Many things caught my attention in these chapters.
Job 10:4-5 Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees?
5 Are your days like those of a mortal or your years like those of a strong man,
These are Job's words to God. In the midst of a trial listening to the words of our prayers can be very enlightening. I know when I haven't know what to pray the Holy Spirit has given me words. These words in the midst of a trial are a great reminder that as Christians what we are experiencing as we see it may look very differently through the lens of God and always comes to serve a greater purpose and draw us closer.
Job 10:12-18 You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. “But this is what you concealed in your heart, and I know that this was in your mind: If I sinned, you would be watching me and would not let my offense go unpunished. If I am guilty—woe to me!
Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head, for I am full of shame and drowned in my affliction. If I hold my head high, you stalk me like a lion and again display your awesome power against me. You bring new witnesses against me and increase your anger toward me; your forces come against me wave upon wave. “Why then did you bring me out of the womb?
Job 13:3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.
I love how in Chapter 1 God described Job as faithful and sees Job as His child. It talked about in earlier Chapters Job prayed, he prayed about everything. This prayer of Job's is such a personal and impassioned conversation. I wonder if his prayer's were always so relational or if this trial changed that? Either way my prayers are more like conversations at times, it's nice to know I'm not alone.
Job 12:12-13 Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
I have run into staunch, older persons in the church while having a youth, my daughter, who spoke to them from a place of wisdom. They did not appreciate her speaking "out of turn" as they called it nor my "lack of parenting." Oh how I wish I would have had these passages at that moment. Wisdom is gained from a life lived. Wisdom comes from God Who pours it out on His people however He chooses. Age and wisdom do not go hand in hand.
Job 13:8b-9 Will you argue the case for God? Would it turn out well if he examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal?
This made me think both about what these friends of Job were saying as well as our everyday lives. We can say what we want to humans and be quite convincing. Truth to some humans is more about perception and what you can make them believe. But I would caution about traveling this slippery, slope! Perfecting this manipulation will be surely be time wasted, there will be no manipulated or deceiving God when speaking to Him.
Job 13:20-24 “Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you: Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me. How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy?
Finally I found these of interest as something to think about when going through a trial. Job is asking God to withdraw His hand from him and to stop frightening him. Assuming the problems are caused or coming from God is completely mistaken both for Job and for us. It's a natural, human response given that make assumptions from what we see or experience but there are things we know about and of God. Changing this perspective would definitely change our prayers through the trial.
Job is bold, very bold to make the request "summon me, let me speak, show me my offense." If God were to show us ALL of our offenses I fear we would each be speechless in that moment. And in that last verse Job is assuming God is doing these things to him and "hiding" Himself or considering Job His enemy. Choosing the perspective, remembering and knowing that God is always with us and walking through each trial with us brings not only comfort and strength but reshapes the way we pray.
