Job 11.6b Know then that God exacts of you less than your
guilt deserves. (ESV)
Imagine the group of codgers having coffee at the local
McDonalds in the morning. Their conversation ranges in topic from medical to
political and everything in between. They talk about who is sick, who has died,
and what malady they themselves are currently dealing with. At times the
conversation raises in intensity, and at times it ebbs in understanding.
Job was really sick. He was sick in body and sick in
heart. He was confused and concerned. And three of his friends come to offer
him their perspective: Job, nothing happens
for nothing; there has to be a reason for this season; surely you’ve done something
to deserve this. And Job’s buddy Zophar chides Job: God [has given you] less that your guilt deserves.
Some friend in need… Nothing happens for nothing.
We do get less
than our guilt deserves. If there is such a thing as guilt. “And no longer shall each one teach his
neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know
me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will
forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah
31:34) It seems God is less concerned about our sin than He is about our growth
in Him.
Bless the Lord, O
my soul, and forget not all his benefits…The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow
to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he
keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor
repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the
east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm
103.2, 8-12) No, we don’t get what we
deserve; but what we do get, if we’ll take it, is Him.
It sure seems God has gone a long way out of His way to
restore the likes of us to a place of perfect friendship. It sure seems God is
more interested in our being with Him and learning all He has to offer than He
is with beating us into submission over the stupid things we have done and
continue to do. It sure seems that way because it’s true – that’s what His word
says He’s up to.
It is the smallness
of man that says, “You’re getting what
you deserve! God is repaying you for your sins! You can only be saved if you
get circumcised!” Horses#$%! God
wants to be our Friend, not our Prosecutor. He’s our Defense. He’s our Fortress
and Strong Tower. He’s our relief. He is our Freedom. God wants us to see what
He sees and He sees love and compassion and serving others in their need (just
like He does with us.)
I notice Job’s friends don’t ever offer to pray for him.
I notice Job’s friends are more interested in fixing him than allowing God to
teach him; to redeem him, to heal him. I notice circumcision doesn’t ever get once mentioned in the Book that bears
his name.
Father, it is about Your love, Your grace, and Your
restoring me through Jesus Christ to that place of friendship with You. Weed
from me the evil in my heart that clings to the thought that we get what we
deserve when things go wrong. Help me Lord to be a friend like Jesus, rather
than the friends like Job’s… amen!
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