain that I have not denied the words of the Holy One." I would leap for joy in unrelenting pain...how's that for some perspective.
Job 7:17-18 - "What is man, that You think so highly of him and pay so much attention to him? You inspect him every morning, and put him to the test every moment.
So, this passage comes towards the end of Job's response to Eliphaz. This is, however, Job crying out to God. One of the awesome things about God is that He is big enough to take our anger, doubt, pain and anything else we hurl at Him and turn that into love, assurance, peace and understanding. This particular passage, to me, is Job's "Why" moment. It's something everyone goes through. We bad things happen or things don't go as planned, we inevitably ask God, "Why?" The interesting aspect of these few verses is when he states, "You...put him to the test every moment." I have said to people many times that I want to live my life intentionally because every moment I encounter is an opportunity to be used by God. While that sounds great and noble, the reality is that it's hard to grasp every moment. It's hard to be aware every moment that I'm awake. So, when Job asks God why He puts us to the test every moment, it's eye opening to realize that God is continually testing and refining me through every moment of every day.
Job 8:5-6 - "But if you earnestly seek God and ask the Almighty for mercy, if you are pure and upright, then He will move even now on your behalf."
In Chapter 8, another one of Job's friends chimes in on the things Job is going through. His name is Bildad. While I'm sure his intentions are good, his words are not as encouraging. However, there are some things that can be plucked out and applied to my life. For instance, this passage in verses 5 and 6. The main thing that I'm challenged with here is to question my motives as I approach God's throne. Many times I approach God with a laundry list of things that I need or want. However, it doesn't come from a pure and upright heart. I wonder what would happen if all Christ followers took these verses to heart and prayed to God in this manner. It time for me to check my motives.
Job 9:19-20 - "If it is a matter of strength, look, He is the Mighty One! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon Him? Even if I were in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, my mouth would declare me guilty.
Chapter 9 begins Job's response to Bildad. In essence, Job says in this passage, "Who am I to question God?" This, unfortunately, is a lesson I need to learn from. God's ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. It doesn't matter if I consider what God allows to happen fair on unfair. It's my responsibility to respond the way Job did earlier...to fall down and worship God and say, "Praise be the name of the Lord." The world watches how Christians respond to adversity, and, unfortunately, the picture that is painted is not very pretty. My prayer is that when adversity comes my way, I won't question God's motives, but understand that this is another opportunity for God to refine me and draw me closer to experiencing Him in a new and fresh way.
Praise be the name of the Lord!
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