Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Job 24: Where Is God?

"God is a mean kid sitting on an anthill with a magnifying glass, and I'm the ant.  He could fix my life in 5 minutes if he wanted to, but he'd rather burn off my feelers and watch me squirm."

~ Bruce, Bruce Almighty

I think Job could relate to the sentiments expressed in the film Bruce Almighty.  He is frustrated at how silent - absent, even - God is from His creation.  In verse 1 of chapter 24, he complains, "Why are times not kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?"

Why does Job feel that God needs to show up and take care of things?  Because the wicked are oppressing the poor.  Throughout much of chapter 24, Job discusses the evil that is done to the poor and needy without consequence.  The marginalized are taken advantage of - they must carry the sheaves of the wicked while they themselves are hungry (vs. 10).

Meanwhile, the unrighteous have befriended not the light, but the night.  Deep darkness is the companion of the murderer and the adulterer (vs. 14-15).  In spite of all of this, God extends their lives and preserves their power (vs. 22-23).  To Job, all of this just seems so wrong and makes no sense.  Where is the fairness?  Where is the justice?  Where is God?



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