The word of God had been Job's life and for this reason he seeks to "present his case before God" (Job 23:4) and to argue for his vindication. Job's obedience to God's word, he feels, should not result in such profound suffering. Job feels that such obedience should result in prosperity: "How blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord...in whatever he does he prospers" (Psalm 1:2,3).
Job is in such distress that he cannot see the good purpose of God in his suffering. This wasn't supposed to be the result of his obedience, he thought. Yet Job hints that he knows what is coming, as much as his soul cries out in complaint, "when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job 23:10). Job can't see that it is because of his obedience to God's word that God has ordained his current sufferings! After all, it was God who commended Job to Satan: "The Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job?'" (Job 1:8) and thus the evil one brought much evil upon Job and his family on account of Job's righteousness. "Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). In a world of darkness and evil, obedience to God's word doesn't spare us from suffering, it leads us into suffering. Not in futility, but in hope!
So I must ask myself, is there any call to obedience that I am disobeying in order to avoid suffering?
(6/17/2011)
