The Story Goes On (Genesis 22-24)

The Sacrifice

This section starts off telling the story of Abraham and the sacrifice. Abraham wakes up one morning and says to his son, Isaac, let's go to the mountains and offer God a sacrifice. They take up the wood and other  materials needed for the sacrifice. Isaac notices they have everything for the sacrifice but he asks, where is the animal? Abraham tells him God will provide. 

They get to the place where they will have the sacrifice and he binds Isaac. He places him on the altar and raises a knife to kill Isaac. A voice from heaven tell him to stop! Do not lay a hand on your son and harm him. 

God provided a ram that was caught in the thicket. They sacrificed the ram and come down from the mountain. 

The story has a few twists and turns that do not fit normalcy. First, if society where to look at Abraham they would have thought him a little crazy. He was about to kill his son. Having said that though, in the old testament there are dozens of stories, well maybe not dozens but enough to let us know that human sacrifice of children was all too common.  So in this light Abraham was not crazy. Perhaps human sacrifice during his time was also common. The Bible does not say. 

The amazing thing to me that Isaac, I don't know if he was a teenager or young adult, would let his father bind  him and put him on an  altar and allow him to stab him without saying anything. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of conversation took place since the Bible really does not record all of their conversation. 

Most of the youth today would have in someway disrespected Abraham but Isaac did not. In this day you would have even had some who may have tried to defend himself and end up hurting Abraham. And our court system would have justified his defense. 

Within this culture, this kind of act was allowed. God used it to illustrate what it would be like for Father God and the Messiah, his son; and the redemption he offers us. The rest of this chapter covers the offspring of Nahor, the brother of Abraham. 

Sarah Dies

The story moves on and delivers a sad piece of news. Sarah dies at the age of 127 years old. That means that Isaac was 37 years old when his mom died. There is a long exchange between Abraham and Hittites to determine where he would bury Sarah. The Hittites wanted to give him the cave since he was a mighty prince among them. But Abraham wanted to buy it and it eventually he did for 400 shekels of silver. The property he purchased included the field and a cave. It was near a place called Machpelah near Mamre which was near Hebron.

Water bearer

When Abraham gets very old he is concerned about getting his son a wife. So he finds his most trusted servant and has his servant swear to him that he would find a wife for Isaac among his own clan. Abraham makes him swear by placing his hand under Abraham's thigh.

Abrahams servant travels to Abraham's homeland and prays that God will help him find the woman for Isaac. He asks God to let this woman give him water and his camels water to drink when he asks. Rebecca comes along, he asks, and she gives him and the camels water. He learns that this is Abraham's granddaughter.

He asks if he can stay the night with the family and he gives her two bracelets and a nose ring. They get to the house and when her brother Laban sees them talks to the servant, they agreed to let God's will be done concerning Rebecca.

The servant gives them the gifts that Abraham provided and then he tells them he wants to be on his way back home. Laban and his mom ask if Rebecca can stay at home for 10 more days with them and Abraham's servant says no. They decide to let Rebecca make the decision and she is ready to go.

They leave and when they get close to home, Rebecca sees a man sitting in the field. She asks who is he and learns that it is Isaac. He is out in the field meditating, the Bible says. She covers her face with a veil. Isaac marries Rebecca and sets her up in his mother's tent and then he is comforted since he lost his mother three years ago.

My thoughts

This is a wonderful love story that works out pretty good. The Bible says that Rebecca is very beautiful. You get the feeling that Isaac is pretty handsome as well.

Sometimes I wonder why Sarah had to die so early compared to the long years of Abraham. I am guessing that if she had not died then perhaps Isaac would have never had Rebecca as his wife. I guess timing is everything. The stories in these readings are straightforward. I don't see anything new here. What I do come to understand is that God's hand is moving the story along among humans.

That's it for today.

Tragedies (Genesis 19 - 21)

Sodom

Yesterday's reading was straight narrative and makes sense. I don't know if I can say that today but that's the only way I know how to describe it.

Two men who went to Sodom were met by Lot at the city gate. He begged them to turn aside, come to his house, let him wash their feet and give them food. Initially they were reluctant but agreed.

That evening, while they were spending the night at Lot's house, the men from the city came and banged on their door. They wanted to sleep with the men but Lot told them, no. 

Now here is the first thing that I really do not understand. Lot offered the men their daughters and said they could have their way with them. Really? Did he say that in all sincerity? It makes me wonder! Did Lot understand who was in his presence? Did he know they could rescue him and his family? Where women so worthless back then that in one night he would have given them to be raped and possibly killed? 

Today we would question the love that this kind of father had for his daughters. I guess the Bible just tells the story of the way things were. Perhaps Lot had a bit of Sodom corruption but I've seen this scenario in other places in the Bible and even today. Sadly. 

There are some people who don't treat women with dignity, respect, or they don't even treat them humanely. We have our problems in this country. We still underpay women what they are worth in the job setting. Human trafficking in this country is on the rise. Spousal abuse is on the rise. Sometimes I wonder if we keep going will it be like Sodom. 

The story goes on to say that these men blinded the men of Sodom because they were adamant about sleeping with the visitors. 

Lot's Family

Early the next morning the men try to hurry lot and his family out of the city and send them to the mountains. They were so reluctant to leave. Lot try to get his sons-in-law to come but they thought he was joking. Finally the two men had to take Lot's family by the hand and lead them out. They told them don't look back. Lot's wife did and she turned into a pillar of salt. I get that she disobeyed, but I don't get the pillar of salt. Why salt? And why a pillar of salt for disobeying. She never knew she turned into salt but her daughters got to see their mom disappear into a mountain of salt. 

Lots begs to go to a city name Zoar. They were too afraid to stay there so they ended up in a cave in the mountains. His daughters thought that since they were away from men they would never have children. So they each took a turn getting their father drunk and slept with him. 

This decision ended up raising two nations. The older daughter had a son and named him Moab. They became the Moabites.  The second daughter had a son and named him Ben Ami. They became the Amalekites. I am guessing this whole idea of having a son was more important than life itself. 

This is a very different culture from what I understand to be normal. Today women and couples choose not to have no children at all. So this act of mothering a son means nothing here in Western culture. 

Another Lie from Abraham

So the story goes on and we learned that Abraham moves from the Negev. He moved between Kadesh and Shur. Here we discover a man named Abimelek. Abraham once again tells folks that Sarah is his sister. So Abimelek takes her into his home. God appeared to him in a dream and said if you touch her, you and everybody in your household will die. 

Abimelek says, "Abraham said that she is my sister." 

God says, "true but I am telling you so now you know." 

Abimelek fusses at Abraham and Abraham explains that he and Sarah have this agreement. Whenever they go to a new place he tells her to say that we are brothers and sisters so that people won't kill Abraham. 

Abimelek gives Sarah one thousand coins, gives Abraham sheep and goats and wants to be at peace with him. We also learned in this passage that God tells Abimelek that Abraham is a prophet. I can't remember if I saw this somewhere else. 

Isaac & Ishmael

A year later Isaac was born. When Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him. Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born. 

Sometime later, Sarah was planning a celebration for Isaac and Ishmael was mocking him. Sarah said to Abraham, "Get rid of that slave woman and her son. He will not share in the inheritance of Isaac." 

This distressed Abraham because Ishmael was his son. God told Abraham to do what Sarah told him to do because Isaac was the one to carry the inheritance, not Ishmael. 

The household must have been very tense at that time. Hagar must've been a strong willed woman who was an Achilles' heel for Sarah. I guess Sarah reached an all time high of intolerance. 

None of this was fair for Isaac or Ishmael but it had to be because this is God's story and this is how it goes. This concept is strange but this is what I am getting when I read about the unfairness in the Old Testament stories. 

The next morning Abraham gives Hagar and Ishmael food and a skin of water. Hagar wanders around in the desert of Beersheba. They run out of water and Hagar puts her son under a bush and moves away. She cannot witness him dying from the lack of water. 

An angel/God comes to her and wants to know what's wrong. God tells her not to be afraid; he is going to make Ishmael into a great nation. God opened her eyes and she saw a well and she gave Ishmael something to drink. God watched over Ishmael and he became a great archer. His mother got him a wife from Egypt. 

The Covenant

In the meantime Abimelek made a covenant with Abraham. There were some disputes over water wells but they seem to settle it and made an agreement. Abimelek wanted Abraham to show him the same kindness that he showed to Abraham. 

To close this chapter, the writer says that Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. 

My Thoughts

I feel blessed to live in the western culture where women are respected. One kind of wishes that Hagar and Sarah got along; but they didn't. This put Hagar at a disadvantage. When Ishmael and Hagar got on Sarah's nerves, she was dismissed in  less than 24 hours with no benefits or no way to take care of herself. 

It is interesting to note, the stories of the patriarchs have a lots of drama and tragedies. The outcome of brothers that share the same blood is a tragic one. They could have grown up together, caring and loving for one another; but that is not God's story. 

I know the enemy of our souls also plays a role in making difficulties happen. In spite of these difficulties God's story is still told. Unfortunately, the story is a broken one. And today, that story for each of us has not changed. 

That's it for today.

Name Change (Genesis 16 - 18)

Hagar and Ishmael

Sarai couldn't have children so she told Abram to take her Egyptian slave. Her name was Hagar. Hagar got pregnant and she had Ishmael. However, when she was pregnant she despised Sarai. Sarai complained to Abram and he told her to do whatever she wanted. Then Sarai started mistreating her and Hagar ran away. An angel found her by a spring and asked her, "Where did you come from and where are you going?

She explains that she is running from her mistress. The angel tells her to go back and submit to her. The angel tells her that he will increase her descendants so much that there will be too many to count. The angel also tells her that she will have a son and she should name him Ishmael. He will be a wild donkey of a man and he will be against everyone and everyone will be against him. He will also be hostile toward his brothers and visa versa.

Then she tells him that the angel is the God who sees her and the well or spring is called Beer Lahai Roi. What the angel/God told her came true. Abram was 86 years old when Ishmael was born.

Name Change

Fourteen years goes by and Abram is 99 years old. God came to him and said I am God; walk faithfully and be blameless. Then, I will make a covenant between me and you. I will increase your numbers.

Abram fell facedown and God said, "This is my covenant with you: you will be the father of many nations. Your name is now Abraham since you are the father of many nations. I will make you fruitful. Kings will come from you. My covenant is everlasting between you and me and your descendants. I will give you an everlasting possession of the land of Canaan and I will be their God."

God then tells him, "you and your descendants must keep my covenant." You must circumcise all males at 8 days old. This includes everybody including foreigners and those who are not your offspring. This will be the sign of the covenant. If someone does not get circumcised, that person will be cut off from his people.

Concerning Sarai, God says, "her name is now Sarah. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings will come from her.

Abraham fell face down and laughed to himself. "Will I have a son at 100 years old? Will Sarah have a child at 90 years old."

Abraham then says to God, "If only Ishmael can live under your blessing." This sounds like Abraham is attached to Ishmael.

God simply says, "Yes, but your wife will have a son. Name him Isaac.  I will establish my covenant with him and his descendants. I will bless Ishmael, make him fruitful, and his numbers will increase. He will be the father of 12 rulers and his descendants will become a great nation. But my covenant will be with Isaac and he will be born next year this time.

God left and on that same day, Abraham circumcised every male in his house including Ishmael. Abraham was 99 years old when he was circumcised and Ishmael was 13 years old.

Three Men

Then God appeared to Abraham again near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent on a hot day. Abraham saw 3 men standing nearby and he ran to meet them. Abraham bowed low. He asks them not to pass him by. Abraham wanted to give them water, wash their feet, let them rest under the tree and get them something to eat.

They told Abraham, do as you say. So he told Sarah to bake bread, he got a tender calf and had a servant prepare it, and he got some curds and milk. He served this to them.

One of them asked, were is Sarah? In the tent, Abraham replies. "next year this time, she will have a son. Sarah heard and laughed. "Why did she laugh? Is there anything too hard for the Lord. I will return and she will have a son this time next year. Sarah was afraid and said, "I did not laugh."

"Yes you did laugh," he says.

I do have a question. Why didn't the early patriarchs get struck down for lying and Ananias and his wife get struck down for lying to the Holy Spirit? I'm just curious.

When the men got ready to leave, the Lord said, should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Then the Lord reiterates his blessings and says that he chose Abraham to keep the way of the Lord. This means that they were supposed to do what was just and right.

Then God said there is an outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and it is so great that I am going to investigate. Two of the men left and God stayed with Abraham. Then Abraham goes through this bargaining period and says, if there are so many righteous people, will you destroy these cities? God told him that if he found these righteous people that he would not destroy it. When they finished this exchange, God left and Abraham went home.

My Thoughts

This reads as a story. I like that God would appear and have conversations with Abraham and Sarah. He only appeared to a few humans to keep the scarlet thread running. He did not appear to all men. According to the New Testament, we have God's Spirit who lives inside of us. They did not have that back then. 

Today, God can communicate with all of us if we open our hearts and minds toward him; if we seek his communion. This does not mean that I have voices, bells and whistles going off in my head and calling these the voice of God.  But it does mean that I have thoughts that are good that go against my selfishness or my weaknesses or anything that has to do with my human self. These thoughts change me, mold me and shape me into being someone better than I was before. It is not about selfish gain but rather a surrendering to a will other than my own. This is beautiful but so was God standing in front of Abraham and talking to him. Nothing else here for me. It is really straight forward.

Thant's it for today.

The Father of Nations (Genesis 12 - 15)

The Story of Abraham

This section starts the new era of going through the lives of the patriarchs. The first one that the Bible introduces is Abram. 

Abram came from the land of Ur with his wife Sarai. The Bible says that God spoke to Abram and told him to move to another land. He takes his wife, his cousin Lot, and everything he owned. 

There isn't anything listed here about Abram that indicates why God chose him. God spoke to him and Abram listened. We don't know if Abram was an idol worshiper or was he the only one that believed in God or did he start to believe in God when God spoke to him. 

God reminds Abram of His promises several times in these chapters. One example is when Abram gets to the land of Canaan, God gives him several promises. God will give him all this land, he will multiply his descendants, he will bless him, and those who bless him will be blessed and those who curse Abraham God will curse. 

Abram travels and settles between two cities; Ai and Bethel. Abram finds this big tree and that is where he pitches his tents and settled down. This big tree is near Sheckem. I have seen reference to this tree in several places in the Bible; especially around the time of the different kings of Israel and Judah. Perhaps there may be more than one big tree but I believe Saul, for example, sits under the shade of a big tree.

Bending the Truth

There is a famine in the land. Abram moves to Egypt and tells the people that his wife is his sister. She is very beautiful and he is afraid that they might kill him to get her. So Pharaoh hears about his wife and places her in his palace.  

Then diseases fall on the Egyptians and then Pharaoh asks Abram why did he do this thing? Take all your belongings, your wife and leave so Abraham leaves. 

I never understood why God punished the Egyptians because of Abrams choice of not telling the full truth. Perhaps, since Abram came from a society filled with idolatry, his idea of right and wrong may not have been fully developed. But I think that is a weak argument. Perhaps it was a customary practice for men to do this with their beautiful wives. Who knows? I wonder if Sarai protest this arrangement or did she just obey her master. 

Solving Land Problems

Now that Abram gets kicked out of Egypt, he goes back to the Negev where he built an altar. He called on God. At this time Abram and Lot were very wealthy. They had precious metals, sheep and goats, and so on. The servants of both men started to argue and fight over water and land; so and Abram said to Lot let's not fight. Abram told Lot to pick whatever choice land he wanted. If he goes east then Abram will go west. Lot decided to move near Sodom and Gomorrah out on the plains. 

After he left God told him to look all around and all the land he saw, God was going to give it to him. Abram and his descendents could live there forever. God told him that his offspring would be like the dust and he told him to walk the land and look at it. 


Battle

Abram moved to the great trees of Mamre at Hebron. Once Abram was settled the Kings in the region decided to fight. There were four kings who went against five Kings. These five kings included the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah. The kings who were oppressing them fought and won against them and took their possessions. Since Lot lived nearby they took him, his possessions, and his family with them. Abram heard about it and went and got 318 men who were trained for war that were born on his property. He and his men rescued Lot and got back all of Lot's possessions. 

The king of Sodom was happy and told Abram he could have some of the possessions that were retuned to him from war. Abram told him he did not want any of it just in case he would say, "I made Abram rich.

There's something here that is very important and is a foreshadow of the coming Messiah.

Melchizedek

When Abram came back from war with the spoils, there was a king by the name of Melchizedek from Salem who came out to meet him. He was also priest of God most high and he blessed Abram. Then Abram gave him one-tenth of everything. Much is said about this priest and king. He comes from nowhere and he disappears. No references to him are made after this. Some folks believe that it was God who appeared as Melchizedek. He is talked about in the book of Hebrews, I believe. Perhaps I will write about a little later when I get to the book of Hebrews.

Then, God comes to Abram in a dream and tells him not to be afraid. I am your shield and you're very great reward, he tells Abram. Abram asks God for a child, otherwise he will have to give his estate to his servant. God promises him that he will have a son from his own flesh so there would be no need to give his wealth to his servant.

The Covenant

God takes him outside and tells him to look at the stars. If you can count them, he says then you will be able to count your descendants. Abram believed God and asked him, how can I know that all of what you say will come true about giving the land to Abram. Then God said bring me a 3-yo heifer, a 3yo goat, and a 3yo ram; And a dove and a young pigeon. Abram cut the animals in half and leaves the birds whole. He arranged them as God wanted him. He had to keep the vultures and animals from stealing the meat.

After the sun set, Abram fell into a deep sleep and thick darkness came over him. God tells him that for 400 years your descendants will be strangers in a country that is not theirs. They will be slaves and mistreated but when they come out, they will leave with great possessions. But you will go to the grave at a ripe old age.

Then a smoking fire pot and a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. A covenant was made and God promised the land to Abram.

My thoughts

This is the story of the man who is the father of many nations and three major religions. He sits at the beginning of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Each of these groups treasure Abram as their forefather . I bet that he had no idea of the amount of people that he would influence or what they would be like. He also did not know that so many hairs would be split trying to figure out who he is and what he wants. He also may not have known how they would fight.

Here is something that I observed. I can now see better the story of Jesus Christ in the making in the Old Testament. These stories cradle a scarlet thread throughout history that preserves the bloodline of Jesus Christ. I never saw it before like I see it now. I bet that there were a lot of barriers established in these stories that were supposed to destroy the bloodline of Jesus but God used all kinds of people and all sorts of circumstances to preserve the path that made the way for Jesus to be born.

The Biblical stories are sort of like a necklace. A necklace is filled with a variety of beads or stories but there is only one string that connects them all. Jesus Christ is like that string that connects all of the events. The Bible stories are a collection of all the beads and if we look carefully we will see that string of Jesus Christ passing through each bead. And this story is just the beginning.

That's it for today.

The Story Ends (Job 40 - 42)

God Continues His Questions

God asks Job, "let him who accuses God answered him?"

How in the world do you answer God? At this point, I do not envy Job. But I do think that Job came up with the best answer. He says he is unworthy and asks God, "how can I answer you?" He tells God that he's going to put his hand over his mouth. I'm sure most of us would have tried to defend ourselves. But Job knew when to stop. He was not only righteous but smart.

Then God continues his one-way conversation with Job. God asks him questions like, do you discredit my justice, or do you have an arm like God's arm and one more, can your voice thunder like God's voice? Can you adorn yourself with glory, splendor, honor, and majesty? There are other questions that God asks him but Job can't do any of these things. God then says to him if you can do this then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.

To hear God rattle off this list makes me realize how inadequate humans are. To me, it is an amazing thing to hear people call themselves God. Perhaps people don't understand the greatness of God and it seems that the REAL God is so removed from today's society. Some people believe that he is unknowable and doesn't interfere with life today. But we do know that in him we live, move, and have our being. In other words words, it is him that sustains us. Without him, we would not exist. We breathe because he is involved in things on this earth. And that's just one example.

Super Animals

Then God introduces two super animals. One is called the Behemoth. God says that he made it along with making Job. This animal feeds on grass, it is strong and powerful in the muscles of it's belly, it has a tail like cedar, bones like bronze, and limbs like iron. However this animal is very much a part of nature. Wild animals play near him, it can lie hidden among the in the marsh, and lotuses can hide it in their shadow. During that day it was difficult for anyone to catch it or pierce it's nose.

The second animal is the leviathan. This one seems to live in or near the water. God asks Job about putting a fish hook in it; apparently this one is more like a dragon. It doesn't seem like you can pierce it with a spear or a harpoon. It will give the hunter a great struggle that will never be forgotten. God says there is no one fierce enough to rouse it. God says, who can pierce   it's double coat of armor, who could open its mouth, and who can tackle it? It has fearsome teeth, it's back has rows of shields tightly together, it's snorts, and it's eyes are like the break of dawn. Flames shoot from its mouth and smoke comes from its nostrils. It's breath sets coals ablaze. Iron is like straw to him, it laughs at the lance, and it seems to be an all around beast that no one wants to meet in a dark alley. God says there is nothing out there that is its equal.

Neither of these animals are with us today. God gives a good description of them so we can easily imagine what they looked like. Of course we do not know when in history these animals became extinct.

The Purpose

The purpose of God describing these animals to Job demonstrates to me that he wants us to know and understand his creativity. I believe that he tells these things to Job so that Job could understand the greatness of God. He created these enormous animals and they showcase God's creativity. They show that God can do hard things.

Then Job responds to God. He says God, I know you can do all things and no plan of yours falls by the wayside. Surely, Job says, I spoke of things that I do not understand. These things are too wonderful for me to know. 

Job reminds God that he questioned him and was supposed to answer him but Job says, my ears heard and my eyes have seen. But, I despise myself and I repent in dust and Shane. I guess it is really bodacious for the Clay to challenge the potter about what he is doing. By God sharing these things with Job, Job  gets a better idea of who God is and what God would like from us as his children.

Then God says I am angry with your friends because they did not speak the truth about me like Job did. So they have to bring seven bulls and sacrifice them on the altar. Then God wanted Job to pray for his friends. He did and they were forgiven. Everything that was taken from Job was given back in double portion. He had 10 more children, seven boys and three girls. The Bible mentions that they were pretty ladies and Job gave them share of his inheritance. He lived to a ripe-old age and died 140 years later. And that's the end of this book and the story.

I wish I could say more about the purpose but for now my understanding is limited. Perhaps if I investigate further, I could gather more from this old book of the Bible. 

My thoughts

Job is a very interesting book that teaches us about the characteristics that God would like each of us to have.  It is about suffering and pain and the unfairness of it all. It is about how God is represented in the mind of man. It is about how God straightens it out. It also becomes a place where we can study and get a better idea of who God is and who God is not. And he can help us on our journey in spite of pitfalls and all sorts of ditches along the way. 

Although I do not understand everything thoroughly in this book, it holds  a Golden cord that will keep us connected to who God really is and is not; it holds a promise that God listens and recognizes who is right and who isn't. I also think that it says that life is unfair. 

By studying this book, I am concluding that it is not so much about pain and suffering; although suffering part seems to carry the message. I'm sure there is so much more for me to learn in this book. I must seek to understand more.

That's it for today. 

A Voice in the Storm (Job 38 - 39)

And now: God Speaks

God often uses earth's elements to enshroud his words when talking to people. For Moses, he used a burning bush, for Elijah it was the wind and for Paul, he used a heavenly light.  For Job, God chose a storm. 

He did not initially speak to Job's friends... just Job. I'm sure they heard what was going on because a storm can be pretty loud. In fact, When Elihu spoke he referred to a storm in his speech. So, I wonder if the storm was in the making while Elihu spoke.  I'm just wondering. 

God starts telling Job, "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me.""

Stop for a Minute

Okay, this is where God speaks but stop for a minute and think about what's going on. 

We all know that Job has suffered tremendously and he even cursed the day he was born. Job is not thinking of himself too highly but God thinks highly of him and actually recommended him for this test. I can't say that I would want Job to suffer but I am glad that the story has been recorded so that others can see that it is possible to go through difficult circumstances and still trust God. And who knows how many billions of people received inspiration from his story.

During Job's suffering we read that he has complained, questioned God, and was probably just short of demanding answers from God. And from a human perspective, we all would have done the same thing. 

God's Perspective

From God's perspective, what was it like? Here is someone who God created in his mothers Womb. Job is his child and he knows all about Job. God is the potter and Job is the clay. And now God watches his masterpiece in distress. I have no idea how that affected God. There is no information to help us understand. 

God's speech to Job does not deal with his issue of suffering and pain. I must confess that it puzzles me somewhat. What God does say is that Job has spoken without knowledge. This is true because Job does not know what is going on behind the scenes; although the reader knows the background story. 

But even more so Job, as with the rest of us, sorely lacks the wisdom to understand things from God's perspective. So, God questions him. 

God gives Job a series of questions to answer. God asks him the hard questions, the who, the what, the where and others. 

God's Questions

One of the things that stand out for me is how God moves through creation as he questions. He starts off by asking where was Job when God laid the foundation and who placed the cornerstone? Who drew the dimensions, the lines and barriers so that what he created stayed within its boundaries. 

When I hear things like this, I think of an architect who has ideas in his head. Then he sits down with precision instruments and mathematical formulas; although it is probably implemented on computer and draws the ideas in his head. He selects the site to build. And he lays the foundation and sets boundaries. The house goes on sturdy land and the pool is set so that the water does not exceed its boundaries. 

This is what God demonstrates here. I did not consider this before but God says the angels shouted and rejoiced because of what he had created. When I lived in Portland Oregon, every year they would build the street of dreams. On these streets were glorious houses that hundreds if not thousands would come to book and marvel. I am sure this is how the Angels marveled and admired and the creations that came from the mind of God. 

God asks Joe about light and darkness. He asks him about water and clouds. He asks about storms, snow, hailstorms, the dew and ice. He asks about food for ravens, the nest of the eagle high in the treetops, the fast running ostrich who is careless with her offspring. He talks about the wild donkeys that search for anything green. He talks about the ox and the load that it carries. And God tells him to brace himself like a man and answer these questions. 

Here is something that interests me. I never thought of clouds having boundaries but they do. Clouds wrap themselves completely around the earth but they can only go but so high. God set that boundary when he created them.

And this is not the end of God's speech. He continues into the next chapters. Truly an interesting read. The writer is quoting God exactly so that the reader knows exactly what God said. 

That's it for today. 

And the Speech Goes On and On... (Job 35 - 37)

Word Twisting

Elihu continues his very long speech. This time he talks about Job saying that Job thinks that he is in the right not God. I really don't think that's what Job was trying to say. Job was suffering, he declared his innocence; he wants God to take the suffering from him, but it seems like God does not hear him. He's trying to understand why God has given him the burden of suffering. At least that is my take on this. 

What Elihu is doing is really doing is twisting Job's words and calling it wisdom. He is saying to Job that sinning does nothing to God but only affects humans like Job. On the other hand righteousness affects other people only. In other words right doing and wrong doing is contained to the world. It does not affect God. 

He continues and says that people cry out when they are oppressed. They want relief from those who are powerful over them. No one asks for a song in the night that is given by God. He does not answer when people cry out when they are arrogant and wicked. He does not listen to their empty cries. He pays no attention to it. Job, do you think that God will listen to you when he doesn't listen to the oppressed? 

Speaking for God

And here comes the mockery again. Elihu says, so when Job opens his mouth it is with empty talk and without knowledge he just says a whole lot of words. 

You would think that Elihu stops talking but he doesn't. He continues his very long speech. He continues by saying there's more to be said on God's behalf. He seems a little cocky to be a self-appointed spokesperson for God. He thinks that his words are not false and that he has perfect knowledge. Wow! Really Elihu? 

He says God is mighty and he doesn't keep the wicked alive. But he gives the afflicted their rights. He keeps his eyes on the righteous, gives them kings and exalts them forever. But if a person is bound by chains then God will tell him what he has done. God makes people like this to listen to correction and tells them to repent of evil. If they repent, they live in prosperity; but if they don't they will perish by sword and die without knowledge. 

Those who suffer God delivers and speaks to them in affliction. God is trying to woo them away from distress and give them a place of comfort at their table filled with choice food.  

But Job now has to deal with God's judgment because he is wicked. Then he goes through the list of things that Job should do. For example do not long for the night to drag people away from their homes. Then Elihu exalts God for his power, as a teacher,  and for his work. And we all see this power. 

He says God is great; so much so that he is beyond our understanding. I think that's a really good statement. Probably the best thing that he said out of his whole speech. 

The Great Things God Does

Then Elihu gives examples of the great things that God does.  For example he draws up drops of water which to spill as rain to the streams. The clouds pour down there moisture and it falls on mankind. Who can understand the spreading clouds, the thunder and the lightning?  Elihu gets excited about this thought. In fact he said his heart pounds and leaps. 

He says listen to the roar of God's voice; The rumble from his mouth. He continues to describe the awesome power of God. This is the kind of power that makes you tremble and your boots. God says to snow, fall. Rain, be a mighty downpour. He's bragging on God. He saying that God is mighty when he says something and moves. The animals take cover when the tempest of God comes out. God's breath makes ice and all the water becomes frozen. That's God directs the clouds to swirl throughout the earth. 

Elihu describes the other wonders of God and then asks Joe does he know how God controls the clouds and make lightning flash. Then he asks Job, what should we say to God? In all of God's greatness, should we as mere humans say to God, I want to speak? 

He continues to describe what God is like. He explains that God is beyond our reach and exalted in power.  Therefore people revere him because doesn't he regard the wise in his heart? 

In other words Job, you are a sinner so God is not listening to you. But me! I am wise so therefore I am in his heart.   This is what Elihu says. And finally! This is the end of his long speech. 

My thoughts. 

Again, I am not a  Bible scholar but Elihu seems to be rather arrogant. He speaks the mind of God as though he is in God's head. He makes pronouncements on Job as though he is God. This is not good, of course. And God basically says this when he gives his speech in the next chapter. I guess we humans are pretty good of taking the bad and making it worse. At least this is what I see Job's friends doing. 

That's it for today.

The younger one speaks (Job 32 - 34)

Meet the New Speaker

His name is Elihu. Out of everyone in the story he is the youngest one. Out of all the conversations, he is the one who remained silent. He just observed took notes and listened very carefully. 

The previous chapter gives Job's last speech. The Bible says that Job decided himself to be righteous. There was nothing more his friends could say to him to change his mind. So the younger one gets angry with Job and the others because they said let God refute him; not man.

In Elihu's Words... 

So, Elihu decides to speak. He starts off by reminding them that wisdom is supposed to come with age. And since he was the younger one, he chose to remain silent. He was disappointed with the conversation that it did not bring Job to his knees and cause him to confess the sin that they accused him of.

 But he declares that wisdom comes from God. When God's Spirit dwells inside of you, you can have his wisdom. So he was going to speak with God's wisdom and in my words, put Job in his place. He says his words won't be like the words of the other two. He was going to give his argument that would be much stronger than the words that have been spoken by them. He tells Job to listen to his words and pay attention to everything he says. He tells Job to stand up and argue his case before him, if he can. And so Elihu starts.

Elihu's word comes from his upright heart and sincere lips. God's breath gives him life and he is a human just like Job. Job shouldn't fear him. 

He repeats Job's words that say he is pure, he's done no wrong, he is clean and free from sin; but God found fault with Job. Job is like God's enemy. But Job, he says, you are not right! God is greater than mortals so why do you complain that he doesn't respond to anyone. 

Elihu says... This is The Way God Works

God speaks in different ways: dreams, visions, and deep sleep. God may speak in their ears and terrify them to get them to stop doing wrong, keep them from pride, to keep them from the pit, and to keep them from perishing by the sword. Or, mortals could be chastened by pain, constant distress... so much so that their body won't receive food and their soul loathes meals. Their flesh wastes away and their bones stick out. They come close to the pit and to the messengers of death. But their might be a messenger who will say to the suffering mortals how to be upright; and then the messenger says to God to spare them. I have found a ransom. Renew them like they were young; then the mortals can find favor with God and shout for joy. Then they can tell others, I have sinned but I did not get what I deserved. God delivered me and now I will live to the fullest. God may do this two or three times. 

The Ear Tests Words

Listen Job! Be silent and I will speak, he says. If you have to say something, say it! If not listen and I will teach you. 

Then Elihu says to all of them; It is the ear that tests words just as the tongue tastes food. Let's test what is right and learn. Job says he's innocent but God denies him justice. Elihu repeats Job again almost as though he is mocking him. Then he says that God will repay everybody for what they do. God can't do wrong or pervert justice. If God wanted to withdraw his presence, we'd all die. Elihu goes through a laundry list of what God does and does not do. Then he says to his listeners that Job is speaking without knowledge and insight. Job needs to experience the ultimate test because he answers like a wicked man. He is also rebellious and multiplies his words against God.

My Thoughts

Okay, I could be wrong but Elihu isn't saying anything great. God punishes people for the evil things they do and Job is terribly wicked. That's basically it! There is no proof in these statements that establishes Job as a wicked man. Elihu's argument is just as weak as the other advisers or friends. Perhaps the silence was too great and Elihu had to add his two cents but there's nothing earth shattering here. 

I don't know if I get the full impact of the book of Job. I am sure there is more to this than what I see here. I do know this that Job suffered greatly and God allowed him to be tried in the fire but Job says that he would come out like pure gold. I love Job's strength and sticking to what he knows. He never once second guesses himself in spite of the status of these learned men. I'm sure Elihu has more to say. 

That's it for today. 

Job's Final Defense (Job 29 - 31)

And Job Continues

Job reminisces about the days when God watched over him. During these times he walked in God's light and he could make his way through the darkness. He was in his prime when God's intimate friendship blessed him and his household. 

I like this phrase... intimate friendship. I rarely hear anyone describe God's relationship with man by calling it intimate. But Job was among the blessed to experience such a thing. He knew God intimately and that is why he knows that he is not a wicked man. This is why he is so adamant about who he is... although his friends think so differently. 

Job says his path was drenched with cream. What a visual! Is this lush or what? He says that the rock poured out streams of olive oil. God let Job live with an abundance... olive oil flowing... means a steady stream of food and other necessity that flowed from the earth. 

Job says that he used to sit in the public square and the young men would step aside when they saw him. The old men would rise to their feet. The chief men would not speak and the nobles were hushed. People spoke well of him he says. Why? Because he did a lot of good like rescuing the poor when they cried for help. He was a father to the needy and took up the case of the stranger. There is a long list of all of the good he provided to a lot of people. 

He thought he would die in his own house and that his days would be as numerous as the grains of sand. He thought his roots would reach the water and the dew would stay on his branches all night long. He thought that his glory would not fade and the bow would always be new in his hand. 

Job would counsel people and they listened. After he spoke, they would not speak any more. His words fell gently on their ears. They waited for Job like waiting for showers and they drank in his words like the morning spring. When he smiled, he said, they scarcely believed it. He was like a chief to them. 

The Tides Turn

Now, these very young men mock him. These are the very one whose fathers he would not put with his sheep dogs. In other words, Job did not think too highly of them because they seemed to be wicked. He called them thieves and said they were banished from society. Now they mock him in song. He is now a byword and they detest him. They keep their distance. They don't hesitate to spit in his face. God has now unstrung Job's bow. 

Job says that tribes attack; they lay snares for his feet and they build a siege ramps against him. They break up his road and they come at him like a gaping breach. Terrors overwhelm Job. His dignity is driven away like the wind. 

Now his life ebbs away. Suffering grips him. Night pierces his bones and the gnawing pains never go away. God binds him like the neck of his garment and throws Job in the mud. He is reduced to dust and ashes. God is bringing him down to death. 

Once again, Job talks about the good things he has done but even with this, evil comes. He looked for light and darkness came. He goes around blackened but it is not from the sun. He stands in the assembly and cries for help. He is a brother of jackals and he hangs with the owls. His lyre or instrument is tuned to mourn and his pipe for wailing. Job sounds like he is at the end of his rope. 

His Final Words

In Job chapter 31, Job gives a heartfelt and emotional speech on his innocence. He starts off talking about his covenant with his eyes. He has not let them wander and look at a young woman. He goes through a list of things that he has not done to offend God. 

He says that God sees his ways and counts his steps. In other words he's basically saying that God has kept up with him and knows his heart. And actually, he's right. In the beginning of Job,  God says that his servant Job is upright. But unfortunately Job does not know that God has said this about him. It seems that he has convinced himself that his suffering is God's doing. He falsely accuses God of making his life miserable. 

If

Job goes on to say that if he has hurried after deceit then let God judge him with honest scales. When he does, he will know that I am blameless. This may not make sense but I love Job's confidence in what he does and does not do. He actually pays attention to himself and his thoughts. He knows his heart and he knows he longs to be in fellowship with God. He doesn't second-guess his blamelessness. I think this is rare to find today. 

Then he says that if I have ever been enticed by a woman, then left my wife grind another man's grain and sleep with another man. Job speaks with great confidence. If he denied justice to any of his male or female servants, then what would God do with him, he asks.  If he denied the poor or the widows; if he kept his bread from the fatherless;  if he saw someone without clothes to warm them and didn't offer the fleece from his sheep; if he had raised his hands against the fatherless in court; then let my arm fall from its socket.  

One really has to be confident in what they do and think to make a declaration like that before God. And Job was the one who could do it.  

Then Job switches reels and talks about having someone else other than God sitting on the throne of his heart. He says if he has even pay homage to the sun or the moon with a kiss; then he would have to be judged for his sins. Job did not put his enemies down or turned away strangers. 

If he had kept a sin in his heart and hid his guilt to please a crowd… at this moment Joe stops speaking and wishes that he really had someone to hear him. Here, he seems to be overwhelmed with emotion. It is interesting, that as I read this I wish that I could reach out to Job and say, it's okay. Job now lets his defense rest. He would like to see his indictment in writing. Let God come forth and speak. 

My thoughts 

Job's speech is moving.  It amazes me that while he is in an emaciated state his mind and thoughts are sharp. Here is another thing that is emphasized even greater then in the earlier chapters. Job shows us what devotion really is. Truly there is nothing that he allows to get in his way of being in relationship with God. In loss, pain, and people who ridicule him; he remains strong in his relationship and devotion to God. 

I'm guessing that these are the kinds of people that God needs to have been the church today. If he did, we would turn the world upside down. But we are distracted by the glitter of this world and we often fall short in many things. Loving God unconditionally, serving him, giving our all to him, and suffering for his name are areas where we fall short. But not Job. Not Job. 

That's it for today.

Profile of the Wicked (Job 24 - 28)

Long Conversations (Job 24 - 28)

Job's Thoughts Continue

Job continues his speech by describing what the wicked might look like. They rebel against the light.. They do not know the way of light and they do not stay on its path. The move bountary stones, steal flock, take the orphan's donkey and the widow's ox. They push the needy from the path and force the poor into hiding. These poor are left in the desert without food and clothes to protect them from the mountain rain. They work by crushing olives or treading grapes to make wine and yet, they themselves are thirsty. They are the murderers, theives, adulterers, and the like. For them, midnight is their morning. They are friends with the terrors of darkness. Those who have sin get snatched by the grave; in the same way the heat and drought melt snow. God may let these people enjoy the feeling of security for a little while but God keeps his eyes on their ways. They might be exalted here on earth but when they are gone; they are brought low. They are gathered and then they are cut off the way heads of grain are cut off. If this isn't true, who can prove me false and bring my words to nothing? 

Bilbad Replies

Yes, dominion and awe describes God to us. He is responsible for doing a lot. He establishes order in heaven. We can't number his forces. His light rises on all people. So... how can a mortal be righteous before God? So, he is saying that since God is so powerful, and we are not, how can our right doings be declared righteous. If the moon and stars are not pure; how in the world can a mortal, who is like a maggot, be abble to stand. Man! He is a mere worm. 

Job Replies

Then Job makes these statements that have the attitude of," how dare you of all people!" What kind of advice have you offered to one without wisdom and what great insight you display! Who helped you say all these words and whose spirit spoke from your mouth? Job sounds like he is mocking them for the things they have said to him so far.

In very strong words, Job explains to his listeners about the greatness of God. For example, God wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under the weight. His power churns the sea and by his breath the skies became fair. 

Then there are two odd statements that I don't understand. One statement says that by God's wisdom, he cut Rahab into pieces. I am clueless as to what this is about. The only Rahab I can thik of comes later on in the text. The second statement says that God's hand pierced the gliding serpant. I am clueless on this one too. When I hear, serpant, it makes me think of Satan but I can't think of any spiritual reference to this. Perhaps one day, I'll get to read more on this and make sense of it. 

Job continues by saying that God has denied him justice. God made his life bitter but as long as he has breath, he will not say anything wicked. His tongue will not utter lies. He tells his friends that he will never admit that they are right. He is committed to this till he dies. He will never deny his integrity. He plans to hold on to his integrity and his innocence. 

Job wishes that his enemy will be like the wicked and the unjust. They basically have no place with God. They don't delight in the Almighty and they won't call on him. Job says, now let me teach you about the ways of God. Here is the fate of the wicked: they will die by the sword; his kids won't have enough to eat; their widows will not weep for them; the house he builds is like a moth's cocoon; like a hut made by a watchman... I guess that means flimsy and a tempoorary home. Terror will take over him like a flood. The east wind will carry him away and he will be gone. 

Wisdom

Job goes on to describe what it is like to mine ore such as iron, copper and silver from the earth. This search for ore is similar to the search for wisdom. They search the farthest recesses in some of the most blackest places. In these places untouched by humans, there are nuggets of gold. The birds and beasts do not know where this place resides. Although we can find ore and many fine metals, where can we find wisdom? Where does it dwell. Mortals cannot comprehend its worth. We can't find it among the living. The sea and the deep say it is not in me. You cannot buy it with precious metals. So where can we find it? 

Wisdom is hidden from every living thing.  Only God understands the way to wisdom. He can see the ends of the earth and everything under heaven. He established the force of wind, measured out the waters, he decreed the rain and made a path for the thundertorm. Then God took wisdom and appraised it, confirmed it and tested. The he said to all of the human race... fear The Lord... that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding. 

My thoughts

These conversations seem to go back and forth describing the good and the wicked; how great God is toward the righteous and how destructive he is toward the wicked. This exchange for today's readings cover the same thing and each day that I read, Job reveals a little more of his circumstance. 

I, originally thought that the men that sat with Job were his friends but the more I read, the more they sound less like his friends. They sound more like the sages of the day who came to set Job straight. Afterall, he experienced a plethora of tragedies and therefore must have a lot of wickedness in his heart. So,I'm guessing that they are trying to save Job from himself. But, all of their efforts fall on deaf ears. Job declares in this reading that he is innocent and he is not backing down on his innocence. 

As I read through Job, I wonder why God included this book in the Bible. We do learn about extreme suffering and how one man chooses to stick to God; he will not curse him for his tragedies.  But beyond this, I find beautiful poetry; very nice metaphors and they are picturesque. We also learn about relationships and how easily our minds deceive us into believing whatever is in our minds at the time. These advisors to Job were convinced that he had wronged God and of course, they were all wrong. 

That''s it for today. 

The Innocence of Job (Job 21 - 23)

Job replies to Eliphaz

Job says in essence, I am going to say what I say. When I finish you go ahead and continue to mock me.  Take a good look at me, Job says. You should be appalled at what you see! What you see is so appalling it should make you clap your hands over your mouth. 

Good for Evil 

Job wants to know why do the wicked have a good life.  Basically, they do evil things but they go to the grave in peace. They live long,  and increase in the good things like power and wealth. Their homes are safe and their children do well. Their little ones dance and sing; and they get to party and have a good time. God's rod is not on them. They turned to God and say, "leave us alone!" Who is God that we need to serve. So I stand aloof from them. 

Unfortunately it seems that things have not changed with man since Job's time. They are still saying the same thing about God. Job, in all of his wisdom, recognized this way back then. 

Job goes on to say that the wicked do not realize that their prosperity is not in their hands. Their lamp is snuffed out and calamity does come upon them. They are like straw that gets swept up by a gale of wind. God stores up the punishments of the fathers and passes them on to the children. Let the wicked see the destruction of their hand and the wrath of God. 

No one can teach God but he sits as the judge for all. And who does he judge? He judges the two types of people who go to the grave. One dies in good physical shape and is at ease. The other dies with bitterness in his soul not having enjoyed any good thing. When they die, they are both covered in worms. 

To me, what Job is saying is that how we live and die are judged by God. The judgment of man has no influence. So, he saying to these friends, your opinion doesn't matter. In the end, it is what God thinks and does that counts. I like that. It frees you up from being concerned about the opinions of people.  

Then Job says to them, deep down inside you know how you are doing me wrong. 

At the end of his speech, Job asks them, "how can you console me with your nonsense?" Nothing is valuable in your answers. They are all falsehood. 

Eliphaz responds

God does not gain anything if you are righteous. Is it because of your piety that he rebukes you? Isn't your wickedness great and your sins endless? 

Then Eliphaz reviews a list of accusations. Didn't you take security from your relatives? Didn't you strip clothing from people and leave them naked? You let the weary thirst and left the hungry without food. You sent widows away empty-handed. That is why snares are around you and perils terrify you. 

It is like you are in the dark. You look at the heavens and see the highest star. Yet you wonder about God's judgment. You say, "What does God know?" Do you really think that he judges through such darkness?

The next line of statements carry a tone of mockery. Eliphaz asks him, "Will you keep to the old path that the wicked have trod? They say to God, 'Leave us alone! What can God do to us." He mockingly uses the same words that Job just spoke but he turns it around and applies it to Job as though he is one of the wicked people. 

Eliphaz says that the righteous see their ruin and rejoice. I'm guessing that for Job to hear these words, only added to the weight in his heart. How can Eliphaz stare in Job's face and insinuate the Eliphaz (the righteous one) can look at Job (the wicked one) and rejoice? However, the text does not indicate that he even hesitates to speak these statements. 

He tells Job to submit to God and be at peace. This will bring Job prosperity. Accept his instruction and put God's words in Job's heart. "If you give to the Almighty, you will be restored," he says. God will remove your wickedness from your tent. Then God will be your gold and you will delight in him. Then, when you pray, He will hear you. God will deliver... even those who are not innocent. 

Once Again Job Speaks

Job really wants to talk to God about all of this. However, he does not know where God lives or how to find him. He wants to fill his mouth with arguments and state his case. Then he would know what God thinks. "Would He oppose me?" he asks. Then he answers, "No!" He would not press charges. The upright can establish his or her innocence to God; and there I would be delivered. 

Job expounds on the search of God but he cannot catch a glimpse of him. But God knows where Job is; and if God tested him, he would come out of the test like pure gold that has been purified by fire. Wow! Job has no idea that he just described what is actually going on with him. Such strong and beautiful words that still inspire many folks who study the book of Job. 

Job Declares His Innocence

Job is unwavering in holding on to his innocence. He says that his feet have closely followed the footsteps of God and he has not wavered from them. He doesn't take side paths; rather he sticks to the very commands that come from the lips of God. He treasures God's words more than his daily bread. 

But God, Job says, who can ever oppose him successfully. He does whatever he pleases and I am terrified of him. God has made my heart faint, he says. In spite of this, Job is not silenced by darkness nor the darkness that covers his face. 

My Thoughts

I must say, I like the courage of Job. All he knows is that he is suffering greatly and there are annoying men who keep returning to him to put him down. But Job knows what he has done and not done. No outsider can tell him that he is a wicked man and have Job act on his words. Job has visited the bottom of the barrel of pain and suffering. He can't see what God is doing with him... so the darkness covers his face. But yet he stands and still says what he knows to be true... without flinching. I can really learn a lot from Job. 

That's it for today. 

Only a Shadow (Job 17 - 20)

Job's Speech Continues

Job says he is broken and his days are cut short. I think he is ready to die because he talks so much of the grave. 

He looks around at his friends and he says, "The mockers surround me and I am looking at their hostility." At this point I do not understand why Job's friends are still around him. The conversations have gone very sour and Job's physical and mental pain has not eased up. Job goes on to say that God has closed their minds to understanding and God will not let his so-called friends triumph. 

Job then says his name is a byword. He is the man in whose face people spit upon. Then he describes his physical self further. His eyes are dim because of grief and his whole frame is but a shadow. He sounds as though he is wasting away. The upright and innocent don't like what they see taking place in his life, he says. 

The righteous are aroused against the ungodly. I guess this is Job's way of saying that his so-called friends are ungodly and people like Job are aroused against them.  In the midst of Job's pain, he does a little mocking against these friends. He tells them to try their hand again at wisdom. He says I will not find a wise man among you. 

Then Job reaches a place that I think is beyond despair. He talks of the grave again. He says that if he calls it his home, if corruption is his father and the worm his mother or sister then where is his hope?  Will his hope to go to the gates of death? 

Bilbad Replies with Venom

Bilbad wants to know when will Job's speeches end and when will Job stop considering them to be stupid. He says, "You tear yourself up in anger! Should the earth be abandoned for your sake?" 

Then he gets into his speech about the wicked man, who is of course, Job. He goes through an array of descriptions explaining what the wicked man experiences. His lamp is snuffed out, the flame stops burning for him, the light in his tent becomes dark and the lamp beside him goes out. His steps are weakened,  he wonders into a mesh, a trap seizes him, and a snare holds him fast.  His list goes on and on. He talks about the terrors, the calamity and disaster that awaits the wicked man.  Disaster eats away parts of his skin and death's first born devours his limbs. 

The way these disasters of the "wicked man" read, they seem to be written in poetic form. It is almost like a list. But these descriptors that he assigns to Job are exaggerated. They are like quotes from hell. How can he attribute these descriptions to Job? I am with Job when he asks, "What have I done?"

You would think that Job has suffered and he is still suffering in many ways. These friends just add more to his suffering. And if this list wasn't enough Bilbad says that burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling. (Sounds like hell to me.)  The memory of him perishes from the Earth and he has no name in the land. 

According to Bildad, Job has been driven from light and into the realm of darkness. He is banished from the world. All of these descriptions tell what happens to the evil man, which is Job.  He concludes by saying Job does not know God. 

The Isolation of Job

Then Job replies. How long will you torment and crush me with words; 10 times you attacked me. If it's true that I have gone astray then my error is my concern. Not yours.  If I cry "violence" I would get no response. If I called for help, there is no justice. My way is blocked so I can't pass. God has shrouded my path in darkness. 

Half of that is true and the other half is not. His path is shrouded in darkness, but God is not doing it. God allowed it. But Job does not know this. 

Job says his honor is gone, the crown on his head is gone and he is torn down on every side until he is gone. God is angry with him and he is God's enemy. 

Job then grieves about the loss of his family. He says, "God has alienated my family from me." I could almost hear the tears and anguish in his voice. Ten grown children that he had to know for 30 - 40 years of his life are now gone. I am sure he hears their voices and remembers the face of each one.  

Job says that his acquaintances are also gone along with his relatives; and his closest friends have forgotten him. His guests and female servants look on him as a foreigner or a stranger. He calls to his servant, but his servant does not come. His breath is offensive to his wife; he is loathsome to his own family. Even little boys scorn him. Intimate friends detest him. Those that he loves have turned against him. Job says he is nothing but skin and bones. Have pity on me, he says. Have pity. The sound of these words seem to echo off of the walls of his heart. It seems that the thoughts of his friends blind them so much so that they cannot find even pity to embrace Job.

Job wishes that his words were written on a scroll or a rock so they could last forever. Job, your words have lasted thousands of years. Billions of people have read them and weep with you. 

Hope and a Future

Then he has a change of thought. It is almost like the wind has changed direction and he can sense that there is still some hope. He says, I know that my redeemer lives and that in the end he will stand on the earth. After my skin is destroyed yet in my flesh I will see God. I am myself will see him with my own eyes and how my heart yearns for you within. This is so strong. It does not carry the voice of one who is skin and bones or only a shadow. It carries strengths and life and hope. 

Job reminds his listeners that they should fear the sword, God's wrath will bring punishment by the sword and then you will know God.s judgment. 

More Venom from Zophar

Now Zophar feels like he has been offended by Job. Actually, he's greatly disturbed. He says that the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Then pride of the godless reaches heaven and his head touches the clouds; then he will perish like his own dung. 

This is no longer a friendly conversation or a little riff between friends; rather it seems that angry words are being spoken here. He says that this kind of person is like a dream that flies away and it is no more to be found. The eyes that see him will not see him again. His children must make amends to the poor; and his own hands must get back his wealth. 

Evil is sweet in his mouth and it is hidden under his tongue. He cannot bear to let it go. It lingers in his mouth and turns sour and his stomach. It is like the venom of snakes inside of him. He will spit out the riches he swallowed. God will make his stomach vomit. He will suck the poison of serpents but the fangs of an adder will kill him. What he toiled for he must give back. He has oppressed the poor and left them destitute. He has taken houses that he did not build. And he can't save himself by his treasure. In the midst of his plenty, distress will take over. 

He continues in this way and describes all the stuff that God will do to him. For example, God will pour  his burning anger against him and rain down blows on him. And heaven is going to expose his guilt and the earth will rise up against him. This is what God gives to the wicked. And of course, once again, Job is the wicked man. 

My Thoughts

When these conversations first started they were mild and subtle. Now the words are vicious and they have teeth and they are biting and tearing Job to pieces. I really don't understand why they are sitting there with Job. I'm guessing at this point I would ask them to leave. Isn't it enough to suffer? And by the way, don't they have something else to do other than to make a miserable man more miserable? 

It is almost like they want to tar and feather Job and assign evil behaviors to Job. But they have no proof. Based on Job's suffering they think that he has done something horrible. So they judge him. They call him names and they have condemned him. 

If I learned nothing else from this book I am learning the importance of not judging other people. Like the writer of the story, I am on the outside of Job's life and I know what's going on behind the scenes. Job's friends and Joe do not know. These men can't be more wrong about Job. We should leave the judging to God and to the court systems. We humans get one wrong idea and we walk down a very wrong road for a very long time. Job, of course, was innocent. And they were wrong. 

That's it for today.