Good morning, everyone!
Today I read Job 21-23.
First, Job reminds his friends that it is God's place to judge, not theirs.
Yet they still respond to him and rebuke him for perceived wickedness.
Job asks "Can anyone teach God knowledge, in that He judges those on high?" (Job 21:22)
Eliphaz responds with a lot of words, but this one stood out: Job 22:5 - "Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end?"
He then goes on to detail things that he has "seen" Job do wrong, things for which Job needs to repent.
Now, don't get me wrong. No one is perfect. Job probably had messed up sometimes. But God Himself said that Job was righteous and faithful. Job's sins had been forgiven. He had not done anything to bring this affliction upon himself. But none of his "friends" will believe him.
They even rebuke him for crying out to God and asking why this is happening to him.
Job's response is, naturally, eloquent, and I want to share this part with you today.
Job 23:3-5 - "Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn the words which He would answer, and perceive what He would say to me."
How often do we feel like that? When something is going wrong in our lives, we wonder "If I could just find the right words, God would hear me. If I could just go before Him, He would listen."
Even Job felt that way. Even Job felt like God wasn't listening. It feels that way sometimes, but God is always listening. He always hears us. Sometimes we have to wait for His answer because He is preparing us for it. It's okay to cry out to God. It's okay to ask "why?" sometimes. But we still have to remember to ask the way Job did. He questioned God, but he also remembered God's sovereignty. He asked with humility, not pride. He entreated, never cursed. Despite his friends' "help."
I hope you're learning, just as I am. I also hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Job 24-28.
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