I'm A Question?

Good Tuesday morning! In the fourth verse of the fourteenth chapter, Job asks a question and provides his own answer. "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!" Yet we speak of the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus. We write of being made clean at our sanctification in Heaven. So is there a contradiction between the Old Testament and the New? In this we need the context. Job had suffered tremendous hurt through disaster after disaster, followed by a wife who said, "Curse God and die!" Ouch. Job also faced three friends and then a fourth who told him that he must confess sin that Job did not commit. Job felt persecuted and it comes through in his questions and thoughts. Later, God will take His turn and ask a series of deep question that none can answer. Job will realize the error of his words and repent. God will restore Job and rebuke his friends. Much later, hundreds of years later, God also provided the answer to Job's question. Who can bring clean out of unclean? We know now that Jesus is the one to do this, but it required the ultimate sacrifice from Him.

Some verses stand out and we repeat them, place them on sticky notes over our desk, and frame them on the wall. Where would we be without John 3:16? However, other verses have only a part of the story and we need to read the whole story. Job in his grief and pain thought he had an answer, but God had a better answer. I like that the Bible does not shy away from pain and misery. Moses complained to the Lord that all he had was a bunch of disloyal grumblers to lead. Job poured out his suffering in words. The great king of Israel wrote some not very royal psalms now and then singing of his pain and doubt. Paul knew the truth and still did what he didn't want to do. We have similar problems and suffering in our lives. God is not afraid of our complaints, but like Job we may get a spiritual kick in the britches to get us back on track. Remember that God also sent the Comforter to be with us always. Bring your problems to God and you will receive just what you need.

Our trials and suffering are only part of the story. The crucifixion of Christ was only a part of His story. Another part speaks of resurrection and life. Pain comes for a season, but life with Jesus is eternal. Job commented: "For there is hope for a tree. If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. But man dies and is laid away; indeed he breathes his last, and where is he? (Job 14:7,10) God provided that hope, a new hope, in Jesus Christ. Sometimes we feel like Job, a crushed flower in a world of dirt, but like him we are a question in search of an answer. "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble." (Job 14:1) Suffering will happen in this world, but that is only the question. In another book, with a similar name and chapter, we read "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

You are a question; Jesus is the answer.
Bucky