Job's Complaint to God
Chapter 10
In exasperation, bitter at the injustice of his suffering and the reproaches of his friends, and because he had no man to mediate between him and God, Job gave vent to his complaint in a discourse addressed to God himself. He was weary of life, and was going to say exactly how he felt without mincing his words.
He pleaded with God not to condemn him, but to show what He had against him. When we know right from wrong it is fair enough to be condemned for doing wrong; but if we are unaware of having done wrong it is reasonable to enquire the reason for the punishment. Later on in the book God answered him on this and showed Job something about himself, something that all of us need to find out about ourselves.
In the rest of his pleading, Job argues in the form of questions, the answers to which seem obvious. It is as if he were stating his faith and beliefs and asking God to tell him where he has got it wrong, because what is actually happening to him doesn't fit in with them.
In spite of his godliness and wisdom, there was a great deal of which Job was ignorant. From our position in time we are immensely better placed to understand the ways of God, written in His Word which is available to most people at little cost. Yet the majority of people take little interest in acquiring it, and those that do are frequently neglectful of absorbing the knowledge it contains for their own benefit.
Job was justified in pleading for God to give him more information, but today we already have the answers to his main questions in the Scriptures. Unfortunately so many people come up with similar questions today because they don't search in the right place.
In this amazing passage the creature expostulates with the Creator and reminds Him that, having created Man, He has assumed responsibilities from which He cannot honourably escape.
God's justice and holiness cannot consider it good to oppress and despise the work of His own hands, and to be complacent with the counsel of the wicked.
God is not confined to human physical limitations in vision, but Job wondered whether God really saw him in his true condition. Centuries later the Son of God came to live with us for over thirty years, so we have the assurance that there is a Man in the glory who understands us. Because of His personal experience in a physical body He knows from experience exactly how we feel.
Job then put up his case. He said that God had been persecuting him, in a manner more suited to mortal men, knowing that he wasn't wicked and that there was no-one to defend him. We know that we do have an Advocate: "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." 1 John 2:2 (NKJV).
Job needed a little humility, and God was going to give it to him. Humility and patience are qualities that God produces in our lives through trying experiences. God was going to produce both humility and patience in him so that centuries later James wrote, ". . . You have heard of the patience of Job," adding, "and seen the end intended by the Lord: that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:11). Not that Job was naturally a patient man: that quality would have increased his self-confidence.
His patience broke down, and he was crying out to God in impatience. But when we see the "end intended by the Lord," that is, the outcome of the Lord's dealing with him, then we see that God was making him patient, and God was giving him humility.
Jn frustration, Job jumped to the false conclusion that God was out to get him. Wrong assumptions lead to wrong conclusions. We should not take our limited experiences and jump to conclusions about life in general. If we find ourselves doubting God, we must remember that we don't have all the facts. God wants only the very best for our lives. Many people endure great pain, but ultimately they find some greater good came from it. When we are struggling, we must not assume the worst.
Job asked, why did God allow him to be born? Now that he was here, why not let him have a little comfort before he passed off into oblivion, where even the light is like darkness? Job was of the view that after death the dead went to a joyless, dark place. There was no punishment or reward there, and no escape from it.
He was back where he started and would be keeping this thought during part of the way through this book. During this time of testing, death was something that he desired. He felt that death would put him out of his misery. It would get him away from this scene. He would welcome it as sleep, as something that would put him in a place of unconsciousness.
There is however no case in this book for sustaining the doctrine of soul sleep, a heresy of some sects. The Lord Jesus himself said to the criminal hung on a cross by His side: "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." ( Luke 23:43).
At this point, Job wished that he had never been born. He wished for complete oblivion. He was not the only one who did that: Elijah and Jonah also wished it, for different reasons. It is something we may also wish for ourselves, sometimes. But it is just wishful thinking. It doesn't help us get over our difficulties.
No one ever died by wishing, and most of us who say we wish we were dead don't really mean it. We are just talking. When people face death, they really want to live. If Job had really faced up to it, he probably didn't really mean he wished he were dead either. But at this moment he was pouring out his soul, and his dignity was being broken down.
God needed to get through to his heart. A lot of God's saints today have proud, hard hearts which show up at times of great trials and tribulations. Sometimes God must deal with us as He dealt with Job.
R David Jones
1 "My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint, I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, 'Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me.
3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, that You should despise the work of Your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees?
5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a mighty man,
6 That You should seek for my iniquity and search out my sin,
7 Although You know that I am not wicked, and there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?
8 'Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity; Yet You would destroy me.
9 Remember, I pray, that You have made me like clay. And will You turn me into dust again?
10 Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews?
12 You have granted me life and favour, and Your care has preserved my spirit.
13 'And these things You have hidden in Your heart; I know that this was with You:
4 If I sin, then You mark me, and will not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me; even if I am righteous, I cannot lift up my head. I am full of disgrace; see my misery!
16 If my head is exalted, You hunt me like a fierce lion, and again You show Yourself awesome against me.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me, and increase Your indignation toward me; changes and war are ever with me.
18 'Why then have You brought me out of the womb? Oh, that I had perished and no eye had seen me!
19 It would have been as though I had not been. I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort,
21 Before I go to the place from which I shall not return, to the land of darkness and the shadow of death,
22 A land as dark as darkness itself, ss the shadow of death, without any order, where even the light is like darkness.' "