Job 10: ¹¹ You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. ¹² You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit. ¹³ Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose. ¹⁴ If I sin, you watch me, and do not acquit me of my iniquity. ¹⁵ If I am wicked, woe to me! If I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look upon my affliction. ¹⁶ Bold as a lion you hunt me; you repeat your exploits against me. ¹⁷ You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me.

Job has suffered greatly. First his 10 children are killed in a single day, then his own health takes a turn for the worse. In Job’s world God is providential and so his suffering must be at the hands of God – yet Job has not sinned against God. There is a great disconnect between his faithfulness to God, which has been beyond reproach (according to Job), and his suffering.

“Bold as a lion you hunt me…”

Job is angry, pained, struggling to make sense of what’s happening within the boundaries of his understanding of God. While I have great sympathy for Job, I’m grateful for his witness in scripture. There are times when I too am confused or even angry when my expectation of God and my experience of God are miles apart. Some people feel guilty when they grow angry with God, like that in of itself is a sin. I don’t think so. Job’s lament is never counted against him by God. Job is free to vent, to “let God have it” if you will. To me this book gives us a green light to come to God with everything. EVERYTHING.

Lord there are times when we hurt, we struggle, we blame. Thank you for your grace that leaves space for occasions when we are even angry with you. Thank you for never turning your back on us. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.