Do We Speak About What We Know? Or What We Have Been Taught?

I am thinking this morning about the Book of Job.  In particular I am thinking of Job’s three unhelpful ‘friends.’

Through the years, even before I went into the seminary, I have had this tug. I am not sure how to describe it.  But is about people who talk without saying anything essential.  People who talk about God without any actual relevance.  And yet they speak with such authority.

Do you know what I mean?

I was reminded of this tug as I was rereading the Book of Job.  He had three friends who grieved with him after God allowed Satan to have his way with Job. At first Job and his friends could only sit silently in disbelief together.

Unfortunately, after a time, Job's friends began to speak for God.  All they really knew, for sure, was that they could not understand Job’s suffering. However  they didn't leave it there. They began to spout their learned religious myths; and arguments based on ancient beliefs. 

The problem is Job's friends claim to know what is unknowable.  They even admit their ignorance by quoting scripture after scripture to prove their point.  A common mistake in today's world as well. (Read it for yourself in chapters 11-20 of Job)

Instead of comforting Job, by being his strength, they began to claim that the only logical thing, they could come up with, was that Job must have done something to displease God.  Nothing else made any sense.  Their simplistic logic just assumed that God was punishing Job for what he did.  And their religious traditions would actually back them up.

This way of thinking is not uncommon even in todays world.  I have heard many time: “What have I done for God to let this happen to me.”  Or, “I must have done something really bad.”

However, Job knew better!

I love Job's comment, to all of their claim to wisdom (Chapter 13).

"‘Look, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. ² What you know, I also know;  I am not inferior to you. ³ But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. ⁴ As for you, you whitewash with lies;  all of you are worthless physicians.  ⁵ If you would only keep silent,  that would be your wisdom!  ⁶ Hear now my reasoning,...

I am thinking that this kind of speaking/talking is a key problem — a difficulty that needs to be resolved — but is not logically apparent. So then our human mind falls back on myths, and learned beliefs, uninformed information drawn from tradition that should have been corrected long ago.

Jesus did attempt to correct this.

I truly appreciate the dialogue between God and Job -- see Chapters 38-42. Ending with these words from Job:

² ‘I know that you can do all things,

   and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 

³ “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?”

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

   things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 

⁴ “Hear, and I will speak;

   I will question you, and you declare to me.” 

⁵ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

   but now my eye sees you; 

⁶ therefore I despise myself,

   and repent in dust and ashes.’  

The conversation that God has, with the three friends, helps me with the tug I have lived with since early on in my life: 

7 After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends;….my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has done.’ (Job 42)  

As I read these words again I had to inwardly smile.  

God’s words, to Job’s three friends, speak to my often felt feelings, when listening to those who presume to define God in their own limited language.  

When people begin to tell me, or others, that they know the mind and will of God; I often am tempted to ask -- and sometimes have: “How do you know?  Or, "Did you see God face to face?”

What the human mind has tattooed onto God’s will, and character, is actually quite intriguing. And, in my opinion, quite incorrect.  

Think about it!  

             
                         To be continued