GOD IS BIGGER THAN WE ARE
God Won’t Condemn
Does this mean that we might also dare express our
frustration, our anger — even call God to account in our ignorance and
confusion — without being condemned by God? Shocking though it may be — yes, we
can.
In Philip Yancey’s words: "One bold
message in the Book of Job is that you can say anything to God. Throw at him
your grief, your anger, your doubt, your bitterness, your betrayal, your
disappointment — he can absorb them all." God is much bigger than we
are.
Job also recognizes how big, how great, God is. After
hearing God’s argument, Job says, "I despise myself and repent in dust and
ashes" (Job 42:6). But repent of what? Of some specific sin? Not quite.
Job explains, "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too
wonderful for me to know" (verse 3).
It wasn’t that Job had to overcome a specific sin, but
rather that he had to grow in understanding. Job had been too hasty in
concluding God was unjust or inept.
Job now had a deeper, clearer perception of his Creator.
But this new awareness was only a by-product of the real purpose of Job’s
suffering — the testing of his faith and love. In this case, God needed to know
something about Job, and Job needed to know something about himself and about
God.
THE WHY OF SUFFERING
The Book of Job, then, teaches us that suffering may
occur for reasons we don’t understand unless or until God reveals them to us (John
9:1-7). Trials may come because God needs to know something about a faithful
servant (Genesis 22:1-12). Job’s suffering had such an intent — to prove
whether he would love God in spite of everything.
This message of Job has deep implications for the
Christian’s relationship with God. Trials and suffering provide spiritual
enrichment and build a relationship between us and God (2 Corinthians 12:7-10;
Hebrews 12:4-12; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-19).
Job also tells us no ironclad relationship exists between
suffering and sin. Just because Christians suffer trials or tragedies does not
mean God is punishing them for some sin.
The Book of Job is about much more than suffering or
God’s justice. Job affirmed that God was still God — no matter what — and
always worthy of our love, reverence and worship. That was the test on Job, and
he passed it. He vindicated both himself and God by remaining faithful. Job
proved it is possible for humans to love God unconditionally.
Suffering had been an expansive, faith-demonstrating
opportunity for Job. God had grown much bigger; Job had become smaller.
In Christ,
Playwright Janet Irene Thomas
Founder/CEO
Bible Stories Theatre of
Fine & Performing Arts
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