Day 236

Job 12:1–15:35; 1 Corinthians 15:29-58; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 21:30-31

IN OUR READING from Job today, we saw the dichotomy between Job’s claims of total innocence in his suffering and his friends’ agitated responses in trying to help him make sense of his plight. Job simply wanted his friends to be fair. The problem was that he was asking them to be impartial witnesses between him and God —which they couldn’t do.

Job’s friends believed that God could not possibly be to blame for Job’s misfortune. He could certainly be the cause of it, but only if Job deserved judgment. In their view, Job needed to deeply examine his own heart and repent of his pride. But Job stuck to the conviction that he was, in fact, righteous and blameless before God:

Are you defending God with lies? Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake? Will you slant your testimony in his favor? Will you argue God’s case for him?

Job’s frustration was borne out of the fact that he and his friends all believed God to be righteous, holy, and almighty. They all believed that God was good and just. And yet Job sincerely believed that he had done nothing unholy before God to incur His wrath —which was what he assumed was happening.

Job felt as if he knew all the answers his friends were giving him. They were not bringing him wisdom that he didn’t already possess. However, a real problem remained: If God was just and good, and Job was completely innocent and righteous before God, then why the suffering? Job was begging and pleading to understand. He was frustrated because human wisdom was not adequate to answer his questions. He wanted to argue his case before God Himself, in person, but he did not know how to find Him or what he could possibly say to Him that would make a difference.

Which brings us to one of the most riveting verses in the Bible: “God might kill me, but I have no other hope” (Job 13:15).

This posture is one we must consider deeply as we contemplate whatever we might be going through. In essence, Job’s posture was that even if pursuing God proved hopeless, still he would hope in God.

Allow that to sink in. Wrestle with Job’s perspective today, for it moves well beyond our theological constructs for understanding God and far beyond the circumstances of our lives. Job was describing a hope that cannot be shaken. And hope is the bridge that gives faith a pathway forward.

Think about that verse today: “Though he slay me, I will hope in him” (Job 13:15, ESV).

Locate yourself in what Job is saying, and consider where your own heart’s posture lies.

MEDITATION:

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.