Bait; Job 35-36

May the mumbling commence!

Have you ever had a problem with mice in your house?  There are a number of mouse traps in the market.  Most of them that I know about wouldn’t be much good without bait.  Cheese is okay, but peanut butter is more effective in my experience.  Sometimes I wonder if God sees us as mice.  Do we not see the obvious?  Do we not understand when a trap has been set for our destruction?  And, when we become entrapped, do we begin to ask where’s God?

Today’s reading from Job makes me remember the wager that the Lord had with Satan at the beginning of the book.  God allowed Satan to entice Job away from his loyalty to God.  Satan thought that Job was loyal to God because of his wealth and affluence.  But, when that did not sway Job, Satan wanted to strike Job’s body.  The trap was getting more deadly – a better mousetrap so to speak.  And Job was caught but he was not mortally wounded.  Read some of Elihu’s comments from chapters thirty-five and thirty-six:

            Men cry out under a load of oppression;

                        they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful.

            But no one says, “Where is God my Maker,

                        who gives songs in the night,

            who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth

                        and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?”

            He does not answer when men cry out

                        because of the arrogance of the wicked.

            Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;

                        the Almighty pays no attention to it.

            How much less, then, will he listen

                        when you say that you do not see him,

            that your case is before him

                        and you must wait for him,

            and further, that his anger never punishes

                        and he does not take the least notice of wickedness.

            So Job opens his mouth with empty talk;

                        without knowledge he multiplies his words. (35: 9-16)

How does God feel when we deny His presence?  Our Creator is always there.  We just have myopic vision when we are in distress.  We wait for him and complain every moment of our waking days.  We wonder why we got a harsh penalty.  What about all those other wicked people who deserved punishment much more than I do?  It’s no wonder does not listen and remains silent!  God uses our affliction to call us back – if only we would see that… 

            God is wooing you from the jaws of distress

                        to a spacious place free from restriction,

                        to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.

            But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;

                        judgment and justice have taken hold of you.

            Be careful that no one entices you by riches;

                        do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

            Would your wealth

                        or even all your mighty efforts

                        sustain you so you would not be in distress? (36: 16-19)

Let’s remove the deceptions from our lives.  God’s blessings are not to be equated with wealth – nor are our mighty efforts attain the wealth and God’s favor.  We are not in a contest with our neighbors for God’s attention and love.  There are more than enough of both of these things to go around.  Wealth, in human standards, is not but rags in comparison to wealth in rightful relationships with the Lord and with all of creation.

Do not believe the lie.  Do not take the bait.  Wait patiently on the Lord.  Listen closely, and you will hear him speak.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out