Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
Job 16-17 – Praying through the Bible #163 – A Prayer About His Children Dying
Was Satan right about Job? Satan’s challenge is this: Would Job be more adversely affected by the ravaging loss of his health (Job 1.22), than the loss of his children (1.11)? Hearing Job talk, it isn’t until the second round of speeches that this godly man even mentions his children: “Surely He has now exhausted me” and then prays, “You have devastated my entire family” (16.11). Was Satan right all along? Can a father – can I – care more about himself than his family?
Knowing history, and seeing it lived out with Deadbeat Dads and the selfishness of abortion, no doubt such is possible. Knowing Job, no doubt Satan was wrong. What might appear true when people are suffering is not always the whole truth. The culprit here in my opinion is not selfishness. The culprit is time coupled with the pain of the present versus the pain of the past. Plus, to Job, his children are better off than he is. Job wishes God to would to him as he thinks God has done to his children. Kill him. Living is the enemy, death is his friend. Once more Job reveals suffering’s emotional and physical effects: “My eyes have grown dim from grief, and my whole body has become but a shadow” (17.7).
“Time heals all wounds,” but before healing can happen time worsens all pains. The initial shock numbs us. Being numb all we can hold onto is our faith. The pain does not allow us to think. Time allows reflection. It is not insignificant that Job’s friends sat in silence for seven days with Job. They too were numb. Then they spoke, harshly; because they had time to contemplate, to let the pain set in. Then Job responds equally harsh, because he too had time to wonder. Experience teaches that some pains are too deep to talk about until the pain can’t be kept hidden any longer. Was this true for Job?
Then there is the reality that we might not want to admit which is present ongoing pain can preoccupy our minds and emotions so that we speak more of it than a deeper past pain. That doesn’t prove anything about past loss. While there is nothing worse than losing a child, the event itself is a puncture in time, even if the effects are ongoing.
In the past I have wondered if Satan was right about Job. First, we should not think his emotional suffering is only from his physical ailments. It is not our place to judge. Second, continual present suffering can overwhelm past pain. Third, there is truth to “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” People can only take so much before breaking; even if the last hurt is less than the first. Fourth, if I had shared my judgment with Job, I would have been as useless and offensive as his friends: “(2) …You are all miserable comforters. (3) Is there no end to your empty words? What provokes you that you continue testifying?” (16.2-3).
Prayer Challenge: Pray not to judge how others handle their pain. Judging is too easy, and too easily wrong.
Comments