As I read more and more about Job and other people’s comments on that biblical story, I’m finding myself realizing something. Both Job and God asked the exact same question.
I never caught it before…until I heard myself asking God the same question a lot lately.
It’s hard to see him.
Thomas was one of Jesus disciples. After Jesus death, others had seen Jesus and were talking about his resurrection and Thomas said, “Until I see the nail marks and put my finger where the nails were myself, I will not believe”. A week later Jesus appeared to the group and he showed Thomas the marks and told him to touch the holes himself so that…he could stop doubting and believe. Thus the phrase, “doubting Thomas” was born.
Then Jesus said…”but blessed are those who have not seen me and believed”.
Ouch.
On one hand I totally get it. When you’re God in the flesh, the creator of the world and of the very man demanding “proof” from you and after you took the beating you took and the sins of mankind that you did…of course I get it that God himself would shame Thomas in front of his friends and call him out. On the other hand…I totally don’t get it. It seems perfectly normal to want “proof”.
But of course “proof” negates faith. They are mortal enemies. Proof requires no faith. Faith requires no proof.
I finally understand what people have said when they said, “I am struggling with my faith”. I think it means they are struggling to believe in God at all.
Thomas walked with the Christ for a while. And yet, still didn’t believe. He needed proof. And he got it! Why was Thomas so different than Job.
Job asked for God’s proof. He asked him to talk to him. To simply not ignore him.
God’s response was much harsher than that for Thomas. For Thomas he allowed him his proof. I’m pretty sure that’s the one and only being that demanded proof from God…and got it. But God’s response to Job was so harsh. And yet, it was the EXACT same question Job asked him.
…where were you…
Those were the 3 words they both asked. But with very different emphasis. I have been asking it of God lately. Where were you….?
Job said, “Where WERE you?”….when all this stuff happened to me? “Where WERE you when my family was killed and I lost all my possessions?” He wasn’t the only one who ever asked that question. Mary and Martha asked it when their brother Lazarus died. They basically got on Jesus pretty good when he showed up 3 days after Lazarus had died. “Where WERE you?….if you would have been here he wouldn’t have died!”
God’s response to them wasn’t harsh. In fact it was tender…Jesus wept.
God’s response to Job was not so tender. He said, “Where were YOU?”….when I put the land and sea together and told the sea to stop here!” In other words, he was making a very clear statement that he is to be trusted.
The reality is, it does require faith to trust God. A belief in something I cannot see.
Physical pain makes it hard to see. It’s so distracting at times and sometimes the only thing you can see. Try hitting your thumb with a hammer and then do a word math problem. It’s very difficult to see anything but the pain. Acceptance is something I’m working on a lot but it requires a point. There needs to be a reason. Unfortunately right now I can’t see it…but I want to believe that he is good. That this is good.
Where WERE you?
Where were YOU?
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