JOB 3; 1 - 26 JOB CRIES OUT IN AGONY

JOB CRIES OUT IN AGONY

    Job had lost his wealth and all of his grown children, who he had invested time and love in raising.  Now, he was afflicted with an incurable disease where his skin and muscles were falling off of his bones.  He was in agony emotionally and physically.

 
After Job and his friends have sat for 7 days and 7 nights, 1) "Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. 2) He said: 

   3) May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, 'A boy is conceived!'

   4) That day--may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine upon it,

   5) May darkness and deep shadows claim it once more;  may a cloud settle over it; may blackness overwhelm it.

   6) That night--may thick darkness seize it;  may it not be included among the days of the year nor be entered in any of the months.

   7) May that night be barren; may no shout of joy be heard in it.

   8) May those who curse days curse that day, those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.

   9) May its morning stars become dark; may it wait for daylight in vain and not see the first rays of dawn, 10) for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes."  Job 3:1-10 NIV

The problem was that the day was, the night was.  It cannot be erased.  Since the day he was born cannot be erased, the next possibility would have been a stillbirth:

   11) "Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb?

   12) Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed?

   13) For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest 14) with kings and counselors of the earth who built for themselves places now lying in ruins, 15) with rulers who had gold, who filled their houses with silver.

   16) Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day? 

   17) There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.  18) Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver's shout.  19) The small and the great are there and the slave is freed from his master."   Job 3:10-19  (NIV)

   20) "Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, 21) to those who long for death that does not come, 22) who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?
   23) Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in?  24) For sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water. 
   25) What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me, 26) I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil."  Job 3:20-26  (NIV)

   Have you ever asked why people were born if all they have is suffering?  Job had known joy, but now has sorrow.  He is crying out from the very core of his soul.  Note that he does not say he wants to kill himself.  Life comes from God and God has His plans for each of us.  Job was not privy to what God's plan was or what God was doing.  He could only cry out to God and trust Him and His goodness.   In all of this, Job does not curse God.
   How do we handle our trials?  Praise God for Job.