Finding Fault

Chapter 13 of Job is quite the display of bold words from this suffering saint of the Lord. In chapter 40 verse 2, God calls Job a fault finder. I think one of the reasons why God calls Job this is because of the things he says here in Chapter 13. Verse 3 says, “but I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.” Verse 15 ends with Job saying, “yet I will argue my ways to his face.” And finally in verse 18; Behold I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right.”

Suffering has a way of either drawing a person closer to the Lord, or driving them far from him. And sometimes, like Job; maybe a bit of both. When Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples, the hearer with a heart of little deapth is illustrated this way:

Matthew 13:20-21 “As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”

This receiver of the Word holds onto it until a time of tribulation comes their way. The trial, in this case, sends the false convert fleeing the presence of Christ.

The ending of Job gives him a beautiful opportunity to draw to God again. He does this through repentance. We draw near to God in the exact same way as we see Job here:

Job 42:5-6 “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”