I am reading the book of Job in my annual trek through the Bible. It's a book that has always intrigued me and one that I believe few have ever really read much less meditated on it. Illustration? What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word JOB! If you said, "fill out an application" *maybe this isn't the forum for you. Seriously though, did you think PATIENCE? How many times have we heard "The patience of Job" used as a plaudit for someone who is bearing up under prolonged duress with tenacity and aplomb? Truth be told from my vantage point patience doesn't even enter the picture. Job is a man of faith in the midst of unspeakable hardship. As a reader I have to remind myself that I come to Job's plight with information Job never had. That information changes everything.
I love the book, precisely because WE have information Job never had. There was a spiritual chess match in the heavenlies between the Almighty and Satan and Job was a literal pawn on the board. (My apologies if you don't understand Chess.) Either way the book needs to be read and reread.
The brief: -- Over a brief time Job has essentially lost everything; his wealth, his security, his children, his health, and his friends. Job begins to question the benevolence or more, the justice of his Creator. The more Job inquires for some plausible explanation to his circumstances the louder the silence of God became. Enter the "friends..." to the rescue.
While each one vehemently offered Job their expert assessments for his suffering their council was the same: "God is always right, He never makes a mistake so you obviously screwed up in a big way. Just embrace whatever it is you did, say you’re sorry, and everything will be just fine."
Ironically, many of the attributes of God the friends mention are pretty much spot on. But their puny understanding of the Sovereign Almighty was woefully deficient even if well intentioned. (Yes that makes me wince if not gulp when I contemplate my life of teaching and counseling over the decades.)
Bottom line--Job was being forthright in his self-assessment which we know because of the opening verse of the story.
Because of verse 1. "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil." (Job 1:1)
WE know Job is right all along; he wasn't being punished for anything he had done or failed to do. BUT JOB DOESN'T KNOW THAT. And so he protests asking, then demanding that God give him audience to explain what is going on. But again--all Job hears is silence. And that silence means God doesn't care, God is busy, God can't be bothered, God is unfair.
You ever been there?
Then today it dawned on me. As time went on Job's suffering was magnified by God's silence which intimates God's absence. And yet as we see looking from the outside in with a heavenly perspective it was when the Lord seemed the furthest away to Job that He was actually the closest. At the point where God seemed distant, aloof, uncaring and uninvolved, He was perhaps NEVER closer to Job in his life; never more attentive to the circumstances he was undergoing.
The Lord was observing, previewing, approving, superintending, restricting and overseeing everything that befell Job. But Job had NO idea that he was actually God's shining star, the Creator's paragon of faithfulness and virtue, entrusting to this very normal and flawed man, a Divine confidence in his faithfulness, fortitude and endurance against the prince of darkness himself.
If you were the one selected for this role where could you possibly find greater commendation knowing God Himself was putting you up as "His person"?
But Job never knew and yet God says to Satan himself, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil." (Job 1:8) Have at him! He will not disappoint me.
Who wants such a calling? I mean seriously. Um, thank you Lord but if you don't mind I think I'll pass on this one. Job--WOW! Just Wow!
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