The Book of Job Part 3

Job 7:17 (NIV) "What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention...

Psalms 8:3 (NIV) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

Psalms 8:4 (NIV) what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Interestingly, our devotional and daily reading overlapped somewhat. And it began with a question I, myself, have asked more times than I can count. What, exactly is the big screaming deal about mankind? Why, God, do you care so much about us? Given our incredible insignificance? We were made in your image, yet, our only lot in life appears to be suffering and despair? And why? Why so much suffering? Is our offense SO great that THIS is our punishment, Lord? How could anyone think of their life as a gift when THIS is what we have to look forward to?

Job 7:16 (NIV) I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.

Job 7:20 (NIV) If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who sees everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?

And how much does Job agree? He's endured so much suffering that he no longer cares and longs for death because he sees no hope for his future and his days are already numbered.

Job 9:21 (NIV) "Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.

Job 8:20 (NIV) "Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.

The argument is made that since Job is suffering, he MUST have sinned or transgressed against God in SOME way. Job counters with an argument that, if that is true, what chance does he have to defend himself? What could he possibly say to the Lord Almighty, a being so vastly and infinitely powerful that Job 9:5 (NIV) He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger. Job 9:6 (NIV) He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble. Job 9:7 (NIV) He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars. Job 9:8 (NIV) He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. Job 9:9 (NIV) He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. Job 9:10 (NIV) He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

Therefore, Job 9:14 (NIV) "How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?

Which brings us back to: Why DOES He care so much about such insignificant beings such as mankind? Especially insignificant and UNRULY little beings as we are. Perhaps He sees in us our potential, what we stand to become through his Grace. Peter was a relative nobody until he was visited by Jesus Christ, and through Him, he became one of the foremost leaders of the Church of Christ! Indeed, throughout the Bible, we see sinners and rebellious miscreants turned to serve the Lord God and further His Kingdom. Moses was a murderer. Yet, we all know his name, don't we? Paul persecuted and executed Jews throughout the Holy Land until he was visited by Jesus (after His DEATH!) and then became another prominent member of the church of Christ, second perhaps only to Peter!

It's easy to look at the suffering in the world and blame God. I did just that for a very long time. As Job would argue:

Job 9:22 (NIV) It is all the same; that is why I say, 'He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.'

Job 9:23 (NIV) When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.

Job 9:29 (NIV) Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?

God does not force us to act in wickedness. God also did not promise us a completely carefree and easy life, even IF we were completely blameless. Jesus lived completely without sin, and yet He endured agonizing and ruthless suffering at the hands of the Romans before He was crucified. You could say that Jesus' entire purpose was to suffer and die for OUR sins.

Romans 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Christ paid the price for our sin, paid our wages. Through Him we have the chance at eternal life, a possibility that simply didn't exist before Christ fulfilled the Old Testament promises God made to Abraham. If Christ must suffer, if even HE must carry His cross, who are WE to think that we shouldn't have to? Job asked for a mediator between him and God.

Job 9:33 (NIV) If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,

We know now, thanks to the Gospels, that we have such a mediator in Christ Jesus. That despite being born into sin, despite being a rebellious and unruly lot, WE can share in the everlasting Glory and Radiance of Heaven and eternal life. Even though we certainly don't deserve it. Perhaps THAT is what should humble us. Not that we are merely a speck upon a speck in the vast, infinite universe, but that we were made in the image of God, that we were meant to share in His presence and His light. We squandered that gift, turned from Him, cursed His name, mocked Him, denied Him, and, perhaps worst of all, replaced Him with ourselves. We chose to believe that WE were the masters of our universe. That WE would unlock its secrets, and OUR secrets. That we would live as, and become gods ourselves.

Who needs God? Who needs salvation? We are already condemned, right? We suffer endlessly, so it MUST be that we are guilty. And we ARE. Man is not greater than God. Nor will he ever be. As yesterday, God must rebuke even His ANGELS, so it stands to reason that we also must be disciplined. But suffering doesn't have to be punitive. We can learn from it. Just as pain teaches us that something is WRONG, suffering can also teach us that SOMETHING we are doing is WRONG, if that is, indeed, God's intent and purpose. We cannot go through life without enduring suffering. It is as inevitable as death and taxes. But rather than looking at it negatively, we should, instead, turn to Jesus, ask Him for guidance, and have faith that what you are going through IS, in the end, what is best for you. God KNOWS, and ALWAYS knows what is best for us.

Rather than constantly rebel and turn away, perhaps, just perhaps, we should stop... and LISTEN.

Lord, may You continue to grant me the wisdom to seek You and further Your glorious Kingdom. May You continue to rebuke my foolishness and guide me through the darkness so that I can be closer to Your light. Teach me that suffering does not mean I'm being punished, but that You are guiding me, Lord. And that even when I stumble, even when I falter, You are always there. That You've never left me. Even when I felt all alone, You were still there.

No matter how far I ran. No matter how much I hated You. No matter how angry I was. How much I might have hurt You.

You are still here.

Amen.