I Hit A Nerve In Myself

Then Job spoke again: “You people really know everything, don’t you? And when you die, wisdom will die with you! Well, I know a few things myself—and you’re no better than I am. Who doesn’t know these things you’ve been saying? [Job 12.1-3] 

Job says a lot of things in his verbal tirades.

Interestingly enough, Job eventually repented to God (twice) for opening his mouth.

Then Job replied to the LORD, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” [Job 40.3-5]

Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” [Job 42.1-6]

Job's repentant response above followed God's initial address of him where God specifically rebuked Job for the following indiscretion:

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? [Job 38.1-2] 

Now, this is all well and good until God finishes His verbal rebuke of Job and then turns to Job's friends:

After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. [Job 42.7]

Wait, God is now saying Job spoke accurately after having just rebuked him for his questioning with ignorant words! How do we reconcile that?

First, we reconcile this seeming anomaly on God's terms, not ours. In other words, what makes sense to us is of no consequence to the truth. So, we are left then to interpret what is said in the book of Job by what is said in the book of Job! Ready?

Using the interpretive approach suggested above, we are tasked to accept the simple Biblical fact that Job was right in all that he said, but wrong in that he said it. Job actually admitted this very fact about himself: "I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me."

It must never be forgotten however that Job's every recorded word (both to God and to his friends) in the book bearing his name was spoken by a man in the middle of intense suffering... It might be concluded that a man in suffering is ill-advised to discuss his suffering with anyone but God (no matter how much he knows about the subject). This singleness of focus is a testimony of action that a testimony of words could ever express. The 1st Commandment comes to mind:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. [Exodus 20.2-3]

I have "hit a nerve" here in myself.

Father, in my own suffering, may I seek only Jesus (the Way to You). May I not become engaged in argumentative verbal warfare with anyone, but may my supplications be only to You, and that, with thanksgiving. I have so much to learn... I need You and I need You alone. I understand that I only accomplish this in giving up my own way, taking up my cross, and following Jesus. So be it.