Job 31 vs. 4
"Does God not see my ways,
and number all my steps?"

I want you to picture Job, standing before a judge in a pre-trail hearing. The judge has heard the team of three prosecuting attorneys, deliver their charges against Job. They have made numerous charges against Job.

The judge directs his attention on Job and asks, "How do you plea?"

Job responds,

"I am innocent."

If you are familiar with chapters 4-31 of the book of Job, you know that his three friends, who for the sake of this illustration, are the prosecuting attorneys, have done a very thorough job. They have made some very good arguments concerning Jobs guilt. Just exactly what Job is guilty of, they are not sure, BUT, Job’s extreme suffering and tragic loss, is all the evidence needed to show that Job has to be guilty of something.

The lawyer’s arguments have been so persuasive that they have won over the opinion of the general public as well as the judge’s. Therefore, the judge was taken back when he heard Job say,

"I am innocent."

The judge, not believing Job’s claim of innocence asked Job, "Do you understand all the charges made against you?"

Job replies,

"Yes, sir I do."

"You are being accused of looking lustfully at another woman," says the judge.

Job answers,

"I am innocent!"

Judge - "You are being charged with walking with falsehood."

Job -

"I am innocent!"

Judge - "What about the charge of coveting?"

Job -

"Innocent!"

Judge - "And the charges of oppression, ignoring the needs of the poor, trusting your wealth instead of God, rejoicing at another’s hardships."

Job -

"Innocent, I am innocent of all charges, of all sin."

By now a rather impatient and irate judge says to Job, "Then how do you explain your suffering?"

Job wishing that he knew why, answers the judge,

"Does God not see my ways and number all my steps?"

Job’s defense of his innocence ends in chapter 31. His three friends, each have had three turns trying to rationalize why Job was suffering as he was.

After each round, Job rightfully denied his guilt and claimed his innocence. Often recounting his past stating what he did do and what he didn’t do, but to no avail. In spite of what Job said, his friends did not believe him.

How come? Why was it so hard, for his three friends, to believe Job, when he said,

"I am innocent."

It was because of the intense suffering Job was experiencing. No completely righteous man would be treated by God in such a manner. In a way, Job’s friends represent you and me. Like them, we have an insatiable appetite to know why bad things happen. Why does God allow tragedies like the bombing in Oklahoma and the World Trade Center? Why does God allow the abduction of children? Why does God allow injustice when God is a just and loving God?

I am often intrigued by people’s sense of justice and punishment. If someone does something wrong to them, they want justice and even vengeance, BUT when they do something wrong they want leniency. Here’s an example: When some driver passes you by on the highway doing 80 miles an hour, you say to yourself, I hope he gets a ticket. Meanwhile if we get pulled over doing 65 in a 55 mph zone we want the police officer give us a warning.

The story of Job clearly points out, that suffering is part of life. You and I cannot escape it. We will suffer from our own sins and be victimized by the sins of others. There is no getting away from it. God’s failure to directly intervene, on our behalf, is not a sign of God’s absence or God’s will that you should suffer. Unfortunately, like Job, when we do suffer we have a tendency to reflect more on our past and build a defense of our innocence. In other words we justify why we shouldn’t be suffering what it is, instead of focusing on and recounting God’s blessings and steadfast love.

The story of Job also clearly points out, that punishment is part of life. Now I realize that this is probably one of the more difficult concepts about God. God is a punishing God.

But pastor, you said God is a loving God. How can God be a loving AND a punishing God?

The same way a parent can be a loving parent and punishing parent. I confess, that I have punished my two sons. Does this mean that I smacked them around, that I verbally humiliated them, that I demoralized them by telling them they were no good, that I threatened them. No it doesn’t. Unfortunately today, that’s what people think of when they think of the word punishment. The punishment I doweled out to my kids was an appropriate swat on the rear, a toy taken away because they could not share, removal from a restaurant when behavior was inappropriate, sitting on a beach blanket until he apologized for bouncing a Frisbee of a man’s head.

The synonyms for punishment are discipline, penalty, reproof, chastisement, correction. Tell me what is wrong with these words or actions. If there is one thing that Job’s three friends were right about, it is God does punish us for our sins.

Christ's death on the cross for you and me, does not mean that we have cart blanc. It does not mean we can do what ever we want. No matter how attractive sin may seem. No matter how enjoyable it may be. Even if sin brings you temporary gain. Even if you live a long time with your ill gotten gains. In the end God’s JUSTICE will prevail.

I am always intrigued at peoples reactions about God when they read the Old Testament. One person once said to me, "I like the God of the New Testament more than the God of the Old Testament." He said it as though there where two Gods.

The big objections about God in the Old Testament, is all the wars and destruction, the complete annihilation of cities. To which most people say why would God do that or let it happen?

Why did God send the flood upon the earth in Noah’s day? For the very same reason he allowed the Israelites to defeat the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Hittities etc., AND for the very same reason he allowed the Assyrians and the Babylonians to defeat the Israelites. They were UNFAITHFUL to God. Unfaithfulness, is something God will not tolerate.

You wouldn’t accept unfaithfulness from an employee, from a family member, a teammate, WHY is it expected that God will? Just as God is faithful and just, so God expects the same from you and me. Jesus said it this way,

"If you love me you will keep my commandments."

Why is it that God is seen in a negative light in the Old Testament, when it was the Israelites and the rest of the world that was unfaithful to Him? Lets us not forget the cycle of events which repeated itself over and over and over again in the Old Testament.

People are unfaithful to God; God brings judgment upon the people; the people repent; God is merciful and frees them from their enemies; then the cycle begins again.

The responsibility of being faithful is not just on God’s shoulders, it rests on our as well. What you and I need to take away from Job’s claims of innocence’s, is this, Can we say, "I am innocent." Innocent of all charges of sinfulness. If the answer is no. Then what actions do I need to take to get my life back on track? AND What do I need to do to stay on track?

God is waiting for you and me to turn to Him, with a penitent heart, so He may embrace you with His love and mercy.

What are you waiting for?

AMEN

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