Editor's Note: I will attempt to summarize some of the themes and statements made by Job and his visitors. My observations are by no means the final word on this; please feel free to weigh in and give your thoughts on what's going on
Job 5
[Eliphaz's Continued Response to Job's Trouble and Lament]
...consequences and trouble come to us for a reason
...no man can help you; call out to the LORD who does "mighty deeds"
...He will win the day, and so will those who trust Him
Job 6
Job Responds to Eliphaz
...I"m so overwhelmed, I can't even speak well about it
...all of this is from the Almighty, and I wish he would end it, would end me
...clearly I cannot help myself, and my friends aren't helping, either
"A friend should be kind to an unhappy man, even to one who abandons Shaddai."
Job 7
...life is hard, and meaningless
...humanity passes quickly, then it's over and we're gone
...I'm gonna speak my mind and express my pain - don't shush me
...don't pass judgement on me; how does that help anything?
When I read this account of Job's months of gruesome physical suffering, the unimaginable heartache of the sudden loss of his children, the sleepless nights from tormenting dreams I'm stuck by how he encourages himself.
ReplyDeleteJob 6:10 Be it still my consolation, yes, let me exult in pain that doesn’t spare, that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
Abba teach my heart to trust in you like Job!
A side note: to me this paints a clear picture of the boundary between physical and spiritual life. The enemy was given permission to attack his body in every form and fashion but Job will not die, be laid to rest, until the Heavenly Father says so.
How will this understanding effect my responses in life? Will this biblical view of every facet heath & sickness, life & death, as being under the absolute authority of our Heavenly Father, change anything in my life?
I'm really chewing on this issue.
-Stacy
yep yep yep. It all comes from the Almighty, in one way or another. And He's operating in a reality that is well beyond our experience or ability to understand.
DeleteBut...suffering does give a certain seasoning and perspective. I like what Job was communicating here, even though he was stress paralyzed. Job realizes that him being right is no help, that even his "friends" don't believe he's right, and that all of this is from God, and who can fight God? So he won't fight God, but he will speak honestly to him and appeal to him. That's a good starting point for me when this world (or this life) is just putting a whooping on me.
- jeffrey