Where Is God?
Job's Reply • Sermon • Submitted
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Job’s Reply
Job’s Reply
The world around us can point fingers at us, throw the Bible at us, so to speak, when trying to lead us to our condition. In the previous passage we can see that Job’s friend Eliphaz has declared that Jobs wickedness is great. As people of God we can equate bad life experiences with a bad relationship.
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
Job explains his situation, (NRSV)
Eliphaz Speaks: Job’s Wickedness Is Great
2 “Today also my complaint is bitter;
22 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Job here explains that despite his groaning against his situation, God remains distant to his call. This is not in the past tense but also today, in this very moment.
Our lives can get tough and it requires stubborn faith and dedication to overcome the days and things that can overwhelm our lives. Job offers up the idea that even in the storms of his life, he continues to seek Him out. (NRSV)
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him,
that I might come even to his dwelling! For those here today who feel as though God is distant, hear Job’s call. This a call of stubborn faith, faith not willing to let go. (NRSV)
4 I would lay my case before him,
and fill my mouth with arguments.
Job contests that God seems to be missing in action. For many, life gets tough and we struggle in this way; God does not seem to be present. I think of the poem, “footprints in the Sand” Sometimes when life gets tough we feel as though God is absent, a no show at work. But look at verse 5, (NRSV)
5 I would learn what he would answer me,
and understand what he would say to me. This verse leads us to believe that Job understand who God is, even in his troubles. This is perhaps the stubbornness of Job. (NRSV)
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power?
No; but he would give heed to me. Giving head means that He will listen to me. (NRSV)
7 There an upright person could reason with him,
and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. So, a man who feels he is justified in his actions, also feels that he is righteous. This is what Job means in verse 7 when he says,”an upright man”
(NRSV)
8 “If I go forward, he is not there;
or backward, I cannot perceive him; Remember the poem? We do not see him perhaps because he is so close that we do not see the imprints in the sand. Do we think to consider the depth of the imprint? (NRSV)
9 on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him;
I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. We can be looking so hard for the image of God when we need him the most, and yet we can not see him.
Job says, (NRSV)
16 God has made my heart faint;
the Almighty has terrified me; We become desperate for that image and what Job is saying is that he cannot go on, right? Have you ever felt that way? (NRSV)
17 If only I could vanish in darkness,
and thick darkness would cover my face!
As a child we used to hide in the darkness. Somehow when we choose to be in the darkness it is not so troubling. But when darkness comes and we do not want to be there alone, it is overwhelming.