Job 42:1-6 Job responded to the LORD. He said: I know that you can do all things. No purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this who spreads darkness over my plans with his ignorant words?” I have made statements about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, “Listen now and I will speak. I will ask you questions, and you will inform me.” My ear heard about you. Now my eyes see you. So I despise myself. I repent in dust and ashes. (EHV)
“Why Lord!? What have I done to you that you have allowed my life to be filled with so many hardships? My child is innocent, so why did you do this to him/her?” Anger at the Lord is not a new thing. Long, long ago, a man named Job was familiar with suffering. Take a look at the challenges Job faced: all of his children were killed, his possessions were destroyed or stolen, his wife cursed him, and his health became a disaster. These challenges came from the devil after the Lord allowed him to afflict Job. All Job wanted was to ask the Lord, “Why?” Job was ready to go to the Lord and to get some answers.
Like Job, believers throughout time have struggled to understand the hardships the Lord allows to come into their lives. Should we be any different? We want to know the reasoning behind the hardships and then tell the Lord the way things should go. We want to correct the Lord’s ways so that they fit our ways. We would tell the Lord he was wrong to give us and our children so heavy a burden. So how would the Lord respond?
God did give Job his day in court with him. However, God reminded Job of his mighty acts of creation that he did all by himself. The Lord laid out his wisdom and power over four chapters. God did not need anyone’s help or correction when creating the universe. When the Lord finished and gave Job the floor to correct the Lord, Job responded, “I know that you can do all things. No purpose of yours can be thwarted… I have made statements about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ear heard about you. Now my eyes see you. So I despise myself. I repent in dust and ashes.” Job came to the only conclusion he could reach: he had no right to question the Lord. Job repented and bowed to the Lord’s will.
God had to remind Job of his wise and powerful work of creation. To each of us who complain and get angry at the hardships he allows in our lives, he could do the same. But he could take it a step further. Which one of us was there at the cross when the Lord was suffering the torments of hell for every one of our sins? Which one of us was there when Jesus took his final breath? Lord, you can do all things and you did the things no one else can do! You created this world and you have saved this world! We repent in dust and ashes!
How does the Lord respond to those who question him and get angry at him like Job and, at times, like us? The Lord does not hold our sins against us! In fact, he blessed Job more than before the tragedies. God will not treat us as our sins deserve. Instead, he proved his love for us when he took our sins as his own. This is the Lord who is on our side even during our hardships. He is there when you feel like he has abandoned you or treated you unfairly. And he remains the Savior God who never leaves your children on their own. The Lord will not bring down his wrath against us because he is loving, compassionate, and merciful to the afflicted…to you! The Lord lifts up the humble!
Almighty God who created the heavens and the earth by the power of your word, I am sorry for my moments of anger toward you. Forgive me for the times when I have questioned your will in my life and the lives of my family. Gently remind me again that you alone have removed the stain of sin and have opened heaven to us. Help me see our hardships as opportunities to trust in your love. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
by Patrick Feldhus