Job - Know The Facts

“If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince. [Job 31.35-37]

As I continue to read through the book of Job, I find myself struggling to arrive at definitive conclusions. However, there are some facts that should not be overlooked and that are helping me to reconcile this story:

The first fact is that God and Satan started off the story of Job having a conversation. This conversation is held at a 'level' that is spiritual - a level that man can only ascertain from what he understands of the Bible and eternity, but not from actual experience. While we hold the hope and confidence as Christ followers that we will indeed one day exist at this level with God, for now, we are bound to time and space here on earth. Job was also bound by these same limits and unfortunately was at even less an advantage because he did not have the narrative of this conversation between God and Satan to shed light on the events he was experiencing!

I dare say, had Job known about this conversation between God and Satan, he might have drawn different conclusions in his suffering! Had Job heard God say from the beginning that he was in fact a righteous man he might have suffered with a little more confidence (I am quite certain of this because Job was obviously very insightful).

The next fact that must be considered is that God Himself declared Job upright. This is a fact that I have struggled with greatly because of God scolding Job near the end of the story. However, even after God scolded Job, He again declared Job sinless before his friends and instructed him to pray for those friends. The essence of God's scolding of Job (and future days' readings will confirm or disprove this) was that Job was indeed just a human and (as such) was clueless when it came to the big spiritual picture. As I recall, God didn't really point out any sin in Job, but just reminded (or warned) him that he was not present at creation and did not set the world as we know it in motion. Job then knew he should have shut his mouth long before!

So, Job's plea at the beginning of this post reveals much. Job unknowingly was in agreement with God's opening statement that he was upright. But what Job did not understand was that, righteous as he was, his well-being was not preserved by his righteousness. Righteous as Job was, he was still not "redeemed." In several instances, Job cried out for a mediator throughout the story (and this too, was a righteous request by Job!).

I am more confident today than ever before that Job's story carries great lessons for us today - namely that we all need a Redeemer. I am still uncomfortable with a few unknown details, but I know those details, in time, will become clear.

Father, I am grateful for Jesus, my mediator! Thank You! Help me to keep my mouth shut when I don't know all the facts, and give me the grace to recognize when, in fact, I do not know all the facts!