Today’s text for Blogging Through the Bible in 2020 comes from Job 38. Job 38:2 says, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”
This text is God responding to Job. Job has had three friends come and meet with him. They originally show up in Job 2. At first, the friends do exactly what friends should do for those suffering, they sat there in silence, and just gave him their presence. However, after a week they just couldn’t help themselves. Therefore, much of the book of Job is a collection of speeches from Job’s friends and Job’s rebuttals. However, there comes a point for Job in which his frustration with his friends turns into frustration towards God. One thing that Job’s frustration shows is this, we don’t always understand why God allows what He allows. Basically, Job’s frustration comes down to this, I don’t understand why God is doing this, I have tried to live my life properly, and I want to know now! In his final speech, Job moves from seeking clarity for what is going on to essentially accusing God of doing wrong and not acting justly. Thus, God shows up in a whirlwind and begins to speak with Job. God’s rebuttal boils down to this; Job, who are you to question what is just or unjust or what is right and what is wrong? Are you the one who created everything, and is control of everything? Are you sinless? Do you do what is right all the time? Over the course of two chapters, God asks Job over 70 questions. The questions are revealing the sovereignty of God, the all-powerfulness of God, and the all-knowingness of God. In many ways, it is God rebuking Job, but it is also reminding Job of who God is, and that Job can trust Him even when things don’t make sense.
That, I would say, is the main takeaway. We can trust God even when things don’t make sense, because He is a good, kind, loving, merciful, gracious, and just God. No, that won’t help make sense of things when we find ourselves in the middle of a dark, raging storm. Yes, we are very likely to forget that lesson when the next storm comes into our life. This story also shows us that there is a difference between seeking clarity from God and accusing God of wrongdoing. It’s ok to ask, why God, when we are seeking clarity. In fact, a great question to ask in prayer when we are suffering is, Lord, what are you trying to show me or teach me through this? We cross the line when we start believing that we know better than God what we need, or that we somehow know what is best. We have crossed the line when we accuse God of not loving us or caring for us. In all of this, the book of Job shows us that suffering comes to all of us, including those who love God. And because suffering is part of the human life, we can trust that God has a purpose for allowing it. Sometimes that purpose is to simply remind us that no matter what we are facing, God is there with us. In that let us take joy and be encouraged today.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Justin