Faultfinder

And the Lord said to Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?

Job 40:1-8

I've spent the last four days with thirteen 4th-6th graders at kids' camp. That means for the last few days I've experienced more than my normal share of fun, sunscreen, swimming, belly flops, games, skinned knees, and...complaining. I really enjoy kids' camp but it doesn't take long for the complaints to get to me. This year it only took me a day to institute a no complaining rule. All offenders were required to do 10 pushups on the spot. This helped keep the attitudes in check quite nicely.

Over the same few days I finished reading the book of Job in my personal quiet times with the Lord. I couldn't help but wonder how often the Lord feels the same way with us. Does God ever just get sick with all of our complaining and want to tell us to drop and give him ten?

 

Although I have no doubt that God is more patient than me, I have to imagine He does often grow weary of our whining. In the book of Job, God allows Satan to attack Job in order to test his love for Him. Job remains faithful to God but complains throughout the book that he is unjustly persecuted by Him. Job claims that he has done nothing to deserve such punishment from God. In chapters 38-42, the Lord answers Job's complaints. Though God does justify Job as a righteous man, He takes him to task for complaining. In the passage above God calls Job a "faultfinder." And then He says to him, "Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?"

 

Do you find fault with God and complain about your lot in life? Maybe it doesn't always come out of your mouth but how often do you think it? How often does your spirit cry out against Him- "This isn't fair, God!" Too often this is true of me. Let us all allow this passage to give us a loving rebuke...a gentle warning. God is holy and just. We do not have the perspective, knowledge or wisdom to sit in judgment of Him. So receive whatever comes your way with humility. Endure suffering like Jesus Himself did, by focusing on the joy set before you (Heb 12:2). Trust that God is still good and that He is still in control. Humble yourself under His hand and in due time He will lift you up (I Peter 5:6).

 

For further reading....

• I Peter- Focus on the meaning of I Peter 5:6 in the context of what the entire book has to say about suffering in the life of the believer. Specifically focus in on I Peter 4:12-5:10.