Staring at a blank page

On Wednesday mornings I lead a Bible study, so I ended up skipping my one-year reading yesterday.  Today I'm trying to play catch up, and I find myself somewhat overwhelmed by the task. 

I pondered Job's monologue in Chapter 31, where he describes some sins that, were he guilty of them, he would consider his suffering just punishment:

• Adultery.  And not the Pharisaical "look but don't touch" definition of it.  He defines it the same way that Jesus does in the Sermon on the Mount:  "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."  Long before Jesus ever spoke these words, Job says, "I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl."
• Mistreating a fellow human being. He extends this definition to include not helping someone who is in need.  And, even if it may be socially acceptable to mistreat certain classes of human beings (see Job 31:21-22) Job's conscience is clear.  (Can you think of any classes of human beings whom it is or has been socially acceptable to mistreat?)
• Trusting in wealth rather than in God.  In chapter 29 Job fondly remembers the life he had prior to this great trial.  He recounts among his treasured memories the awareness of God's presence and watchful care, his children, and the respect he enjoyed as he was used by God to bless others.  Never does he say that he misses his wealth. 

Then I came to chapters 32-34 where Elihu speaks, and frankly, I hit a wall.  My first question is, who is this guy and where did he come from?  He is not mentioned in Job 2:11 as one of the friends who came to comfort Job.  We know from his own description that he is young (Job 32:4,6) and passionate (Job 32:2-3,5).  Also by his own description, he is "full of words" (Job 32:18).  I read and tried to make sense of what he was saying....tried to pinpoint his error.  Frustrated, I pulled out John MacArthur's commentary.  After reading that I have come to the conclusion that Elihu's error and mine are the same.  We are both looking for an explanation for everything.  We both want to make sense of things, to have an answer for everything.  Elihu's anger with the old men was because their answers (or lack thereof) didn't satisfy him.  Like Elihu, I want to fit it all into a tidy box of my own making, tie a shiny bow around the box, and stand back and admire my handiwork. 

According to MacArthur, that is the whole point of the book of Job:  that there are some things that God does (or allows) that we will never understand, and He is not obligated to explain them to us.    If we could comprehend Him, explain Him, or build a box that could contain His ways, He would not be worthy of our worship.  What is important is that we believe what He has revealed to us about Himself:  that He is the All-Powerful Creator God who loves us and sent His Son to die, paying the price for our sin.  He is good, and holy, and just.  And He has given us "everything we need for life and godliness." (2Pet.1:3) That is the God I choose to worship.

I hope you'll take time to listen to this song by Chris Tomlin.  It's based on Job 38-39.