Day 22 – Chapter 22

“Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, that He enters into judgment against you? Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end” (22:4-5).

The inferences of Job’s so-called friends now turn to direct accusations of wrongdoing. These accusations are followed with an exhortation to confess and seek God’s mercy. As though his afflictions are not enough job has to contend with this foolishness. Yet through all of his afflictions Job did not quit, blame God or sin against Him. That does not mean however, that he did not feel like quitting. Job says, “Oh that my request might come to pass, and that God would grant my longing! Would that God were willing to crush me, that He would loose His hand and cut me off” (Job 6:8-9).

This is not an indication of any type of suicidal tendency on Job’s part, but rather a request he made to the Lord imploring Him to put him out of his misery. One can certainly understand Job’s misery. He lost his property, his children, the respect of wife, his health and now the empathy, compassion and respect of his friends. In his own words, he had become a by-word to his own people. People look at him as though he is getting justice for some unseen, unknown sin he has committed. He is in a miserable estate. It is not much of a problem to understand why he would make such a request. But let’s not be too hasty and overly spiritualize this, because Job represents you and me. His request was nothing more than an indication of the level of his frustration that rose to such a place that he was now willing to resign, give up the fight, throw in the towel, give up!

You may never have asked God to take you home. You may never have asked God to allow you to die. You may never have even had suicidal thoughts or tendencies, but I guarantee that you have wanted to quit something or someone at some point in your life. Now don’t misunderstand me, there are some things that perhaps need to be given up on. Those are the things that have grown out of our own selfishness, our own wisdom, our own ill-gotten schemes and desires. In other words, these are things that God has neither ordained nor blessed. But there are some things that you have wanted to quit that You know God ordained and it has been difficult to accomplish them. These are the things through which you need to persevere even as Job persevered. Whatever you do, don’t allow false accusations of the enemy, through whomever they may come, move you to give your confidence in God. Remember the promises of God, that are always Yea and Amen, and hold on, for God who called you is faithful.

Gracious God, show us Your mercy. Cover us when we are confronted by false accusations, particularly from our ‘friends.’ Remind us of Your faithfulness to us through every test and trial. Help us to block out the noise of ill-conceived counsel that serves only to distract us. Give us the ability to continually place our trust and confidence in you alone and to take our eyes off of our circumstances. Help us to be like Job who refused to give up or quit; and, like him, enable us to hold on until our change comes. Amen.