Day 77 – Questions

Job 9:1 Then Job answered and said, 2 “Truly I know it is so, but how can a man be righteous before Elohiym? 3 If one wished to contend with Him, He could not answer Him one time out of a thousand. 4 Elohiym is wise in heart and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered? 5 He removes the mountains, and they do not know when He overturns them in His anger; 6 He shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble; 7 He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars; 8 He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea; 9 He made the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades, and the chambers of the south; 10 He does great things past finding out, yes, wonders without number. 11 If He goes by me, I do not see Him; if He moves past, I do not perceive Him; 12 if He takes away, who can hinder Him? Who can say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’ 13 Elohiym will not withdraw His anger, the allies of the proud lie prostrate beneath Him.

 14 “How then can I answer Him, and choose my words to reason with Him? 15 For though I was righteous, I could not answer Him; I would beg mercy from my Judge. 16 If I called and He answered me, I would not believe He was listening to my voice. 17 For He crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. 18 He will not allow me to catch my breath but fills me with bitterness. 19 If it is a matter of strength, indeed He is strong; and if of justice, who will appoint my day in court? 20 Though I was righteous, my own mouth would condemn me; though I were blameless, it would prove me perverse.

 21 “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life. 22 It is one thing; therefore, I say, ‘He destroys the blameless and the wicked.’ 23 If the scourge slays suddenly, He laughs at the plight of the innocent. 24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, who else could it be?

 25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, they see no good. 26 They pass by like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey. 27 If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face and wear a smile,’ 28 I am afraid of my sufferings; I know You will not hold me innocent. 29 If I am condemned, why then do I labor in vain? 30 If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with soap, 31 yet You will plunge me into the pit, and my clothes will abhor me.

 32 “For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and we should go to court together. 33 Nor is there any mediator between us, who may lay his hand on us both. 34 Let Him take His rod away from me, and do not let the dread of Him terrify me. 35 Then I would speak and not fear Him, but it is not so with me.

 10:1 “My soul loathes my life; I will give free course to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. 2 I will say to Elohiym, ‘Do not condemn me; show me why You contend with me. 3 Does it seem good to You that You should oppress, that You should despise the work of Your hands, and smile on the counsel of the wicked? 4 Do You have eyes of flesh? Or do You see as man sees? 5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a mighty man, 6 that You should seek for my iniquity and search out my sin, 7 although You know I am not wicked, and there is no one who can deliver from Your hand? 8 ‘Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity; yet You would destroy me. 9 Remember, I pray, that You made me like clay. Will You turn me into dust again? 10 Did you not pour me out like milk, and curdle me like cheese, 11 clothe me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews? 12 You granted me life and favor, and Your care has preserved my spirit. 13 ‘These things You have hidden in Your heart; I know this was with You: 14 If I sin, then You mark me, and will not acquit me of my iniquity. 15 If I am wicked, woe to me; even if I am righteous, I cannot lift my head. I am full of disgrace; See my misery! 16 If my head is exalted, You hunt me like a fierce lion, and again You show Yourself awesome against me. 17 You renew Your witnesses against me and increase Your indignation toward me; changes and war are ever with me. 18 ‘Why then have You brought me out of the womb? Oh, that I had perished, and no eye had seen me! 19 I would have been as though I had not been. I would have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20 Are not my days few? Cease! Leave me alone, that I may take a little comfort 21 before I go to the place from which I will not return, to the land of darkness and the shadow of death, 22 a land as dark as darkness itself, as the shadow of death, without any order, where even the light is like darkness.’”

God’s names:

Elohiym – Supreme God

Yeshuwa – Jesus

God’s character:

Judge

How many times have you questioned your circumstances when everything seems like it’s against you?

Job did not direct his discourse to his friends, or even to Elohiym, but to himself. He wondered what sin he committed to experience the trouble he’s seeing. He states Elohiym’s attributes and concludes it would have been better if he had died the moment of his birth.

As Christians, how often do you wonder why you experience the problems you face in life? How often do you get alone and lay your soul bare before Yeshuwa, searching for answers? Or how often do you voice your situation to fellow Christians, hoping not for condemnation but for hope of better days to come?

When you bring your situation before other Christians, you risk condemnation, though in your heart you know you did nothing wrong. In Job’s discourse, he said he was guiltless. No one knows better than you and Yeshuwa if there is guilt in your life. Yet you wait for answers, always searching and hoping someone has been through what you’re facing, so they could let you know you will get through it, and everything will turn out for you.

Job’s hope was in his faith in Elohiym. Not once did he charge Elohiym or blame him for his circumstances. He only sought answers. When you go through trouble you need to seek answers in prayer. Get alone with Yeshuwa in your quiet place. Talk to Him as you do your friends. He will not condemn you. In your quiet place you can ask the questions. You will also know Yeshuwa hears your questions and will answer you. Maybe not right away, but you know He will answer, and you will come through the trouble facing you.

Let’s pray: Father, You alone know my heart and the trouble I face. Help me. Guide me as I search for answers. Help me become quiet before You so I can hear You when You speak to me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 5 April 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux