Can I Even Wrap My Mind Around It?

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. - Job 42:3b

Today, in my Bible reading I came upon old Job. You remember Job. He was the guy to whom it must have seemed that God was really ticked at him. He was of a time that seems great superstition and personal interaction (albeit quiet) between God and man occurred. If I understand my historical sociology correctly (Boy! That class goes back a few years.) mankind would judge God's love and acceptance of them (or "the gods") by virtue of how their lives were going. If they were farmers, and there was no rain in the growing season then God was not happy with them. If they were cattlemen and their animals got some animal disease live the mange or scurvy or something then clearly they were out of favor and they better repent and start doing good things.

Of course when their "luck" changed then God's wrath had been satisfied.

Job seemed unique though. Nonetheless, during the time of the story that we have about him if there was any one man on earth who had reason to question God's love, it was Job. He lost it all... his family, his health, and his wealth-all at the same time. His friends came to his side only to question his spirituality. God had already answered the question of his integrity. Job was described in the opening verses of the book as "blameless and upright" (see Job 1:1). This makes the story that much more confusing. You see, Job's calamities weren't born from sin. Job's theology was spot on and in line (if only he had known) with the rest of the Bible (Uh, Job wouldn't have known about a Bible) But Job acknowledged God's right to do or allow anything in his life. But Job, like you and I, had a breaking point. And one day he could take it no longer. He questioned God's motives.

*GASP*

God smote him and that's the end of the story!

er...

No....

God answered Job, but not in the way he wanted to hear. God answered him with a series of questions that represents the most incredible discourse of correction by God to any human being.

Three chapters later...

Job realized that he had questioned the motives of the Author of the universe, the Author of love..the intimate and personal God. Job responded appropriately however as he fell flat before his Creator and realized his total depravity. Now, I use the word depravity here purposely. Job recognized that without God's insight he would not only judge and question others (He had questioned his friends while in deep sorrow and pain. That can't be a good place to see things clearly and certainly not a good place to see God's point of view easily.) Depravity, for my purposes here is simply thinking, and acting out of one's own viewpoint apart from God and without His blessing and agreement.

When Job spoke these words, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know." He was acknowledging more than just God has more information than he did. Job was recognizing that God, in the midst of our suffering and pain and sorrow is somehow showing a level of love, care, concern, and desire for us that provides to us insight and growth into who we are and how we also are, "in His image." Later Jesus would come on the scene and this lesson would become more apparent as a Father gave His Son on behalf of everyone for all time a lesson in the use of earthly pain and suffering that takes us beyond the veil of our existence and into eternity.

Have you ever questioned God's activity in your life? Have you questioned His love for you based on circumstances that came your way? The cross at Calvary answers the love question. He sent His own Son in replacement for your sin. You don't have to like God's methodology but you do have to embrace it's reality to make it pay off for you. And, embracing it will mean you are grateful to the Son for having been willing to do it just for you.

If you were the only person on earth, He would have "done Calvary." His ways cannot always be understood or reconciled in our finite minds. The explanation, as in the case of Job, might come directly after the catastrophic events. They may be left for a future time when all will be understood. For now, entrust your life to Him completely. Embrace Him in the hard times and the good.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~