I reread yesterday's as well a today's. The reason being that I can't quite figure out why this whole thing doesn't sit well with me.
So today was more of the same. Job's friends accusing him, say "you musta done something, think back, man!....God just doesn't DO this to good people...."
Here Job gets pretty Biblically angry. He basically tells his friend "Look Mr. Smarty Pants, I know just as much as you know about how God works, I know what He's capable of, JUST LIKE YOU!"
Don't we all have one of these friends in our lives, just a real know-it-all, who thinks he's better, smarter, wiser than you...(did I say he? whoops, why would I say he and not she? Truth be told, I have a he and a she)
Job continues on with his blessings and thanksgivings......
I suppose what I'm, having trouble with is how does all of this fit in with free-will. In Chapter 12 Job lists all of these things that He can do, how He can supply, how He can make great. Here's where my writing skills fail me.....maybe if I try to allow you to follow my train of thought...
I'm thinking:
ok so Job was a great guy, and God is just trying to test him......
Then I think about the argument, "how is it that children suffer excruciating torture" of which I am usually told "because man has free will, and the people torturing the child are choosing to do it"
Then I go back to Job and I wonder if he could have used his free will to make himself better.
Then I think, could God be testing the children who are suffering, and if so where does that leave the free will argument.
Then I think, what happened to Job was not at the hands of SOMEONE else, so maybe that's where it differs.
But then I think, but it says that He can do this and He can do that, so does that mean He does intervene more than we think. And if so, what about free will?
This may make absolutely no sense, I haven't a clue why this argument has been so hard for me to get into words. Maybe because it's a cyclical argument and those are never easy.
I like reading this Book though. The writing is lovely.
1 comment:
The reason for Job's testing I believe is one, to prove to Satan that Job is unshakeable in his love, faith, and trust in God regardless of his circumstances; and two) so that this story can help explain that we should just as readily except the downturns in life as the upturns. That these aren't necessarily punishment or rewards from God. And that neither mean that you are getting what we(humans) think of as what you deserve.
As far as children and the like, I think many times we are so obtuse in our thinking of our lives. Our lives, all of our lives, affect other people and their lives. Some of us are relegated to God's will, and others choose to oppose (consciously and unconsciously) God's will. All of this creates quite a complex maze of human life (as a whole). So, sometimes when something happens to someone, we think (obtusely) that it has something to do with them, but it may be to have an effect on someone around them. Again, this where trust and faith in God come in quite handy.
Post a Comment