“My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me; Show me why You contend with me. Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, That You should despise the work of Your hands,
And smile on the counsel of the wicked? Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees? Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a mighty man, That You should seek for my iniquity And search out my sin, Although You know that I am not wicked, And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand? ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me, An intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me. Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again? Did You not pour me out like milk, And curdle me like cheese, Clothe me with skin and flesh, And knit me together with bones and sinews? You have granted me life and favor, And Your care has preserved my spirit” (Job 10:1-12).
Holy Father, what are we human beings, that You are so mindful of us? Your care for Your creation is so delicate and Your love for us is from everlasting to everlasting! So when we are hurting, we come to You, and remind You that You made us, and we appeal to Your paternal mercy. May we never forget that You will always take the best care of us, even when it does not seem that way! We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior from sin. Amen.
In our last devotional I mentioned that Job decided he would take his complaint directly to God. So what we read in today’s Scripture is a part of what he plans to tell the Lord when he finally has his one on one talk with him.
There are points of interest in his speech, that are worth taking note of, which we will look at briefly.
- He will tell the Lord that he hates his life; that it has become unbearable!
- He will not hold back! He will pour out his bitterness!
- He will tell God not to condemn him!*
- He will question the Almighty: Why are You contending with someone You created, and at the same time allowing the wicked to have his way? That is not the way of God, but of human beings. That is how the strong exercises their authority over the weak!
- Why are You searching for a reason to condemn me, when You know that I am innocent? And there is no one who can deliver me!
- Finally, he appeals to the tenderness of God the Parent: You are the One who made me a perfectly whole being! Yet You are trying to destroy me.
- Please remember that I am but dust. Remember how You started Your creation of me, how You poured me out, then gave me form? How You brought skin and flesh and bones into one creature?
- Then You gave me life, and granted me favor.
- It is Your care that has kept me alive!
If you took notice of nothing else, I want you to note that even in his alleged fear of God, Job knew enough about God, to know that he could be honest with Him, without being struck down as his “friends” thought he would be!
When this series comes to an end, in just a few more devotionals, you will hear how God evaluated Job’s words.
My friends, God does not see us, or treat us, the way others do. He knows all that can be known about us, and loves us just the same. And He continues to work on us, to re-create us, into His image and likeness!
He is not a God to be afraid of, but a Heavenly Father who is to be loved and respected; a God, we should run to in our pain and vent all the anguish, bitterness, disappointment, and frustration we are feeling. Weep in His presence, “tell Him all that pleases [you, and] tell Him what annoys. He[‘ll] tell [you] what [you] ought to do, He[‘ll] tell [you] how to try, and so [You’ll] talk together, [your Lord and you]” (Mary Ann Shorey).
When was the last time you went to Jesus and shared with Him what was on your heart? Notice, that after Job expressed what was heavy on his heart, how his tone grew softer, as he appealed to God to remember him as His child. You and I can do the same!
Note: A very significant correction was made on this statement*. Other less significant changes have also been made. A second read is recommended.