February 14, 2024
Today’s Reading:
Daily Lectionary: Job 10:1-22; John 5:1-18
[Job said,] I loathe my very life;
therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.
I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,
but tell me what charges you have against me.
Does it please you to oppress me? Job 10:1-3
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Do you want to argue with God? Sounds blasphemous. Job argues with God. Scripture shows us many people of faith arguing with God. Jacob wrestled God, telling God he would not let him go. Finally God said, “Let me go …” But Jacob did not let go until God blessed him (Genesis 32:22-28). Did these men of faith sin by arguing with God?
The key is the word “faith.” Faith holds onto God even when God seems your enemy. When everything in life is down the drain, when no blessing can be seen, faith holds onto what cannot be seen. Faith holds onto the promise. And when we don’t see the promise, we are given to argue with God, to say to God essentially, “You have given me your name as an oath, I belong to you, yet I don’t see the blessing, and, as Job said, I loathe my very life .” (Job 10:1)
Faith calls on God to once again speak His promise. To see this, we need only to look at how God teaches us to pray. Among the Psalms of praise, of thanksgiving, of extolling the Word, our Lord gives us to pray also Psalms of complaint. Look at Psalm 13, where the Lord gives us words by which we are to argue that He has forgotten us (Psalm 13:1) and to demand that He give us an answer (Psalm 13:3).
The Lord answered Job’s prayer. Job’s account began with him giving sacrifice for his family, knowing that by the Lord’s gift of sacrifice the Lord was forgiving sins and making Job and his family holy (see Job 1:1-5). After going through much affliction, Job argues with God. God answers the argument. He calls Job to account where he was wrong, but more importantly, speaks to Job again the word of promise. Not only that, but the Lord tells Job’s friends (who have been giving Job bad counsel regarding God) to go to Job so that Job could give the sacrifice to atone also for their sins.
Can you argue with God? Yes. Just remember Job. Use the words the Lord gives you in Psalm 13 (or other Psalms of complaint). Call on God to speak His promise to you. Ask for His Gospel. Don’t let Him go. He wants to hear your prayers. He wants to answer your complaint. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Lord, in the midst of my doubts, my despair, my loss of hope, bless me! Let me hear your promise! Keep me steadfast in your Word. Amen.
-Pastor Warren Graff is retired from Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.
The Lutheran Reader’s Bible helps you develop a habit of devotion and Bible reading so you can slowly but intentionally understand and grow in God’s Word. Through introductions to the sixty-six books of the Bible, guided reading plans, and more, this Bible builds your confidence to study Scripture on your own.
