Right Direction, Wrong Street

Recently, I’ve been engrossed in Job (maybe God is preparing me for something).  I’ve read the account of his lose, pain, and reconciliation with God over and over.  I can relate.  Today when I read Job 8 where his friend Bildad speaks, I thought in his first few words “his guy will have it right,” then I thought “no, his missing the point.”

As you read chapter 7 you find Job is disappointed to say the least about his life.  Actually, he believes God is disappointed with him too.  You feel his pain and agony in his words.  Like his friends, you agree that Job is speaking nonsense because God doesn’t mess up.  Does God ever get things backward? At this point Bildad took a wrong turn, his going the right direction but down the wrong street.  His theory is:

God + Pain = You sinned so His punishing you

Bildad says its plain to him Job’s children sinned against God – otherwise, why would God have punished them? He truly believes Job messed up and if he gets down on his knees before God, He’ll set everything right again, reestablishing Job’s fortunes.

Here are the problems I see:

• Suffering doesn’t equal punishment. We can’t assume that if we hurt then we sinned. That is not God’s nature in scripture or in life. Sometimes pain is due to sin, but sin doesn’t always equal pain.
• Bildad believes the answer to pain is to be restored to one’s previous condition. He says “ask for forgiveness so you can re reestablished” as before. Suffering, pain what say you should make you better, stronger, healthier – not restore you to some previous state.

However, Bildad arrives at the answer. He says “Even though you’re not much right now, you’ll end up better than ever.” Our Life Group (small group) is discussing suffering this coming Friday and I’m excited to hear the discussion.  I’m more excited to see how God relieves Himself.  Please be praying for us.