JOB PLEADS WITH GOD

Job’s Plea

Since Job hates his life and his soul is so bitter, he is not going to stop complaining. He wants to plead with God to stop condemning him. He wants to know why the Lord is doing this to him. He felt like God was oppressing him and blessing the wicked. (Verses 1-3)

Men often judge incorrectly because of a lack of knowledge, or even unfairness. He is confused because on the surface, it seems like God is acting in the same way towards him. This doesn’t make sense to Job. Since God knows all things, He knows that Job is innocent. So why is He doing this? He feels hopeless and powerless because no one can escape from God’s hand. (Verses 4-7)

Job remembers God’s steadfast love and care in creating and sustaining him. He knew that God had good purposes in all of this, but it felt like God had hidden His love and compassion for Job in His heart. (Verses 8-13)

Job feels that God had stopped being forgiving to him. It seems like it doesn’t matter if he is guilty or innocent, for God has turned against him either way. He is filled with disgrace so his head is hung down in shame. He feels like God has beaten him down so low that if he were to even lift up his head God would beat him down again. He feels like God’s attack on him is only getting more intense and is coming from every direction. (Verses 14-17)

Job wants to know why God would let him be born if this is what life had in store for him. He would have preferred to die in the womb instead of experiencing all of his suffering. Since life is short, death is certain, and his suffering is so great, He just wants God to give him some relief in the meantime. (Verses 18-22)