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Today's meditation
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Hearing
Job 23:1-12: [Job answered], “Oh, that I knew where I might find [God], that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.”
A news clip several years ago described a man who requested a restraining order against God. He told the court that God, “started to treat me harshly and not nicely.” The request was denied; the story added, “God did not present himself at the hearing.”
A person struggling in this human life often wants to use earthly means to deal with our divine Maker. In Job’s ancient story, he wonders why God would not allow him to “lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.” Job wanted to “learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.” He thought human logic could prevail against the wisdom and will of God; he said that, in a confrontation, he would be "acquitted forever by my judge."
Job would learn later that his human questions pale in the presence of the omniscient and merciful God. He would learn, too, that God hears us, even in our despairing claims that he does not. We will always wonder about God’s will for us.
But God never fails to appear at the hearing.
Psalm 119:137-160; John 1:43-51 (St. Philip and St. James)
Copyright 2025 by Carol Mead. For noncommercial use and sharing only. For more information on this ministry, and on a free subscription to these meditations, please contact the author by email (thenewmead@yahoo.com).
A news clip several years ago described a man who requested a restraining order against God. He told the court that God, “started to treat me harshly and not nicely.” The request was denied; the story added, “God did not present himself at the hearing.”
A person struggling in this human life often wants to use earthly means to deal with our divine Maker. In Job’s ancient story, he wonders why God would not allow him to “lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.” Job wanted to “learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.” He thought human logic could prevail against the wisdom and will of God; he said that, in a confrontation, he would be "acquitted forever by my judge."
Job would learn later that his human questions pale in the presence of the omniscient and merciful God. He would learn, too, that God hears us, even in our despairing claims that he does not. We will always wonder about God’s will for us.
But God never fails to appear at the hearing.
Psalm 119:137-160; John 1:43-51 (St. Philip and St. James)
Copyright 2025 by Carol Mead. For noncommercial use and sharing only. For more information on this ministry, and on a free subscription to these meditations, please contact the author by email (thenewmead@yahoo.com).