The benefit of reading through the Bible each year from cover to cover is that every year, you must read the book of Job. It is 37 chapters of men’s wisdom followed by 5 chapters of God’s.
When I read Job, I learn things about myself:
- I am like Job’s friends, spending too much time trying to figure why another person faces severe or repeated suffering and trials. I look for hidden sin in their lives. I usually fail to consider the universal truth that God’s ways are far past my finding out or understanding. How can finite man understand infinite God?
- I am like Job. I tend to think God is dealing unjustly with me. I accuse God of being far from me, not remembering me, or forsaking me. I am prone to think of God as a mere man, like me, capable of error, neglect, thoughtlessness. I imagine He might need my insight, my vision, or my plans.
- I am so relieved to hear from God. After 37 chapters of the ramblings of those not much brighter than me, when I read the words, “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind,” it makes my heart quicken. His truth washes over me, verse after verse confronting me with my impotency and my insignificance in stark contrast to His omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence.
Like Job, my only response to the awesome power and knowledge of God is to mumble with my face in dirt, “I am vile . . . I have nothing to say.”
More on Job tomorrow . . .
