Words Without Knowledge

 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

      "Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?" 

       Job 38:2

Job is so human in his response to suffering, in his case intense suffering. He asks questions like "Where is God? I can't find him." "Why is He doing this to me? I haven't done anything wrong." "Where is God's justice? This is unfair." And he makes statements like "I wish I could die." And "God is out to get me. He chases me like a hunter."

And yet Job is described as the most righteous man on the earth, the greatest man of the east.

But he really had no idea what God was doing in his life. He had no idea of the cosmic forces at play. He had no idea that after his suffering would be twice as great as he had been. So he responds to his pain with words without knowledge.

Thankfully, because he was a man of faith, Job came to a correct view of God, and truly did come forth from his as gold purified in the furnace.

“I know that you can do all things; 
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted. 
 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ 
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.

 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’ 
 My ears had heard of you 
    but now my eyes have seen you. 
 Therefore I despise myself 
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

God is greater by far than man. His plans are beyond our comprehending. 

Lord, help us to trust your wisdom and love even when life is painful and doesn't make sense.