If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of all humanity? Why make me your target? Am I a burden to you? Why not just forgive my sin and take away my guilt? For soon I will lie down in the dust and die. When you look for me, I will be gone.” [Job 7.20-21]
Job's words here are at first reasonable, but then, not so much...
Poor Job simply did not realize all the players in his own plight. Job apparently had no grasp the concept of Satan's power and subsequent interaction because of Adam's sin.
Likewise, Job revealed his misunderstanding of God's justice.
What else could Job have done though?
This question is answered in the later chapters of the book after God rebukes Job demanding his repentance. Job realized at that time that he should have kept his mouth shut.
It is tempting to try to analyze everything Job and his friends said, but only the most astute student of the Bible will be able to ascertain the word for word, sentence for sentence "right or wrong" in all that was said by the characters of this story. Suffice it for the lesser-learned to see that Job talked, God rebuked, and Job repented for ever having talked!
Once again, my takeaway from this story is that silence is golden. It is in silence that God speaks. It is while silent that we hear. It is through silence that truth cannot be twisted or misrepresented. It is from silence that we emerge humble and repentant.
And you know what? God will not turn away a humble and repentant heart.
Father, teach me the value of silence.
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