FROM: Banbury, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
ABOUT ME: Living the highs and lows of life in the adventurous pursuit of God Himself and of who I'm meant to be as the Bride of Christ.
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Monday, June 09, 2008,5:04 p.m.
SILENCE IN THE FACE OF NO EQUALITY
I've been continuing to read through the book of Job today (got stalled there for a couple of weeks, but I'm back in it). I ran across this verse:
"But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God." (Job 13:43)
I'm not sure that any of us would read that and not think that this is a rather foolish desire. Ironic, too, for Job has just spent a number of verses in chapter twelve declaring God's power and wisdom to choose to make anything happen. He also notes that when God does make these things happen, nothing can refute His decisions. Why then would Job desire to argue with God? Obviously because he knows that he is blameless and he wants to plead his case.
But surely the omnipotent power and might of the God who created man's own mouth to be able to argue (as God reminded Moses in Genesis 4:11 when he unwisely kept talking) should keep us silent when faced with something God has chosen, shouldn't it? Job does not refute that God has allowed this trouble into his life. He simply complains that it is unfair and wants a chance to tell God so. Job is treating God as an equal, and a very brief study shows that God has no equal on earth.
Nothing on earth is his equal - a creature without fear. (Job 41:33)
"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25)
"To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?" (Isaiah 46:5)
I am not mocking Job. In truth, I have done at least as much as he in my own life, and likely been far less blameless when desiring to plead my case before God. It isn't Job's desire that has struck me in reading this. It is God's lack of having an equal. I suppose that if I had been asked if God had an equal on earth, I would immediately have replied in the negative. But in hearing someone speak with words I have too many times at least felt if not spoken, I was convicted of my own vast error in judgment.
There is only one person who ever walked this earth who was God's equal - Jesus. And interestingly and beautifully, the only thing He did with His equality was to choose not to use it. For our sake. Out of deep love. Somehow words run out when I move from thinking about God's lack of equal on earth to the One who was equal, and His choice of servanthood.
I no longer desire to argue my case - I simply desire to be silent.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Be still, and know that I am God.... (Psalm 46:10)
"But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God." (Job 13:43)
I'm not sure that any of us would read that and not think that this is a rather foolish desire. Ironic, too, for Job has just spent a number of verses in chapter twelve declaring God's power and wisdom to choose to make anything happen. He also notes that when God does make these things happen, nothing can refute His decisions. Why then would Job desire to argue with God? Obviously because he knows that he is blameless and he wants to plead his case.
But surely the omnipotent power and might of the God who created man's own mouth to be able to argue (as God reminded Moses in Genesis 4:11 when he unwisely kept talking) should keep us silent when faced with something God has chosen, shouldn't it? Job does not refute that God has allowed this trouble into his life. He simply complains that it is unfair and wants a chance to tell God so. Job is treating God as an equal, and a very brief study shows that God has no equal on earth.
Nothing on earth is his equal - a creature without fear. (Job 41:33)
"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25)
"To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?" (Isaiah 46:5)
I am not mocking Job. In truth, I have done at least as much as he in my own life, and likely been far less blameless when desiring to plead my case before God. It isn't Job's desire that has struck me in reading this. It is God's lack of having an equal. I suppose that if I had been asked if God had an equal on earth, I would immediately have replied in the negative. But in hearing someone speak with words I have too many times at least felt if not spoken, I was convicted of my own vast error in judgment.
There is only one person who ever walked this earth who was God's equal - Jesus. And interestingly and beautifully, the only thing He did with His equality was to choose not to use it. For our sake. Out of deep love. Somehow words run out when I move from thinking about God's lack of equal on earth to the One who was equal, and His choice of servanthood.
I no longer desire to argue my case - I simply desire to be silent.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:5-8)
Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:2)
Be still, and know that I am God.... (Psalm 46:10)
