RBWords

     For the next few days, the first scripture of the day will come from the Book of Job, one of the most beautiful pieces of biblical literature.  It is also one of the most challenging because it faces the problem of suffering.  Job was a just man who prospered in his faith.  When God boasts of Job's integrity and faith to Satan, Satan bets that given enough suffering, Job will lose faith in God.  God takes the bet and lets Satan bring Job terrible suffering - loss of family and possessions as well as physical illness.  The quotation above is Job's initial response to the loss of family and possessions.  Physical illness would follow, but Job remains faithful.

     Remaining faithful, however, does not mean Job is passive in his suffering.  The Book of Job is mostly dialogue between Job and his friends.  In many ways, those friends become one of his greatest pains!  They keep trying to convince Job that he must have done something wrong to "deserve" the suffering he is enduring.  Job refuses to accept their explanations and cries out loudly to them and to God.  He reminds me of a painting I have of a boy out in a field with a rock in his hand, getting ready to throw it into the sky in hopes of hitting God!  God eventually speaks and in the end Job is restored but without any definite answer to his loud "WHY?"  

     Much remains for us to ponder in the next few days from this story!  AMEN