Job 13:1-28

Job longs for answers from God.  He wants to hear from God about his plight and he wants his friends to be silent.  There are many times in our lives when we think that we know what we need and what we want.  We are often convinced that we know what is best for us and we do not understand what God is doing.  Job wants either vindication or communication but he is only getting suffering and silence from God.  We must remember that God does not owe us explanations; but that we owe Him faithfulness not matter what circumstances we may face.  However, we can learn much from Job’s openness before the Lord.  He does not feel the need to hide his thoughts or pretend that everything is fine.  His heart is open before the Lord and he pleads with God for understanding and clarity.  God is pleased when we call out to Him and He is honored by our honesty.  Job’s heart longs for two things from the Lord.

JOB WANTS REASONS: He has been hearing reasons from his friends but their explanations do not ring true and they do not satisfy him.  He wants to hear from God.  He wants to know why all of the suffering has fallen upon him and he wants to understand how God is using it.  Job wants silence from his friends and he wants answers from God.  He wants to be able to plead his case before God and then hear from God either commendation or condemnation but he wants to hear.  The silence of God in the face of suffering may be one of the most difficult realities with which we must deal.  God knows what is best in this situation and because of the scene that is playing out in the realm of the heavens; Job cannot know the reality of what is taking place.  This is a time where we must learn to trust and know that God is doing what is best for His purposes.  This time of our lives is not a time for reasons it is a time for trust.


JOB WANTS RELIEF: Job has learned to fear the Lord, but now he is living in terror of the Lord.  God’s hand has been heavy upon him and he wants relief.  If he has sinned he wants to know what his sin is so that he can repent and find the relief of forgiveness.  Job states that he will continue to hope in God even in the face of death.  However, the God of his hope has inflicted him with affliction.  Job has come to the end of his ability to cope with the pain in his body and on his heart.  He desperately cries out for relief.  God’s heart must have longed to call an end to all of this pain.  Job is God’s child and we all hate to see our children suffer.  Soon God will answer Job’s prayers, but not yet.  The same is true for us.  This world and all of its sufferings were not God’s intentions for His children.  I am sure He longs to call it all to an end and take us to our eternal home, but in His wisdom and grace there is more to be done before that day.  We can rest assured that relief is on the way.

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