Give Me a Chance – Let Me Speak

"Look, I’ve heard enough from you guys: you’re hopeless, useless and wrong. And I’m not going to waste any more words on you." "There is someone I want to talk to, though, and that’s God. So give me a chance; you guys shut up. And let me speak to God."

That’s Job in a nutshell.

But talking to God is not that easy. Defending yourself in the face of the Almighty is tricky. Job understands that talking with God, especially trying to justify yourself, is like taking your life in your hands; that he might even get killed (v 15).

But Job is ready. He’s got his notes. He’s prepared his case. He’s lined up his defensive ducks in a row. And he is remarkably, amazingly confident (v 18).

So he pleads for two things: that he will have the courage to face up and speak up. That he will not be overwhelmed with the sheer fear of God. And that God will actively engage him in conversation, that God will connect, that God will call and answer in some kind of two-way conversation. A true dialogue. A pre-technological chat room.

Job pours his heart out, and who amongst us, reading centuries later, cannot feel and share his heartache. “Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?” What have I done so wrong that I feel so rotten, like an old and dirty shirt, torn and moth-eaten? (v 24)

For heaven’s sake, tell me what I’ve done wrong!

Respond in Prayer

Father God, you whose son is Word made flesh, we long to be able to talk with you face to face. One-on-one, a conversation partner. We long to be able to speak to you and able to hear you speak to us. Father, please open up the conversation.

Michael Pountney

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).