If Job only knew he was undergoing his extreme trials to test his love for the Lord, he would… what? Hang on longer? Protest less forcefully? Would his story be any more compelling? Would Job’s knowing the reason compromise the separation between events in Heaven and on Earth?
Known only to us readers, Job’s wife communicates Heaven’s debate. In one sharp question, for example, she unwittingly delivers the Lord’s assessment. “He still keeps his integrity,” the Lord tells the Adversary (2:3 Heb. hassatan). “Do you still maintain your integrity?” she asks Job (2:9a). Then, in one double-barreled command she also transmits the Adversary’s prediction: “Lay a hand on his bones and flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face” (2:5). “Curse God and Die,” she commands Job (2:9b). There is communication between Heaven and Earth, so a little more at the beginning would hardly hurt.
What about at the end? Couldn’t the Lord have leveled with Job then. Wouldn’t that relieve his troubled mind? Help him sleep? Encourage us all to hang in there with trusting the Lord when we’re under severe duress? Instead, the Lord presents Job with imponderables, asking him to ponder. He does affirm Job “spoke the truth about Me,” but about the test, not a word.
Why do you think the Lord never levels with Job? Why doesn’t he with us?
Next week Rob Sutherland, Counsellor at Law, writes a guest blog. His book, Putting God on Trial, 2004, deals with this question from a unique perspective.
Enjoyed your “Spirit-Filled Marriage” BA article. As you clearly wrote, “submit to one another our of reverence for Christ” is the key to “being one”. One author, whose book sold 3 million copies, suggested that “sumit to one another” applied to the previous section instead of the marriage section. May he rest in peace while knowing with how many men he led astray. Regarding this post, God does level with us when he said “seek first the kingdom of God…..and God’s righteousness….and all you need will be added. We just get God’s righteousness and our own self righteousenss mixed up every day. Please respond. Please visit our web site, read the Be Healthy Plan, share copies with others, sign up as a friend. Ask for assistance if you need anything. Love to all. Be Jesus to everyone. See Jesus in everyone.
Good morning Mr. Grose,
I read this through, and I find it to be a great question to ponder. Why doesn’t God level with Job? Because our life is a journey, to learn as we go, to do as we are told to do, and to be tested by God however he wants to test us to see if we are genuine. After all, doesn’t He need us to have genuine faith and devotion? If he strips us of everything that means something to us, He has or attention. He can then work our lives to His advantage, not ours….if we have everything we want we may not serve Him as he wants us to. He doesn’t level with us because He’s God! He’s the only one who knows our future, and it’s our job to trust him and obey Him…it is a time of poverty for me, and has been for years…I do feel like Job. Perhaps my Seconds Cafe dream will come to pass when the right time comes…all through Jesus Christ and God. Amen, thanks Mr. Grose!
Karla Fox