Read
Job Complains to God
I Am Sick of Life!
1I am sick of life!
And from my deep despair,
I complain to you, my God.
2Don't just condemn me!
Point out my sin.
3Why do you take such delight
in destroying those you created
and in smiling on sinners?
4Do you look at things
the way we humans do?
5Is your life as short as ours?
6Is that why you are so quick
to find fault with me?
7 You know I am innocent,
but who can defend me
against you?
8Will you now destroy
someone you created?
9Remember that you molded me
like a piece of clay.
So don't turn me back
into dust once again.
10 As cheese is made from milk,
you created my body
from a tiny drop.
11Then you tied my bones together
with muscles and covered them
with flesh and skin.
12You, the source of my life,
showered me with kindness
and watched over me.
You Have Not Explained
13You have not explained
all of your mysteries,
14but you catch and punish me
each time I sin.
15Guilty or innocent,
I am condemned and ashamed
because of my troubles.
16No matter how hard I try,
you keep hunting me down
like a powerful lion.
17You never stop accusing me;
you become furious and attack
over and over again.
18Why did you let me be born?
I would rather have died
before birth
19and been carried to the grave
without ever breathing.
20I have only a few days left.
Why don't you leave me alone?
Let me find some relief,
* 21before I travel to the land
22of darkness and despair,
the place of no return.
Reflect
As readers of this drama we know that instead of accusing Job, God affirmed his faith and his integrity. But Job doesn’t know this and so he struggles in darkness, suffering the logical consequences of the belief that suffering is always the result of sin.
Because Job can’t make sense of this, he concludes that God is arbitrarily picking on him and lashes out in anger. “Tell me. Show me! And hurry because I don’t have much time left—death is close at hand. You created me. Now you want to destroy me. I thought you were a loving God. What happened?“
He doesn’t understand how the God who gave him life, cared for him and knows he’s innocent could now want to destroy him. He moves through despair, anger and confusion, sometimes yearning for God to look at him, sometimes to look away but always wanting God to hear and answer him.
We feel that same jumble of emotions when life falls apart and nothing makes sense.
Job is really posing the questions we all ask at some point in our life:
- Who are you God?
- What are you really like?
- How do I get to know you?
- How do I reconcile my difficult life experiences with my expectations of you as a loving God?
In those times, we would do well to follow Job’s example. Even though he doesn’t understand, he still believes God is there and listens. And even though the conversation is very one-sided at the moment, he is still talking directly to God. What Job doesn’t know yet is that this very one-sided conversation is preparing him to be ready to hear God—and discover the living and loving God with whom he can enjoy a deeper relationship built on truth.
Respond
Majestic God, open my eyes to see you more clearly, open my ears to hear you more distinctly, and open my heart to receive your love more completely. Thank you that you wait patiently whenever I have to work my way through jumbled emotions to be ready to receive your words, your truth and your love. Amen.
Lynn Smith
Lynn served Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto as Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Development where leadership development became the focus of her involvement with students. After retiring, she co-founded NextLEVEL Leadership, an International organization focused on encouraging Christian women to develop in their leadership roles in the marketplace, profession or ministry. Her passion for seeing others grow in their leadership confidence has inspired her to teach and mentor wherever God calls. Publications: Gender or Giftedness: a Challenge to rethink the basis for leadership within the Faith Community; Mentoring: Leaving a Legacy; Fred's Not Here - Living with Alzheimer Disease takes Courage