In The Adventure of Silver Blaze, a Sherlock Holmes short story, the famous detective was drawn to a “curious incident”—a silent dog. This fact, unobserved by everyone else, unlocked the mystery of a missing racehorse. The others’ wrong questions, and the ensuing wrong answers, had resulted in the arrest of an innocent man, and it took Holmes’ genius to untangle the mess.
Similarly, the Old Testament book of Job is about people asking, then trying to answer, the wrong question. After Job’s terrible losses, his friends gather round, not so much to comfort him as to give advice. Job and company start by asking, “Why did God allow this to happen to such a good man?” and then proceeded to postulate their various theories, ad nauseam. They prattle on for dozens of chapters, never drawing the right conclusion. Only Elihu has the right perspective. He suggests Job stop focusing on himself and his self-righteousness and instead focus on the awesomeness of their Creator.
But Job doesn’t like that idea. So, when the Creator of the universe finally enters the conversation, He rebukes everyone but Elihu for not speaking the truth. Job then realizes the correct question was, “Who is God?” And after seeing God for who He truly is, Job does a complete 180-degree turn. He repents in sackcloth and ashes and basically says, “I take back everything I said previously. It was all wrong!” Then God blesses him as never before and Job lives a long life.
For such a long book, Job teaches a concise lesson. When life gets rough and things go terribly wrong, don’t blame God and ask why. Instead, draw near to God and ask Him who He is and what He’s really like. For those who wrongly see God as the source of their hardship this seems counterintuitive, but it’s the right question.
The New Testament repeatedly gives the same instructions. The apostle Paul knew God better, and suffered more, than most believers in his day. Yet listen to his perspective:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3)
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31)
Even when imprisoned and in chains, he chose to praise God. And Paul assures us, For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known (I Corinthians 13:12). In other words, one day we will see all of life from God’s perspective, and we’ll stand in awe of His ability to work good even in the midst of the devil’s attacks and the evil of this world (Romans 8:28).
Until then, let’s ask the right question—regardless of what life throws our way. To quote Paul again, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Time spent in God’s presence can be just as life changing for us as it was for Job.
Carrie, thanks – so beautifully written, so true! A helpful interpretation of Job’s story…