WAITING FOR TOMORROW

 

Job 10:1-22

A well know psychologist William Moulton, surveyed three thousand people and asked the question “What do you have to live for?”

95% of those polled said they were enduring the present while they waited for the future.

They were simply waiting for something to happen.

Some were waiting for their children to grow up and leave the home.

Some were waiting to take a long desired and well-earned trip to forget about the present.

Some were waiting for another year to begin to start over.

Many of them polled said “They were waiting to die.”

What is sad about some of these answers is this! All these people who took the survey and answered were waiting for tomorrow without realizing that all they have is today. What do I mean? Yesterday is gone, and for many people tomorrow will never come. We know this is to be true, look back to this past week; you don’t even have to go back to last month or last year. Just this past week alone! For us as family, close friends from Moosehorn lost their niece after a long battle with cancer at the impressionable age of twelve. This is what our friends from Moosehorn wrote “We don’t always understand why things happen the way they do but as Christians we can trust in a God who loves us and who is in control. “Sometimes the storms we face in life are not what we would choose, if we had the power to choose them for ourselves. We would take the easy road thinking there's no way to lose, but we would miss the blessing of the Father's will. So we must trust His perfectness as He rules from up on high and when those trials are pressing us this is how we should reply....if this is what God wants, if this is what God says, then who I am to doubt or try to figure out this circumstance? If this is what God chose for me in all His majesty, then surely I can trust and lean on what God says."

For the church seeing people, an image bearer of God do such a wicked and heinous act towards another human being in Ski Lanka, Nigeria. For a family and community in Quebec who lost a loved one when the bridge was washed away due to flooding this past week. Remember what Jesus said “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matt 6:34. Today has its own set of troubles and tribulations! Paul said these words as he was incarcerated for preaching the gospel “that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.” 1 Thess 3:3. Our lives are marked with suffering from one degree to the next; Jesus said so “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Do we hope for a better tomorrow and for our suffering to go away? Yes! But understand today is the day and we’re to be glad and rejoice in it. Jesus has overcome the world. Jesus doesn’t say rejoice depending on how your day is going. The Psalmist starts off by saying “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.” Psalm 118:1-7 And he continues a little further down “Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the LORD. This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it. I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:19-24

“What do you have to live for?”

This question is being answered by Job in this chapter as he arrives at a point in his life where he sees nothing good at the end. Having abandoned any or all hope of restoration in the present he sees noting changing in the future. So Job is waiting to die, he is waiting for tomorrow to rescue him from him pain of today. It in the pain we have a tendency to lose focus and for a good reasons because it hurts and it’s overwhelming. But! This is where Gods wants us to be for today and if things change for tomorrow, it will only make us all the more stronger to face the next chapter or trial in our lives.

I don’t know what is worse,

the pain or God’s silence in my suffering?

Job’s aching body and agonizing soul causes him to long for that day he departs from this world because death will relieve him of his suffering. It’s in the day, this minute, this hour, today, where Job needs to endure, not tomorrow or next week. He needs to focus on today and when we take our eyes off of today we tend to look for a day of less pain and anguish for the soul.

Unfortunately this lead Job to ask God four agonizing

questions about his life

Job in chapter 10 is where we see Job questions and ponders “Why did God create me? Was it only to suffer destruction?

As we approach this chapter maybe

you’re thinking the same thing?

God, why are you putting me through this suffering?

Did you only create me to suffer and face destruction?

Perhaps this is the deep seated cry of your heart; but don’t feel embarrassed because no one knows, and you have it hidden well, because it’s hard work to keep these hurts to yourself. But understand God knows the heart! God knows who are his and who are not His true disciples.

1 Chron 28:9 "And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.

David penned these words “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.” Psalm 139:2-3

  

Prov 21:2 says “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.”

Jesus said this to the scribes after they were thinking that Jesus was a blasphemer “But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? Can I or may I, encourage you this morning, knowing this truth about God and your heart! Job is revealing to us the pain we sometimes feel in our suffering in this letter. Job is us, at times, in our suffering, but he is our example of someone who lets it all out because we are too are afraid to cry out like this in our suffering. Job’s lament and suffering give us hope when we have the same questions Job is contemplating and expressing out toward God. Job asks four questions in this chapter and maybe your feeling and asking the same questions as well in your heart.

Why Are You Against Me? (v1-v3)

It seems very clear to Job that God is against him, because he surely doesn’t feel that He is for him. You say that I’m the “work of your hands” (v3) and yet I feel that you are against me in all this, my sovereign Creator. But little does Job know, what we know, with the full cannon of scripture in our hands that God is most definitely for Job. He might not feel that way right now, in his present state, but God will never leave him of forsake him.

Jacob thought this way…. That is why he wrestled with God all night.

David thought this way….Don’t take this Spirit away from me.

Jonah thought this way….I would rather die

Habakkuk thought this way….Why you have abandoned us

Jeremiah thought this way….I’m all alone it is better to die.

Elijah thought this way…. I‘m the only one left there is no one

The disciples thought this way at times

The church sometimes thinks this way.

We have a tendency to see our situation and think to ourselves; where is God in all this and does He find some pleasure in my torments or struggles? Whether it’s discipline or in Job’s case to prove God’s point of His righteous servant, for the child of God it leads to peaceable fruit. In Hebrews 12:3-13 we read this “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” Understand! God is not against us! Despite what you think about Him, as you go through seasons of sufferings. Paul wrote to remind the body of Christ “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Rom 8:31-34. God is most definitely for us and never forget that!

Why Do You Watch Me? (v4-v7)

Job accuses God of being a hostile surveillance watcher back in (7:17-21) and he is doing the same thing here in this chapter. God you know that I’ve done nothing wrong to deserve this, so why are you watching me as if you’re a man who doesn’t understand the heart of man? You are the sovereign God of the universe who knows my heart, but yet you watch and examine me as my brothers who are infinite beings not having the knowledge and wisdom of God. So it seems unfair you’re treating me this way God. Unfortunately for Job and for us, we tend to look though the lenses of unfairness as opposed to the lenses of Christ. We need God watching us, we need God governing over our lives, and this is a good thing not a bad thing. But this also doesn’t mean our life is going to a bed of roses or smooth sailing into glory. Remember what Jesus said “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Matt 7:13-14

Why Did You Create Me? (v8-v17)

The intimate act by God when He created mankind from the dust of the ground. (v8-v9) The intimate act and blessings that come from the marriage bed through intimate union in creation of a child in the womb. (v10-v12). The process that it takes to make cheese from milk is the amazing process it takes to make a child who is created and then veins and muscles and skin, the gift of life in the mother’s womb at the point of conception. It’s in this process of life giving that God choice to shower Job with His covenant love…..And now what God?

You are the one who granted me life

and this is what you created me for?

To suffer the pain of loss and physical well-being.

And to top it off the opposition of my dear friends, as I face this spiritual attack on the one thing that is holding me together. All this time you given the appearance of a loving God but I’m beginning to see that this might not be true. (v13) The trouble doesn’t seem to have no end (v17). Joshua 1:9 says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." It the suffering of our personal Gehenna, God is there to see us through.

Why Don’t You Kill Me? (v18-v22)

Job comes back to his lament in chapter three. Why didn’t I die in the womb? Better yet! Why didn’t I die on the operating table? If I died there then at least I would have some peace and rest. It’s interesting to note one major thing here! Job never once ask God to cure him of this disease, only that the suffering would end and the only way for that to happen is death. So Job pleads one final request with a holy God! “Leave me alone” if you’re not going to end my life. “Leave me alone!” (v20-v22) What Job doesn’t realize is to leave him alone would be worse, not peace? That is our culture today… Let me morn alone, leave me be, it’s better to by myself then around people. Unfortunately for those people it’s only making it worse and possible brings more trouble because this is where doubt and confusion sets in. We need God to be there in the trenches with us to see us through the storm of life. Isaiah penned these words to encourage the ones like Job “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31.

Steve Lawson said “Whenever a person loses sight of divine purpose, he is ready to give up on life. May God use suffering to encourage endurance in each of us as we press on through our present disappointments?”

Do not keep your deep pain to yourself. The one thing that drained Job’s spirit was the silence for that long period of time as he sat in the garbage dump. Gal 6:2 says “Bear one another’s burdens.”

  

Remember that God always has a purpose behind our suffering. The only way that will make sense if we see our suffering through the lenses of the cross and the gospel that saved our souls for all eternity. If we are breathing we will have seasons of suffering, but understand God has a purpose for your being here on earth. God will not take us home until we have finished (fulfilled) our purpose He has set out for us on this earth. Jesus said “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4. What I find amazing throughout all this is that Job constantly has this deep seated question to “Why? “ And in that question there lies this answer! Hope!

Christopher Ash wrote “Whatever Job says the fact that he says it to God and says it with such passion suggests that he knows he has not reached the end of his quest for meaning. There is in Job the inner energy of faith, the mark of a real believer. Job may be wrong in his perception of God and of the reality of his situation, but he is deeply right in his heart and the direction of his turning and his yearning. Thank God for that.”

We must continually rest in Him as we go through suffering.