I had a shooting stomach pain yesterday for about 30 minutes that was debilitating. As my stomach negatively reacted, I was reminded that I could still praise God for who He is while also asking for help and relief. It was hard not to start by calling out for help and stating the same thing over and over. It was helpful to remember His attributes of being All-knowing, able to use everything for His purposes, etc.
My temporary suffering was nothing compared to
what Job experienced for days and maybe even weeks. Yet, as we learned a few
weeks ago, he didn’t sin in what he said. He never cursed God, like Satan
desired. He did curse his birth.
Job 3:1-4, 11-13, 20-21, 24-26 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2 He said:
3 “May the day of my birth perish,
and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’
4 That
day—may it turn to darkness;
may God above not care about it;
may no light shine on it.
11 “Why
did I not perish at birth,
and
die as I came from the womb?
12 Why
were there knees to receive me
and
breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For
now I would be lying down in peace;
I
would be asleep and at rest
20 “Why
is light given to those in misery,
and
life to the bitter of soul,
21 to
those who long for death that does not come,
who
search for it more than for hidden treasure,
24 For
sighing has become my daily food;
my
groans pour out like water.
25 What
I feared has come upon me;
what I
dreaded has happened to me.
26 I
have no peace, no quietness;
I have
no rest, but only turmoil.”
It sounds as though there was no relief for Job, even in sleep. His pleas and laments are understandable. He wished for death, but he didn’t take things into his own hands. As he said in chapter 2 verse 10: “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
