Day 1&2: Job 1-21: Where is God in Devastation?

One day late in starting this - like Job's children, I was out at a party yesterday - though in my case fortunately there was no wind strong enough to bring the house down on top of me!

First, I like to consider the setting of the book. Although close to the centre of the Bible, Job is understood to have taken place in a similar time to Abraham - definitely after the Flood, probably before the formation of Israel as a nation. So this book fits chronologically somewhere in the middle of Genesis, probably. This is interesting in understanding the way Job worships God, and offers sacrifices himself (later reserved for the priests in Israel). He is clearly in a community that recognises the God of Heaven, at least outwardly; the community also has a lot of interaction with others - the identity of his friends coming from different clans is indicator of this, as well as the wealth, frequency of parties, and the fact there were houses indicates the community is at least semi-permanently attached to one place.

Attributed to Joseph Stalin, there is a quote
“If only one man dies of hunger, that is a tragedy. If millions die, that’s only statistics.”
I think that is the way many feel when reading the first chapter of Job - I know I have a tendency to do so, especially with the servants coming to him saying 'you've lost all this', 'you've lost all this', 'you've lost all this', 'you've lost all this', etc.
Trying to put it in perspective, I tried calculating the worth of the animals: $200 for a sheep, $1000 for a camel, $500 for an ox, $300 for a donkey, (rough estimates, I know), leads to an estimate of over $5 million lost overnight. More importantly, the children he raised, loved, brought up to follow God, and sacrificed offerings just in case they had sinned accidentally, were taken from him without a goodbye, and without any warning. I've never really known the loss of someone close unexpectedly (i.e. not in advanced years), so I find it hard to empathise fully with the situation - I have seen others go through it, and heard much about the difficulty from my parents, who went through the loss of my older brother while I was 'on the way' in Mum's womb. We don't know their names, but Job did, and he knew every mannerism, peculiarity, and history of each of his children. He would have probably known the servants personally too - at least their names, and their personalities. Hard to think about, but good to dwell on for a bit rather than just skimming by the numbers.

There are a few themes I see coming up again and again in these early chapters, and I know I'll see them more later in the book from previous readings. One is that God does has purposes that we often don't know about and can't see while we are in our current circumstances. He does not answer to us, but works things out for His purposes and His glory. Another is the patience and humility of Job. Referred to in James 5, it is an example for us of 'suffering affliction with patience'. Job does complain of the sufferings that aggravate him, but is still willing to wait on God, and hope in Him.
Although often in telling the story there is a lot of emphasis put on the fact that Job was righteous and blameless - and rightly so, one of the major points of the story is that suffering does not always come as a response to wrongdoing - still we see Job continually refer to himself as a sinner, as unworthy, that even if he were perfect he could not answer before God, but must throw himself on mercy. He does not rail against God, but continually extols how great and powerful and marvellous God is - His works, His character, and His right to bless and cause suffering.
In the dialogue a lot of emphasis is given to the recurring argument that God would only send this suffering if Job had done wrong, therefore Job must have done something wrong. The idea that the wicked are always punished and the righteous are always blessed. A lot of what the 'friends' say is right technically, but is misapplied - not recognising that there may be other reasons, and also ignoring that although God will finally give everyone according to their deeds, the 'rain falls on the just and on the unjust' (Mat 5:45), as Job points out to them.

It is interesting the presence of death comes up frequently in the laments. Job laments the day of his birth, and wishes that it 'would please God to crush him', indicating no hope for his further life on earth. Part of a natural response to suffering, in a way, that you just want it to be over, or feel it would be better to not have lived at all and not have to go through it. But there is still that hope and trust in God coming through - Job refuses to hope in the grave/Sheol, because that would be lack of trust in God. Indeed 'even if He slay me, yet will I hope in Him' - he is willing to go to death for God, but it will have to be God that brings that about, there is no thought of seeking it outside God's timing. Job's hope is in the new life, whatever this world holds, He knows that 'his Redeemer lives' and 'after my skin has been thus destroyed (i.e. Job has died), yet in my flesh I shall see God'. Oh blessed thought that we know even more than Job did about our Redeemer, and can have everlasting hope in Him, for He lives within us, and we shall indeed see Him face to face one day!

In addition to being thought provoking about how we respond when suffering hits us - can each of us sincerely say at all times "the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away - BLESSED be the name of the Lord"? Easy to say the words, harder to live them when push comes to shove, but certainly the right response. Anyway, as I was saying, in addition to that, it is also thought-provoking about how we respond to others' tragedy and suffering. The first 7 days Job's friends said nothing, and maybe that was ok, just being there helped - in many ways it may have  been better for them to continue doing that rather than give unwise advice! In chapter 16 Job rebukes the friends for being miserable comforters - and he is right. When others are suffering then often the best thing we can do is to encourage them, be with them, strengthen them, pray with them - it is not a time for tearing someone down, especially if you don't know if they are doing anything wrong! If there is clear sin in their life, then yes, it is our responsibility to encourage them to leave that sin behind and seek God, but it is a matter of coming alongside to help them, not wagging fingers at them from a distance. Let us strengthen each other, and not add to their suffering!

In closing, I quote a couple of verses from a hymn that seem appropriate:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.