The Question

10.20.14

Job 7.17-18 17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, 18 visit him every morning and test him every moment?

This is the question of someone who was going through difficult times. Job was suffering immensely. Job was trying to hang on and come to some understanding of what was happening to him, and why – and he wasn’t making any progress. And so Job began to doubt.

King David asked in wonder: O Lord, what is man that you regard him, or the son of man that you think of him? (Psalm 144.3) Job on the other hand cried out in misery: What is man that You make so much of him…? I think Job had reached the place where he just wanted to be left alone to die.

I remember when my mother-in-law was dying of cancer and was in so much pain. She had struggled with alcohol at one point in her life but had managed to keep it at bay for many years. And in the latter stages of her battle with cancer she had been found to be using it to combat her pain, I made reference to Proverbs 31.6: Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress…

God sees us vastly different than we see ourselves. God sees us the way He intended (and intends) for us to be. We see ourselves differently. God works in our life for good and sometimes the good comes from intense suffering. We tend to think when we suffer that we’ve disappointed God and are getting whacked for it – God sees no such thing, ever.

I suppose the difference is not what we think God is doing to us; it’s what God is doing in us that matters. People suffer all the time. But there is good in that suffering and God is not absent.

Job had only begun in chapter 7 of the book of his life. 7 had started, but 42 was coming.

What chapter do we find ourselves in, in life? Are we at the beginning of our suffering or have we just come through a tough time? Have we learned about God and ourselves, or do we have to go back to class again? God is not unjust, although we may be tempted to believe that.

Father, what is man that You think of him and deal with him? What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment? Man is whom You love and upon whom You’ve set Your affection. I think the universe doubts You at time. I think the rulers and authorities in heavenly places think You’re crazy. They see who we are and what You’re trying to do. They think it’s a complete failure. But You don’t operate according to public opinion – You know what You are doing. And in every test, every day in every way, may I learn to trust You. Amen.