Am I Enough – Job Speaks - Justice

Greetings Dear Reader,

A movie that my Daughter Christmas introduced me to is The Man Who Sued God.  It is a humorous and interesting take on God and justice.  So much of the world clamors for justice in one way or another.  Job makes it clear that God determines what is just.  That is vastly different than our perspective on things.  We do not get to say what is just for God and what is not.

Job rightly sees that God is sovereign.  He points out that no one can call God into account.  We need to remember the two primary questions being asked in this story.  Job is asking God “Why” and God is asking Job, “Am I enough”? 

As I watch my children walk through pain and suffering and I see the pain erupting in my own heart I must remember who makes all of the rules.  My Son Maxim in the midst of his own pain was discussing this writing with me.  His observation that this story also ask the question of how much someone will endure and keep faith is an excellent one.

Too many people who have suffered much less than Job have used their suffering to reject God and his authority in their lives.  Saying “God was not there for me,” is never valid.  Job points out that God is right there so often and we do not see him.  We find God when we seek him with a full heart.  We find him in faith not in demanding what we see as justice.

I must go back to Job’s early question.  Do I dare accept good from God and not what I consider bad?  I do not want to be wrong in my righteous by being unjust with God.  I dare not blame God unjustly. 

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Job 9:1-35 

Then Job replied to his friends,

"Yes, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be declared righteous to God? If he wished to debate with God, he wouldn't be able to answer one question in a thousand.

 "God is wise in heart and mighty in power. Who could oppose him and win? He moves mountains without their knowing it, and he topples them in his anger.  He shakes the earth from its place, and its pillars tremble. He commands the sun not to rise. He doesn't let the stars come out. He stretches out the heavens by himself and walks on the waves of the sea. He made the constellations Ursa Major, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the clusters of stars in the south. 

”He does great things that are unsearchable and miracles that cannot be numbered.  He passes alongside of me, and I don't even see him. He goes past me, and I don't even notice him.  He takes something away, but who can stop him? Who is going to ask him, 'What are you doing?'  God does not hold back his anger. Even Rahab's helpers bow humbly in front of him.”

"How can I possibly answer God? How can I find the right words to speak with him?  Even if I were right, I could not answer him. I would have to plead for mercy from my judge.  If I cried out and he answered me, I do not believe that he would listen to me. He would knock me down with a storm and bruise me without a reason.  He would not let me catch my breath. He fills me with bitterness.  If it is a matter of strength, then he is the mighty one. If it is about justice, who will charge me with a crime? If I am righteous, my own mouth would condemn me. It would declare that I am corrupt even if I am a man of integrity. If I am a man of integrity, I have no way of knowing it. I hate my life!  It is all the same.”

“That is why I say, 'He destroys both the man of integrity and the wicked.'  When a sudden disaster brings death, he makes fun of the despair of innocent people. The earth is handed over to the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If he isn't the one doing this, who is?”

"My days go by more quickly than a runner. They sprint away. They don't see anything good. They pass by quickly like boats made from reeds, like an eagle swooping down on its prey.  Even if I say, 'I will forget my complaining; I will change my expression and smile,' I still dread everything I must suffer. I know that you won't declare me innocent. I've already been found guilty. Why should I work so hard for nothing?  If I wash myself with lye soap and cleanse my hands with bleach, then you would plunge me into a muddy pit, and my own clothes would find me disgusting.

A human like me cannot answer God, 'Let's take our case to court.' There is no mediator between us to put his hand on both of us. God should take his rod away from me, and he should not terrify me. Then I would speak and not be afraid of him. But I know that I am not like that.