At this point in the story, we have read exactly 9 places where Job answered the counsel of his "friends" and didn't speak a negative word about God. The chapters we read today begin with Job remembering "the good ole days" when everything was going well .....here we also have his closing statements, where he actually asks God to explain "the cause of his great distress". Note that he didn't ask to be rescued from it, but just to know why he was enduring it. I often think this way myself. If I just knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel, if I just knew why it had to happen this way, if I just knew that some great thing would be accomplished for my suffering, then I could handle it better! Right? Well, maybe. But, hasn't God already promised to complete a good work in me? Hasn't He already told me that He will work all things to my good because I revere Him? How He chooses to accomplish this work is up to Him.
He was chosen. The thing that intrigues me about the story of Job is that he didn't choose to be the living example for all of us to see the unconditional love he had for His God, he was chosen. Remember that? To be chosen is a glorious thing! Job knew he had no unconfessed sin, but he attempted to cover all the bases just in case when he went through that long list of IF I HAVE done this, or that.... I imagine that Job questioned God's reasoning for allowing this pain, without questioning His authority to allow it. God shows great patience and love that He didn't just smote Job for asking! I have these days as a parent. When that child's mouth crosses the line, it's all I can do not to go ballistic on them, reminding them of the 9 months of sacrificial giving of my cute figure and my own physical comfort to grow them to a healthy weight!.... and OH! the hours of labor! ...oh and the sleepless nights! ...and don't forget the sicknesses! blah, blah, blah.....ending with the famous Bill Cosby line, "I brought you IN this world, I'll take you OUT!!!!" Let's ask a question: Which bears more fruit for eternity when your child is out of line...... Grounding him until the age of 21? OR Discussing his behavior and how he can learn from it? God chose to enter a dialogue with Job that amazes me every time I read it. But we'll get to that soon....
One thing I hope our children know, is that we've got their back, that we love them unconditionally, and that we have a plan for their good. I hope they know that we don't lay awake at night thinking of creative ways to make their lives miserable! (Oh they may THINK that we've decided not to love them sometimes....anybody ever been asked by the nurse to hold a child's arms while the shots are given??? I'm sure the child thinks we've turned on him and forsaken him forever!!) Job seemed to know this about his Heavenly Father. Job seemed to understand that God had a purpose. He definitely believed that God was sovereign because he never asked his wife for answers, or his friends, or his neighbors, but he only asked His God. I want to live the kind of life that reflects what I really believe about God. I want to love Him even in the bad times. I want to have patience with well-meaning friends who may give bad counsel. I want to have faith that remains constant when life seems to be falling apart. I'm so thankful for Job's example. I love that he reminded me that I willingly take the good from God, and that I should accept the bad, too. I wonder if I can ask him about all this when I meet him one day? But, you know what?? Something tells me it just won't matter anymore.......
