Rabbit Trails

Rabbit trails.  They are the bane of my existence.  I have an inherent weakness for distraction that is going to be an obstacle to overcome as I memorize my way through Colossians.  I just can’t seem to avoid them as hard as I try.  Nevertheless, I find myself on one today.  Some days I see the path clearly, recognize the fruitlessness of heading in that direction and yet other times I am compelled even catapulted into going.  Today is one of those days.  Here I am wondering down the path of Job 3 and I am dragging you with me. 

Each year I start afresh reading through the Bible.  I have pretty much made this my practice since my salvation 18 years ago.  Don’t be impressed.  It is just a habit.  I am a victim to habitry (I made up a word).  Habits give me comfort.  Unfortunately not all my habits are good ones but this one is.  This year I am reading through three chapters a day.  I am starting with one from the history books (Genesis), one from the poetic books (Job) and one from the New Testament then continuing through to the end.  That is how I found myself on the rabbit trail of Job 3.

Job 3 has absolutely nothing to do with our Colossians project yet I feel compelled to write about it today.  I think writing is the way I thresh out my thoughts.  I have some thoughts about this verse today.  I am suspecting you will too.  Please feel free to comment.  This verse lends itself to discussion and I love, love, love spiritual discussions.

“Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?                                                             Job 3:23

Have you ever felt that way?  Light is a reoccurring concept in scripture.  Basically it refers to illuminating things, primarily spiritual things.   Job is wondering why God allows such understanding and illumination yet keeps our path hidden.  Doesn’t make sense does it?  Why give us light and revelation and hedge us in?  Kind of like God giving us a key that doesn’t open any doors.  Have you ever felt that way?  I have.  I am.   

As I thought about it this morning, I reflected on the full story of Job.  In reviewing the first two chapters I realized that Job didn’t know a lot of things.  He didn’t know about Satan, he didn’t know that there was a heavenly challenge going on and he didn’t know that he was the center of that challenge.  But there was something that I think Job didn’t fully realize either.  God was proud of Job.  He bragged about him to Satan.  He esteemed him as His servant.  And, He knew his faith could withstand the challenge. 

I think we can all take this truth personally.  Sometimes we go through stuff, hard stuff, stuff that makes no earthly sense and we utter the same kind of question to God.  Why give me light and make my way so hard?  Isn’t it supposed to be easy?  But then we read the first few chapters of Job because of our yearly habit and we are reminded. 

Perhaps God does this kind of thing with us.  Perhaps He sees us the same way He sees Job.  He is proud of us.  He esteems us as His servant and he knows that our faith will bear up under a challenge.   Then He releases that challenge and hedges us in.  We are stunned, shocked and left wondering.  ““Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? “ 

God set out to prove Job’s faith genuine to the enemy but I think He wanted to prove it to Job also.  Job had no clue what was going on but he did end up with a deeper revelation of God (Job 42:5).  I think God desires to prove our faith genuine as well.  Perhaps its time to see things through the eyes of that faith.  Perhaps we need to start believing we are up for the challenge.  Perhaps a deeper revelation will follow. 

May this truth spiritually energize you today. 

         “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;

                                                                        Job 42:5