Facing God

When Job finally hears from God, he is humbled.

Then Job answered the Lord: I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you declare to me. I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes. - Job 42:1-6

Through the entire Book of Job, we get the feeling that Job is being used.  He is singled out as an example of a righteous man, and so the devil torments him to see if he will turn against God.

He doesn't, but he longs for his day in court.  He wants to confront God and understand why he is being persecuted.

We would want the same, wouldn't we?  If we were being wrongly accused and punished, wouldn't we want our chance to defend ourselves?

But God doesn't give Job what he wants.  Instead he rebukes Job for not understanding God and His ways.

So Job realizes he is no match for God, and he is humbled, asking forgiveness for being so forthright that he would question God's motives.

I am sure this is how will we react when we meet God in person.  We will be so overwhelmed with awe, that we will forget our anger and frustration and be humble before Him.

Once Job saw God, his whole demeanor changed.  He could no longer challenge God, even though he longed to understand why he was being set up as an example.

We may not understand why things happen to us in this life, and we may wind up angry with God, but God's presence alone can make all our fears and anger go away. 

Like Job, we struggle with our daily frustrations, but in the end, we will come to see that all God has in store for us is far greater than anything we have to deal with in our times of trouble.

The challenge is to be patient.

More to come...