"If Only I Knew Where to Find Him!"

Did you notice? Where Eliphaz, in the last chapter, had challenged Job on the basis of his theology, Job’s response is of a different order. He doesn’t even bother with Eliphaz’ theology. It is God himself that Job is seeking.

But God is nowhere to be found. Job is sure that if he could lay his case before him, God would pay attention to him and acquit him.

At this point, many Christians have a problem. We know from Romans 3:23 that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” How can Job protest that he is innocent?

He is not claiming sinless perfection! Much of what we think of as sin - pride, lack of love, jealousy, etc. (sins of the heart) - never occurred to him. “Wisdom literature,” the kind of writing found here and in Proverbs and other parts of the Old Testament, thought of life as like two paths. You could choose the way of the good or the way of sinners (Proverbs 2:20-22). Job is adamant that he has chosen the good way and not deviated from it.

We, too, are often bewildered by suffering. We don’t have to look far to find good people who suffer terribly, while others flourish in the midst of lives that flout God and pay little attention to other people. You may be suffering yourself. Sometimes God seems far away. There are no “answers,” no theology that can explain things. For the Christian, there is only the knowledge that Jesus also suffered unjustly, and the hope that ultimately good will prevail. Whatever we feel, we know that God sees, God knows and God cares (Exodus 2:23-25).

Respond in Prayer

Loving God, there is so much we don’t understand. Help us to be honest in our prayers. We thank you for all that we know of you and trust you even when life doesn’t make sense. In the name of Jesus, who suffered for us. Amen.

Annabel Robinson

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