Job's Journey

When asked to write on Job I thought it would be quick and easy. What I've gone through in the past couple of days has been anything but.

I knew the basic story of Job from my childhood in Sunday school. But I wanted to read Job from a new perspective, so I chose to read Eugene Petersons "The Message" version of Job. What a privilege. From Job, a man who so Poetically expressed his pains some 4 thousand years ago, to Eugene who also shares a passion for Creativity and Poetry through words - this was a fresh story. In fact, I realized that this was the first time I had really taken the time to try and understand Job, his life and his relationship with God.

(I spent 5 days on this journey)

There are 42 chapters in the book of Job. The first explains Job and his blessed life before Satan puts him to the test. The next 36 are some of the most depressing and saddening chapters I have felt. Reading these complaints from Job to God seemed so honest, so genuine, so real that I felt I was right there with him, not understanding why we were being punished. Seriously, I was all good performing on stage for those couple of shows - but behind the scenes I was there with Job, in pain, in question. Although my life is nothing like Jobs, I cannot help but identify with his feelings of questioning God, as to why incredibly bad things have happened to him. Thousands of years later we are still asking God the same question.... "Why do bad things happen?"

The resolution comes in chapter 38 when God Almighty Himself shows up to put an end to Job and his three friends empty bickering. His words are clear. He alone is Holy. He alone is the One Creator of all things, the Heavens and the Earth. All the creatures, all the beauty, all good things. God in turn questions us, people formed from the dust, "Who are you to charge Me, and pull Me into court?" I am with Job at this point, speechless. God is talking to both of us at the same time, yet thousands of years apart.

Jobs and my words - "God, You hold all the keys. I will be shut up and listen..."

In chapter 41 God continues to state His unique position on how He Runs This Universe. Job admits in chapter 42 to confusing the issue and to second-guessing his purpose in life. God accepts his prayer and provides a way for salvation for Jobs three friends, even though they have not been as honest with God as Job has been.

(When all is said and done)

What is truly important to take away from this book? For me it has shown the importance of Honesty with God. Job never cursed God. But he certainly cursed life forever being born in the first place. But he never cursed God. In chapter 42 God comes down on Jobs three friends for not being honest with Him, not the way Job has been. This tells me that God would rather hear someone cursing and being honest with Him, then someone being dishonest and saying "all the right things". God is interested only with sincerity, whether happy or angry with Him. We just have to realize whom we are addressing when we speak to The Creator of all things. In the end, Job is blessed immensely for his honesty and his refusal to curse God.

"God, help me to be Honest, with you, and with others. Forgive me if I ever charge you with false accusations. I am but a pile of dust, with life breathed in me by You. To you be the Glory, in times good and bad."

I take a deep breath, what a couple of days...