Questioning God

Many people often assume that questioning God shows direct defiance to the authority of God. Job consistently questions God throughout, yet never displays a lack of fear or respect to God. Although Job is constantly attacked by his peers for questioning God, he constantly reaffirms his faith and fear of God. Job shows fellow Christians that there is a difference between questioning God and disobeying Him. I think it’s a fine lesson to be learned. While there is certainly a very fine balance to be upheld, careful questioning proves as a means of further growth and development in a walk with Christ. Just as a student prompts his or her instructor in order to gain more wisdom, so too should a Christian approach God with similar intentions.

ps.  I commented on Kennedy's post.

Strange Ending

So, I have read and heard the story of Job many times, and trying to find a new or unique view on the story was difficult. What I did notice this time was the abrupt ending to the story. I have heard so many many people talk about how God blessed Job in the end and gave him this and that, but literally the end was seven verses long.  It seamed to be an, “oh, yeah and by the way this happened.”  This really emphasized to me that the important part of the story was the struggle not the ending.


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Return to God

While reading Job, the part that stuck out to me the most occurred in chapter 11 verses 13-19. Here Zophar says that "if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil...then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear." This reminds me of the hope that we have in Christ. When we try to do things on our own without God because we think we know best, we are often quickly humbled and reminded that we cannot find what we need in the things of the world. And in this passage, we are reminded that even when we do venture off on our own, God will still be there when we come running back to him and we will "forget our trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by." We all stumble at times, and how comforting is it to know that no matter what, our God will be there waiting for us to return to him.

P.S. I commented on Tori's post.

God's power and Satan

I saw an earlier post on this and wanted to expound on the thought of why Satan went through God to do these things to Job. God lets Satan into his presence in order to prove a point to Satan. God is also showing how even humans, who are so easily corruptible, are willing to be faithful enough to respond to Satan's trials in a way that doesn't openly curse God. God is letting Job know how powerful he is by letting Satan do these things and shedding light on the situation afterwards. He is powerful enough in order to bring Job to an eternal resolve and rebuke Satan.

I commented on Abbie George's

WOW!

This was the first time that I have studied Job, I knew the stories from sunday school but never knew them in depth. I have the upmost respect for Job, I have gone through far less than what he went through, unlike him though I would turn and run from God. Job's five trials alone would have caused me to curse the name of the Lord. Yet he never loses his trust in God. The difference between Yahweh and the gods of the Greek's is that Yahweh cares for his people, the gods of the Greek's tend to be only after their own selves. A difference between Job, and the characters of Greek mythology is that Job never blames or curses Yahweh, however the Greek's are eager to blame the gods. I believe that I may have a new favorite piece of literature.

I commented on Abbie's

Eliphaz and Job

One of my biggest pet peeves is when I approach a friend seeking advice and they quote me. When they remind me of a time I had helped them in a similar situation and what I instructed them to do. This happens to me all the time. It is usually involves them reminding me in a loving way that I already know how to deal with a situation. That still does not help the fact that it is bothersome. As I reread Job chapter 4 I came across this exact thing happening. Job is in so much pain that he is morning his birth to Eliphaz. He is truly suffering and I imagine him crying out to his friend hoping for comfort. But Eliphaz, being a true friend, instead reminds him of how Job had helped people during their suffering and advises him to take his own advice. He challenges Job to in essence council himself like he had other people. I know how difficult it is to do this and I can not imagine how difficult it would have been for Job to look outside of his own suffering. I commend Eliphaz, yet I simultaneously sympathize with Job. 

P.S. I commented on Kelli's post. 

Loving Leviathans

“Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook,
Or snare his tongue with a line which you lower?
² Can you put a reed through his nose,
Or pierce his jaw with a hook?
³ Will he make many supplications to you?
Will he speak softly to you?
⁴ Will he make a covenant with you?
Will you take him as a servant forever?
⁵ Will you play with him as with a bird,
Or will you leash him for your maidens?"

Job 41:1-5

          I know what you're thinking, "leave it to the marine science major to fixate on the giant sea creature". Yeah, we all know I'm predictable. But this was really beautiful to me. 

          When God speaks of the Leviathan, my mind instantly goes in a couple directions. Namely, the sperm whale (thanks Moby Dick) and the great white shark. But I like to believe that way back in Job's day, there were even bigger, fiercer, more awe-inspiring creatures roaming our oceans.

          Whatever the case, God's point remains the same. No human can top the Leviathan. No person can overcome its strength and natural ability. But its really the second part is what really struck me. 

          People could argue that, with today's technology and modern techniques, even the mighty Leviathan could be brought down into submission. But even with our most significant scientific advances, we can not tame it. We can kill and fin (for the safety of all involved, don't get me started on finning) as many sharks as we please but we will never domesticate them. We will never have pet whales that nuzzle up to us affectionately like a puppy. They will always be more wild than we can ever hope to overcome. But God can have that relationship with them. God can 'make a covenant' with an orca and have a pet great white. 

          I guess my point is this, we can accomplish infinite things and conquer nature in many, many ways. But only God can do so out of respect. We can bully things into submission all day long but the Creator only need ask and creation responds willingly and, even more impressively, lovingly. 

P.s. I commented on Tori's post