After a round of "comfort" from two of his friends, Job answers their suggestions. As we recall, the friends have suggested that either he is involved in some sort of sin that he has hidden or he is some sort of fool. In either case Job has been told he is reaping his just deserts, the natural result of his actions. Here Job maintains his integrity. He has lived a life of repentance. He has spent his life faithfully making offerings for his children in case they have sinned. How much more would we expect he has spent his life making offerings for himself, knowing his sin? Job stands in his integrity. If he has been hiding sin or being a fool he would like God to go ahead and cut him off now, rather than let him endure suffering as he is doing. Job says he would have no complaints if he had denied God's word, but that he does not know where he has gone wrong.
Again we see that Job does not know about the dealings of chapters one and two. Nor do we know the whole context of the struggles we face. We do know, as Romans 8 says, that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. Yet we do not always know what our good is or whether we may endure hardship to spare someone else from greater hardship. What we do know is that our Lord and Savior, Jesus has endured all manner of hardship on our account. It is he who sustains us through our difficulties. It is he who is our eternal reward. It is he who understands our weakness. It is he who will redeem us, both body and soul, forever.
Like Job, we don't understand what is happening. Like Job, may we look to our Lord and know that he in fact does understand what is happening. May we look in hope and trust.
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