You are an embarrassment to God
“It is not because you stand in awe of God that he reprimands you and brings you to trial. No, it's because you have sinned so much; it's because of all the evil you do.” Job 22:4, 5
I’ve never believed I am the center of the universe but, over the years, I’ve received enough unsolicited feedback from friends and acquaintances to feel I am reasonably appreciated and respected. So...when a chaplain I worked with once said to me, “Lee, nobody likes you”, I had two responses; I was surprised and hurt. The accusation didn’t accord with my sense of place but, people who feel that way about us generally don’t tell us. It could be true, so I asked “how do you know?” His answer was less than helpful. He said, “People talk.”
Now, an honest person would do some humble introspection so I contemplated my life and relationships. First, we were assigned to a Major Command staff so there was no parish/congregation that would have approached this chaplain with complaints. Second, I had just been promoted to Colonel so, I assumed the Air Force “liked” me. That left my work-mates. I harbored deep respect for my boss so I approached him and asked for his thoughts. He said “Lee, it’s not true. That chaplain is just worried people might like you more than they like him so he’s trying to get inside your head.”
People do those things...
Eliphaz and Bildad took a third bite at the apple in their attempt to humiliate Job. By now, we’ve learned neither man was a friend to Job. They made accusations and lied about him with no evidence other than their subjective perception of God. We recall, from previous chapters, these men tried “God is punishing you” and “God is angry with you” without success so...they scuttled the theological approach and when straight for Job’s wounded spirit to make the kill. In chapter 22, Eliphaz essentially says “God doesn’t like you.” He asks...“Are any of us strong enough to give God a hand, or smart enough to give him advice? So what if you were righteous—would God Almighty even notice? Even if you gave a perfect performance, do you think he’d applaud?” (The Message)
These weren’t friends...they were tools...of Satan. Remember, the entire point of these circumstances was Satan attempting to convince Job to “curse God...and die.”
Fortunately, God had more faith in Job than did any of Job’s “friends.”
Satan is still up to his old tricks and he’s using the same tactics because, they’re often successful. If he can fill our lives with enough anguish he can plant seeds of doubt in the hearts of believers. He may not get us to deny God but he hopes to get us so disheartened that we relegate God to a footnote in our exposition on the meaning of life. So we are confused by police violence, or government corruption, and we start to believe God isn’t even paying attention...He doesn’t even care. Or, He isn’t the God we thought He was and we lose our energy to faithfully follow Him.
And...Satan wins because he has effective neutered our ability to produce the kind of fruit that will lead unbelievers to Christ; the only source for real peace and rest.
Job’s response, in chapter 26, is classic; “Well, you’ve certainly been a great help to a helpless man! You came to the rescue just in the nick of time. What wonderful advice you’ve given to a mixed-up man! What amazing insights you’ve provided! Where in the world did you learn all this? How did you become so inspired?” (The Message)
Satire intended. Job’s implication is clear; you didn’t learn this from the God I serve!
When we are at the end of our ropes, confused, and struggling to make sense of a world falling apart around us, we can choose to take matters into our own hands and join the fray or...we can stick with the one who brought us to the dance. He will surely invite us to address the inequities we see around us but...not in the human manner of Job’s friends; accusing, demeaning and destructive. The Apostle Paul tells the only way to stand against Satan’s schemes is to “put on the full armor of God...for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms...Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)
I different sort of response...but far more effective.
Live boldly out there today
