When We Ask Why?
Notes
Transcript
Our chapter begins with what almost feels like an echo. Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 tell the same story from two different perspectives, this is not that. In chapter 2 once again we’re in this heavenly courtroom, and Satan “also came among them to present himself before the LORD.” And again we have this conversation between Satan and the Lord, and again the Lord asks Satan, Job 2:3
Job 2:3 (ESV)
And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”
Only this time the Lord adds: Job 2:3
Job 2:3 (ESV)
“…He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
Last week I told you to watch for that phrase “no reason” or “without reason”. We as Christians are very fond of saying,
“There’s a reason for everything.”
“There’s a reason for everything.”
“There’s a reason for everything.”
“There’s a reason for everything.”
As we read our narrative we see God Himself saying, all of this was “without reason.”
Satan’s response is familiar, in Job 1:11
But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
and now Job 2:5
But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”
And as our story continues we fine Job now struck with sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head, Job 2:8 “And he took a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in the ashes.”
And then we get to the only time we ever hear from his wife: Job 2:9
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
Interesting that unlike Job, she almost seems to have been privy to the conversations in the heavenly court. It was God who said of Job, “He still holds fast to his integrity.” and it was Satan who had said, “…”He will curse you to your face.”
Job’s wife gets a really bad reputation from her statement. One thing that came out in our Bible study’s this week…
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Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”
What was brought up at Bible study is that Job’s wife is also grieving. She too has lost everything. She too is grieving the loss of all their material wealth and the loss of their children. And now, we can imagine that she has some care for her husband and sees him suffering, is it any wonder she responds the way she does? She’s suffering too and doesn’t know why.
Because we had the video this morning I’m only going to touch on Job’s friends that we’re introduced to: There are three - Eliphaz, Bildad, And Zophar. Interestingly, like Job, none of them are Hebrews. Yet they have much at this point to teach us about ministering to someone in their grief:
They made an appointment together to come to show sympathy and bring comfort. (v. 11).
They raised their voices and wept (v.12).
They tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven. (v. 12)
Finally, and perhaps the most helpful for us today comes to us in the final verse of our passage today:
And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
Too often we know someone is suffering and we don’t go.
Too often we don’t go because we don’t know what to say.
Too often we see how great a person’s suffering is and rather than choose to go and support them we stay away for fear of their suffering.
Folks as Christians, Jesus told us that they would know we were His disciples by our love. Our love takes us to be with others in the midst of their suffering. There’s not a requirement to have the right words, often our ministry is without words but with a ministry of presence. Job’s friends got that much right.
Whatever you might think of Job’s friends given the rest of the book, know that they got that right. They showed up.
When We Ask Why?
When We Ask Why?
Do you know someone suffering? Struggling? Mourning? Asking “Why?” How are you showing up? How are you loving them in the midst of their grief? Don’t be afraid of it.
If you suspect someone is struggling reach out, check in, be present with them.