Job’s friends must have been surprised at God’s judgement. They would have expected their accusations to be vindicated and Job to be judged. Instead, Job is declared to have spoken what is right and they are rebuked. The difference between Job on the one hand and his friends on the other is that Job learned and changed in the experience. They merely held onto their position. What matters in life is not whether you are right but whether you are transformed. Often, in our dogged self-confidence, we lock ourselves into a state of solidity that makes us resistant to change. On one level the theology of Job’s friends was sound enough but, for all their words, they completely missed the point. How easy it is for us to miss the point. In every situation there is the possibility of a transformative encounter with God. But we miss it because we defend ourselves with endless meaningless talk and with all that self-righteous talk, we block our ears to God. Life is about transformation. You and I need to change. Living things grow. Dead things stay the same. You aren’t perfect where you are so don’t get locked into your position. Embrace being wrong. Strive to learn where you are wrong because only then will you grow. Job was transformed as he repented before God. It is ironic that the most upright man of all the characters in this story is the only one who repents in the end. And because of this he is commended and the others are rebuked. Delight God by becoming a humble learner.
Ask God to teach you through each circumstance today and through other people.
Read Job 42:7-9
