Day 23 – Chapter 23

“Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh that I knew where I might find him, that I might come to His seat! Behold, I go forward but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; when He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way I take; when He had tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (23:2-3, 8-10).

Job’s response to the baseless accusations of Eliphaz is to admit that he is in the midst of rebellion just by voicing his complaints, especially since his groaning changes nothing. Of everything Eliphaz had to say Job could only admit to complaining too much. But his complaints were reasonable. He is suffering and God is saying nothing. He is enduring the false accusations of his ‘friends,’ and God is silent. He wonders where God is in the midst of his storm. Everywhere he looks he comes up empty. His own personal assessment is that he has been faithful to God, “My foot has held fast to His path; I have kept His way and not turned aside” (23:11); yet, there is still no answer from God concerning his dilemma.

If Job were like so many of God’s people God’s silence would be enough to confirm that either God does not care or He is not there and we must fend for ourselves as best as possible. Job does not come to such a conclusion. Presented with the perfect opportunity to turn his back on God he instead affirms the sovereignty of God, “But He is unique and who can turn Him? And what His soul desires, that He does” (23:13).

Most of us know what it is like to feel disconnected from God. There are those moments when it seems that God is not present with us in our circumstances and our distress. It is in those moments that we should, like Job, desperately seek God. How should we seek Him? Job says, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (23:12b). Is our desire for God that passionate? Isaiah writes, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). But Job does more than just seek God, He reaffirms his belief that God will ultimately vindicate him, “When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (23:10b). Let these words be on our lips this day, “I shall come forth as gold.”

Dear Father Almighty, I do not pretend to understand Your ways. They are too lofty for me to attain but I trust You to perform in me Your good and perfect will. I confess to the times when I have been unable to feel or perceive Your presence. In my loneliness let me know You are present with me. Wrap Your arms about me today and reassure me that I am never alone. Satisfy my longing soul and fill my hunger with good things, and when You have tried me, bring me forth like God, in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.