Job 13:17-28: a reflection

17Listen carefully to my speech. Let my declaration be in your ears. 18See now, I have set my cause in order. I know that I am righteous. 19Who is he who will contend with me? For then I would hold my peace and give up the spirit. 20“Only don’t do two things to me, then I will not hide myself from your face: 21withdraw your hand far from me, and don’t let your terror make me afraid. 22Then call, and I will answer, or let me speak, and you answer me. 23How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin. 24Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy? 25Will you harass a driven leaf? Will you pursue the dry stubble? 26For you write bitter things against me, and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. 27You also put my feet in the stocks, and mark all my paths. You set a bound to the soles of my feet, 28though I am decaying like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.

In the depths of his suffering, Job does not turn away from God in silence, nor does he pretend all is well; he brings his honest questions and complaints directly to God. Make me know my disobedience and my sin, he asks; Why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy? He wrestles honestly with God, asking hard questions, voicing his bewilderment at his suffering, longing to understand. He does not walk away from God; he turns toward him, even in complaint, bringing his questions and his anguish to the God he still addresses.

Notice that Job brings his honest questions and complaints to God, rather than turning away. He does not suppress his questions, or pretend to an understanding he does not have, or walk away from God in his confusion; he brings it all to God, asking why, longing to know, even complaining. His wrestling is honest, and it is directed toward God, not away from him. Job addresses God still, bringing his bewilderment and his anguish to him, wrestling with him rather than abandoning him. His honesty did not drive him from God, but toward him.

That honest wrestling with God is worth taking to heart, for we can feel we must either suppress our hard questions or turn away from God with them. When we suffer and do not understand, we can think we must hide our questions and complaints from God, pretending an acceptance we do not feel, or else turn away from him altogether; but Job brought his honest questions and anguish directly to God. Do not suppress your hard questions, nor turn away from God with them; bring them to him, as Job brought his bewilderment and complaint to God, wrestling honestly with him rather than abandoning him. God can bear your honest questions and complaints; bring them to him, as Job did, turning toward God in your confusion and anguish rather than away from him, for honest wrestling directed toward God is better than a suppressed questioning or a turning away, as Job wrestled honestly with the God he would not abandon.

Lord, in the depths of his suffering, Job does not turn away from you in silence, nor does he pretend all is well; he brings his honest questions and complaints directly to you. Make me know my disobedience and my sin, he asks; why do you hide your face, and consider me your enemy? He wrestles honestly with you, asking hard questions, voicing his bewilderment, longing to understand. He does not walk away from you; he turns toward you, even in complaint. Show me that Job brings his honest questions and complaints to you, rather than turning away. He does not suppress his questions, or pretend to an understanding he does not have, or walk away from you in his confusion; he brings it all to you, asking why, even complaining. His wrestling is honest, and it is directed toward you, not away from you. His honesty did not drive him from you, but toward you. Take that honest wrestling to my heart, for I can feel I must either suppress my hard questions or turn away from you with them. When I suffer and do not understand, I can think I must hide my questions from you, pretending an acceptance I do not feel, or else turn away from you altogether; but Job brought his honest questions and anguish directly to you. Keep me from suppressing my hard questions, or turning away from you with them; help me bring them to you, as Job did, wrestling honestly with you rather than abandoning you. You can bear my honest questions and complaints, Lord; help me bring them to you, turning toward you in my confusion rather than away from you.