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Job 9-10 – Praying through the Bible #161 – A Prayer Putting God on Trial
Sitting in a court room, the accused is dressed to look respectable; looking respectable looks innocent. The defendant tries to look calm. Each is faking serenity while someone else is deciding their future. Sitting there, they appear to be in total control, while the reality is control is totally out of the grasp. Job feels on trial. Job refuses to fake anything (Job 9.27-28). While admitting the Judges’ all-everything powers, he doubts the Judge’s goodness. Job wants to put the Judge on trial (9.1).
A judge not filled with goodness is not fit to judge. Job says of God, “He destroys both the blameless and the wicked. When disaster brings sudden death, He mocks the despair of the innocent. The earth is handed over to the wicked; He blindfolds its judges. If it isn’t He, then who is it?” (9.22-24). Unable to explain, unwilling to accept, knowing he himself is innocent, there is no one left to blame but God. Messianic in his thoughts, Job wishes for an intermediate; wishing for someone who could “lay his hand on both of us” (9.33). His reality is “I am on my own” (9.35).
“I am disgusted with my life” (10.1). This isn’t said reflecting back on past mistakes, missed opportunities, or regrets. This is said about the here and now, viewing life only from the viewpoint of his disease. For those who suffer, whether temporary or life-long afflictions; please do not fall into the trap of Job. He sees only his pain because he has become nothing more than his disease. His life is meaningless so he blames God.
Unlike many, Job doesn’t allow evil in this world to make him hide behind the arrogance of atheism. Job still acknowledges God; but He has become a stranger that Job doesn’t understand. The problem becomes when we decide we know more than God: “Is it good for You to oppress, to reject the work of Your hands, and favor the plans of the wicked?…You look for my wrongdoing and search for my sins, even though You know that I am not wicked and that there is no one who can deliver from Your hand” (10.3,6).
Even in the midst of his agony, even in his confusion about God’s goodness, Job is still in awe of God’s past power and love: “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and wove me together with bones and tendons. You gave me life and faithful love, and Your care has guarded my life” (10.11-12).
What Job’s accusations and praise have in common is that both are based only upon the obvious; what can be seen. What can’t be seen is the real battle over mankind between the forces of good and evil. So Job puts God on trial: “You produce new witnesses against me and multiply Your anger toward me. Hardships assault me, wave after wave” (10.17). As before Job despairs of life. If he had never been born, he would have never been put on trial.
Prayer Challenge: Look beyond the obvious; God is not to be judged by us.
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