Job 23:1-9
Job
1 Then Job replied:
2 "Even today my complaint is bitter;
his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
3 If only I knew where to find him;
if only I could go to his dwelling!
4 I would state my case before him
and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would find out what he would answer me,
and consider what he would say.
6 Would he oppose me with great power?
No, he would not press charges against me.
7 There an upright man could present his case before him,
and I would be delivered forever from my judge.
8 "But if I go to the east, he is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find him.
9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.
The story of Job, is much about God's absence...Where is God or where did He go?...Is He hiding now from Job?...When we have felt His presence and then do not feel it anymore, how do we react?...Does this change our attitudes toward God and our lives?...
When God has been with us and we feel His presence and then He leaves and we cannot get It back, how do we feel?...Job was feeling this anguish, this darkness...Job, we know in the first chapter, prayed and offered God sacrifices...Job even went the extra step in making sacrifices for his children, in case they had in haste cursed God or had sinned in any way...This was Job's regular custom...This was probably a part of his daily routine...He felt good about doing this and maybe was acting as priest for his family...
When we are in troubled times, or in stressful situations, or in the daily grind of work day after day, we can feel we are by ourselves, we can lose touch with God...Illness, anxiety, pain, and stress can temporarily separate us from God...Job felt alone...When we feel that God has left us, we feel profound pain...
When Job looked around he could not feel God...He was bitter, and says he had a bitter complaint for God...God was now heavy handed with him, in spite of all the groaning he had be doing...Job felt he had been righteous and wanted to state his case, before the LORD...But he couldn't find God...He looked to east and He was not there...Job could not find Him in the west...He could not find the LORD in the north or south either...He was separated from God...
In great times of stress, suffering, and pain we can lose the sight of God...We can feel alone...Why does God let this tragedy happen?...Why am I sick?...We can become mad and even very mad at God...
God loved Job...He even initiates a conservation with satan about Job...God tells satan that Job is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil...We are not told why God is doing this (pointing out to satan, Job's character)...No other people are brought into this conversation...Maybe God is testing Job, because He is so pleased with him...Pain and suffering can build experience and character...Job was put to the test...Job would be stronger for this...But this process of pain and suffering (or even working and being in an environment of suffering and pain), whether it takes a few days or a lifetime of chronic pain can result in genuine faith...But without question during this process and time of stress, suffering, or pain we can doubt God...Where is He?...Job, probably thought as many of us do, now I need you, I am suffering greatly...I feel terrible, fix this, I know you can....God I need you...
God is present at all times...Job never gives up on keeping his faith, but he sure has many questions he asks of the LORD...Job is persistent in his search...There are times in everyone's live, I suspect, when we God seems far away...Job learns God is stronger in His presence in our lives at different times...Job's regular custom was to pray and make the proper sacrifices to God...God was there during Job's good times of good health and prosperity...God was there during Job's bad times of very ill health and being poor...Job learned that God is there during all times...