Day 5: Job 6-9

First, let me say thanks to those who shared your thoughts. So much fun to read what God is teaching you and the knowledge he has and is building in you as search for him through the Word. Please keep the comments coming!

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%206-9&version=NIV

There are two things that stay in my mind as I continue to read Job's story. The first is that his friends have made a great start for a top ten list of "Ineffective Ways of Comforting Suffering Friends".

Elphaz provides number one: Offer the old "God works all things for good and therefore your suffering really is a good thing" platitude. Now that is not to say that God doesn't promise he works all things for good, because he certainly does. However, I'm pretty certain I know how I would feel if one of my friends tried to tell me my suffering was good - especially when I'm in the middle of it. Unfortunately, I think well-meaning Christians use this frequently. The better response - 'I'm sorry your suffering. I don't understand it and I pray comfort and peace over you. Is there anything else I can do for you?' It is not that Job doesn't understand God's justice or that he redeems the suffering of the righteous ones. He knows that well - and is confounded by the fact that God apparently has exercised strong judgement towards him. And the counsel he seeks from his friends proves to be fruitless.

Good old Bildad gives us number two for our top ten list: Tell your friend that there must have been some sin in their life that brought this suffering, and that they should throw themselves at the mercy of God. Don't be to quick to be harsh in your response to Bildad, because I think if we look at ourselves, each of us had taken on the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of friends or family members as we attempt to judge and convict them. Not only that, but there's also a little something in human nature that deep down rejoices when it appears a righteous one has fallen. Now there is one way we can address a friend that we suspect might be suffering from consequences of sin in their life and that is to say to them, 'Have you prayed and asked God if there is anything in your life that he is asking you to change?' And/or simply pray for them, pray with them, and let the Holy Spirit take over.

The second thing that sticks with me is I think there is definitely a wise lesson to be learned here beyond the ways not to comfort friends. That lesson is about attempts to figure out God's actions, work, or intentions by our own human wisdom and understanding. I've tried to do that far too many times. There are things going on in the spiritual world that we simply do not have eyes to see. Now I believe the closer we draw to God, the deeper our understanding. Jeremiah 33:3 says, "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know". However, a truth that I am certain we will Job understands in the end is found in Romans 11:33-36:

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond searching out. Who has know the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Here's my challenge to you - as your read the book of Job, see how many statements are made by him that are similar to or found in the one Paul wrote in the above verse. And please, share your thoughts about today's reading.

Today's post was submitted by Carol Bartels