Getting Job-ed
Open my eyes so that I may contemplate
wondrous things from your instruction. Psalm 119:18 CSB
This article is going to sound very similar to an article that was written about a month ago due to the same scripture used, but I encourage you to hang tight and continue reading because this will have a different twist and the topic is so important (click ‘here‘ for the link to the article “See God for Who He is”).
I feel like, in our society, Christianity is always a battle to fight the preconceived notions we’ve had about God and Christ. Whether we are a seasoned veteran trying to build a deeper relationship with God (which may mean destroying some of our previously inferior views of God) or a new convert trying to discover who God is, it’s a battle to block out some of the noise of who we are told God is but rather see Him as He says He is. We find that in His Word (click ‘here‘ to the link to the article What is Truth?). Seeing and loving God for who He is should be a lifelong goal Christians have in common. That’s why this organization exists: to see and love God for who He is, despite our circumstances.
Seeing without Seeing, Hearing without Hearing
It’s a dangerous place to be looking and not seeing and hearing without hearing. We lived near the Red River Gorge in Slade, KY. It’s known for it’s beautiful views but cliffy, sudden drops. Many people have died walking right off cliffs without knowing. We’ve looked at this section in Mark before, but I feel like it’s worth repeating. Keep in mind, Jesus is talking to His disciples here. Mark 8:14-21 CSB:
The disciples had forgotten to take bread and had only one loaf with them in the boat. Then he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They were discussing among themselves that they did not have any bread. Aware of this, he said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact you have no bread? Don’t you understand or comprehend? Do you have hardened hearts? Do you have eyes and not see; do you have ears and not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of leftovers did you collect?” “Twelve,” they told him. “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you collect?” “Seven,” they said. And he said to them, “Don’t you understand yet?”
Job Got it Right
At the end of his book, Job landed where we all should look to be in seeing God for who he is. So Elihu and God go on a huge discourse on who God is and His attributes from Job chapters 32-41. Once it was Job’s turn to address God, this moment He has been waiting for this entire book, he says:
I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.” I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes.
Job got it right: he saw God for who He was, despite his circumstance. I want to end this article with a challenge. 2 Corinthians 13:5 tells us to test ourselves to see if we are in the faith. Are you willing to do that? Take a look at how you’ve viewed who God is, is it based only on what you’ve been told about who God is? or is it by what God has shown you in Scripture? We’re not called to do this alone: community and pastors are of great help, and necessary. I feel like, especially for those that have grown up in the church, we have to really take a look at why we believe what we believe because it’s easy to be where the disciples were at in the section in Mark: seeing without seeing and hearing without hearing.
To see God is to see Christ for who He is: the Son of God (John 8:30-59). If we don’t see Christ, we don’t see God. The opening verse makes for a beautiful prayer: “Open my eyes so that I may contemplate wondrous things from your instruction.” This is a beautiful plea to God to open our hearts to see Him as He is, not just who I want Him to be.
-Austin
