I am not sure why I was thinking about Job this
morning. Perhaps it’s because my new "hobby" is learning the intricacies
about all things horological. Say what? Horology is the study of watches or
time keeping to be more general. So I have already spent untold hours watching
youtube lessons, all manner of videos, blogs, chat rooms, and hands on trial
and error for the most part dismantling these intricate pieces of mechanical
engineering with a success rate--thus far--of around, uh ZERO.
People who know me pretty well are stupefied to
learn of my new past-time since it requires inordinate amounts of
patience. Apparently that’s not the first quality that comes to mind with
people who know me. Still it is not uncommon for me to spend 1-2 hours simply
trying to replace one, that’s 1eensy beensy screw the size of a grain of salt
(if that) and as much time trying to figure out where a particular part goes back.
But I guess I would say this is not evidence of patience as much as it is a
bull-headed perseverance to master something that is intriguing and rather
esoteric.
So my mind
wondered to Job and the phrase in my head I have heard many times in many
contexts is, “That person has “The patience of Job.” But I thought, "Ya
know for as much as I like the book of Job and know it pretty well, I don't
believe I ever conferred "patience" to Job as a prominent quality.
I mean, Job repeatedly would "lose it" with his unhelpful friends and
their less than sensitive counsel. And then Job really pops a cork when he has
about all he can take with the crappy counsel of his pat-answer-peeps and runs
his head endlessly into the wall of silence as the Almighty remains mute.
I can sympathize with Job's frustration and I
admire his fortitude in persevering even in the absence of answers especially
from His heavenly Father. But I wouldn’t call it patience. Endurance probably,
stamina no doubt, and resolute passion for sure. But patience? I'll tell
you where we see patience. We see it in the Creator of the universe as He
quietly bides his time listening to every ignorant utterance blurted
heavenward. Four chapters records Job's tirade as he gives the God of heaven
and Earth a piece of his mind. Finally, God clears His throat, and I see Job's
eyes bulging with his mouth agape. "Uhhhhm what was that?" And
he tries to swallow a hard lump forming in his throat. Then the Lord speaks;
not with answers but with questions! A never ending-list which spans the
depths of the oceans, the mysteries of the world, and the miracles of creation.
And Job is shaken to his core. "There is one Creator, and billions
of particles of creation of which I am one. What was I thinking raising my
voice to Him?"
So the
patience of Job? Nah. Rather the patience of the Holy One who lets us snit
and fume and rant, and rail yet He permits it, and even, in His time, gives us
a peek. A peek which may not be the clue we were hoping for explaining
hard things, but the sobering realization that His ways are NOT our ways, nor
are our ways His ways. And while the whole earth may shake and tremble under
our feet, He is the Rock that never moves, never tilts, never collapses not
even under the weight of our hubris and pride. Oh the glory of God come in the
flesh. To God be the glory!
Amen
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