If I Ask Him, Will He Answer? [Job 13]

1"Behold, my eye has seen all this,
         My ear has heard and understood it.
    2"What you know I also know;
         I am not inferior to you.
    3"But I would speak to the Almighty,
         And I desire to argue with God.
    4"But you smear with lies;
         You are all worthless physicians.
13
"Be silent before me so that I may speak;
         Then let come on me what may.
    14"Why should I take my flesh in my teeth
         And put my life in my hands?
    15"Though He slay me,
         I will hope in Him
         Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.
 20"Only two things do not do to me,
         Then I will not hide from Your face:
    21Remove Your hand from me,
         And let not the dread of You terrify me.
    22"Then call, and I will answer;
         Or let me speak, then reply to me.
    23"How many are my iniquities and sins?
         Make known to me my rebellion and my sin.
    24"Why do You hide Your face
         And consider me Your enemy?
    25"Will You cause a driven leaf to tremble?
         Or will You pursue the dry chaff?
    26"For You write bitter things against me
         And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.
    27"You put my feet in the stocks
         And watch all my paths;
         You set a limit for the soles of my feet,
    28While I am decaying like a rotten thing,
         Like a garment that is moth-eaten.

 

We have come to Job's turning point.  He realized, at last, the he would rather speak to the Almighty and argue his case before God than listen to his friends who coat the truth with lies. He was not sure what the outcome would be but he now knew this was the only answer. "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him." 

 

He invites God to call out to him, "Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, then reply to me."  He then put it all out on the table before the Lord. "How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy?"  He fires off the questions but then he just keeps talking instead of stopping to listen. 

 

I recognize myself in Job story.  Over the years I have become desperate enough for answers that I have finally quit asking everyone else their opinions about how God is dealing with me, and finally cried out to the Lord.  But then I just keep talking and talking. It is only recently that I have learned to be still and listen for God's answer.  I think in the past I was really afraid to listen.  I was afraid,first, that God wouldn't answer and, second, that I might not like what He had to say if He did answer.  I usually have a vague idea that I have a problem with unbelief or pride that I don't want to face.  But God was patient with Job and his friends need for words.  He will answer Job when he finally becomes quiet enough to listen.

 

We praise You, God, that You are not in a hurry.  You are patient and long-suffering with us. You have promised that when we call out to You, You will answer and show us great and wondrous things that we don't know. (Jeremiah 33:3) When we take the time to be still and listen we will hear Your answers and will know You are God. 

Verna McCrillis, 1/22/2011
Feedback:
Steve Smith 08/14/2022 02:27
Thanks for the best blog. it was very useful for me. keep sharing such ideas in the future as well https://shopmegadj.com/collections/microphones