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41. Job
demands an answer from God Job
was a devout man. He trusted God and despised evil. Job was a wealthy man. He
had seven sons, three daughters and many sheep, as well as camels, oxen and
she-asses. For Job it was not hard to be faithful to God, who had given him
all these things. But
God put Job to the test. Bands of robbers fell upon his herds. They killed
the shepherds and stole the beasts. Yet Job was not disconcerted. He trusted
God. Soon, a second disaster befell him. As his sons and daughters were
sitting together at table a whirlwind came and destroyed the house. Job’s
sons and daughters were killed by the falling rubble. When Job heard of the
tragedy he said: I was naked when I came into the world. I shall be naked
when I die. The Lord gives and he takes. I praise him. But
still worse sufferings befell Job. He became a leper. His whole body was
covered with sores. The rich man, Job, sat upon a heap of ashes. He scratched
himself with a piece of broken pottery. Job’s wife came to her husband and
said: See what your faith in God has done to you! Curse God and die. But Job
replied: You are talking like someone who does not know God. If we accept the
good things that he sends, must we not also accept the bad things from his
hand? Job has three friends. When they heard of
his misfortune they came to see him. They wanted to comfort him. But when
they saw him in all his misery, they began to weep. They sat next to him –
for seven days and seven nights. None of them said a single word, for they
could see how great Job’s suffering was. Then Job began to talk with God and
to dispute with him. He complained of his suffering and he complained to God
for having sent him – an innocent man – so much misfortune. Job’s
friends were horrified. They wanted to defend God and said: How can you accuse
God? Everyone knows that he is just. He rewards good and he punishes evil. He
would not have sent you this suffering if you had not deserved such
punishment. But Job was quite sure of his cause. He demanded that God should
explain to him how he, a devout man, had come to deserve such suffering. His
friends held long speeches to convince Job that he must be wrong, because God
could not be unjust. But Job would not give up. He wanted to understand why
God was rewarding faithfulness with evil. Then God spoke to Job out of the
whirlwind. He asked: Who are you to call me to account? Why do you speak of
things which you cannot understand? Where were you when I laid the
foundations of the earth? Did you divide the land from the sea? Did you give
the day and night their appointed times? Do you let the stars rise in the
sky? Do you provide food for the animals of the earth? Job heard the
questions, but he had no answer. And he realised
that God is great beyond all understanding. So great that he can be trusted,
even when his plans are not understood. Job
answered the Lord: Now I know that you can do all things. Whatever you plan,
you can accomplish. Out of ignorance I demanded that you account for
yourself. Your plans are wonderful. I cannot comprehend them. Until now I
have only known you from hearsay. But now I have seen you with my own eyes.
And so I take back all that I have said and put my trust in you. (Job) |
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