Thoughts for the Day

Then Job answered the Lord:

‘I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
“Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know...
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.’...

The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this Job lived for one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Job has, we might say in modern terms, "been blown away" by what God has shown him of the intricacies of the world; of the scope and the harmony of God's creation; and of his place in it. Job thought he knew about the world but he now sees his place in what is a more mysterious and terrifying creation than he had ever realised. He now has a new appreciation of God who is involved in everything, and who is more powerful, and more wise than Job had ever thought. He responds with humility and kneels before God. He admits that he first spoke of "things too wonderful for me" without understanding. We might say that he has learnt to trust God, and he has grown spiritually.

Job confesses to no sin in his last words even though he uses the word "repent". His words had been hasty and said in ignorance. It had been a fault that needed God's correction, it had not been a wickedness that deserved God's punishment. So God delivers his verdict and Job is reinstated. In the missing section above, however, God does condemn his friends. He says "My wrath is kindled against you... for you have not spoken of me what was right, as my servant Job has." We then learn that Job's prays for his friends and God does not deal with them according to their folly.

When we question God about suffering in today's world we too do not see the whole picture. We are like small children crying for the moon! We know not what we pray for, and we need to learn to trust in God. Also, of course God's Kingdom is not as yet fully here, so ultimately we must pray, and keep on praying, "May Your kingdom come!"

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught us that You would intercede
for us with the Father,
and send the Holy Spirit to help us
You know the burdens that lay upon our heart now,
but we name them before You.........................................
Like Job we may not understands the complexities
of our world which is not yet fully the new Kingdom
for which we pray,
but give us grace to be spiritually strong enough
to leave our concerns in Your hands,
and give us the desire to keep on praying
for Your world, for our friends and family,
and for ourselves.
Amen.