Job 25:1-41:34
Job is a difficult book about suffering. It covers physical suffering, mental anguish, despair, and feelings of abandonment from God. Job and each of his friends try to explain why Job is suffering. What has Job done to deserve such disfavor from God? Obviously, Job has committed sin against God?? Job defends his righteousness before the Lord in response to his friends. Even God says at the beginning of the book, that Job was blameless and upright.
But that is precisely the problem!! Job and his friends are focusing on the wrong person. They are talking about Job's character, when they should be talking about God's character.
When Elihu speaks beginning is chapter 32 we see a change in the conversation from why Job is suffering to who God is and what is God's character.
When the Lord speaks in chapter 38 he starts with "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me." Notice the Lord does not explain Job's suffering, God uses the next few chapters to make a statement about who He is! And God questions Job's character (and ours), by defining His Character!
His power and authority
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? (38:4)
Have you ever given orders to the morning (38:12)
His knowledge and wisdom
What is the way to the abode of light, where does the darkness reside? (38:19)
Do you know the laws of the heavens? (38:33)
His provision of grace and mercy
Who provides food for the raven (38:41)
Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? (39:1)
Then comes the questions that God asks Job, the question that God asks all of us in the midst of our sufferings! Job 40:8b Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" In his attempt to explain his suffering, Job was elevating his status, and questioning God's character. But after experiencing God's character, Job responds with repentance.
Our repentance should reveal that The Lord our God is holy, righteous, and powerful. There are mysteries I will never understand. I am unworthy and repent of my pride.
When we realize God's character and our position we will finally also understand God's grace and mercy. Our answer to the questions is:
"I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light." (Job 33:27-28)
So when we go through suffering, make sure you have the right perspective. Instead of focusing on ourselves, focus on the God who loves you and who provides you. Trust in God's character
2 comments:
It is human nature to automatically think when disaster hits us that God must not love us. However, the true picture of His love and grace can only be experienced through trials and tribulations. When our trials pass we can then look back at the marvelous path God chose for us and the change we have experienced because of that journey.
I think we can learn a lot from Job's friends Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Specifically, how not to act toward our brothers and sisters who are going through suffering.
Instead of bearing Job's burden, they chose to "help" Job discover his sin.
Instead of reminding Job how faithful God is, they were focusing on how inadequte Job was.
In fact, the Lord even rebuked them "because you (the three friends) have not spoken of me (God) what is right."
During those times our friends are suffering, like you said we need to help them focus on God's love and mercy.
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