Pondering Job in a Pandemic – Chapter 38

I usually write these in the morning… However, I am wide awake tonight… I just stood in a carpark and prayed with two young adult siblings from our church who just learned their little brother died only hours ago on the North Island in a motorbike crash.

Life in this broken, fallen world is so hard; so full of sorrow; so full of grief. Suffering is not the exception, even or perhaps especially for God’s people, it is the norm.

Throughout the book of Job, four men have attempted to speak for God on the subject of suffering. Job has desired to hear from God. From this chapter, God speaks for Himself.

Famously, God begins by addressing Job with a list of question after question after question demonstrating at the same time Job’s (and all mankind’s) smallness and His greatness.

God is certainly Creator. He is also Sustainer. He rules and reigns over His creation in wisdom, power and majesty. His is so big, nothing escapes His sovereign rule and authority.

I do no write those words in a vacuum. I cannot even begin to explain the particular purpose at this very moment for the pain my friends and their family are experiencing or the particular purpose in this young man’s death.

Yet, I do know if God is not so big that nothing escapes His sovereign rule and authority – they are still experiencing the same pain and this young man is still gone, but there isn’t even the possibility of hope or purpose.

Tears still flow – rightly! Hearts still ache – rightly! Questions still pour out – rightly!

Yet it is only because God is a Mighty Fortress that we can squint through the tears with the eyes of faith and trust Him in the midst of excruciating grief and sorrow.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Psalm 46

Soli Deo Gloria

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