he performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
when he passes me, i cannot see him; when he goes by, i cannot perceive him.
if he snatches away, who can stop him? who can say to him, ‘what are you doing?’
God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of rahab cowered at his feet.
how then can I dispute with him? how can i find words to argue with him?
though i were innocent, i could not answer him; i could only plead with my judge for mercy.
even if i summoned him and he responded, i do not believe he would give me a hearing.
he would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
he would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
...
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, to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the plans of the wicked?
do you have eyes of flesh? do you see as a mortal sees?
are your days like those of a mortal or your years like those of a strong man, that you must search out my faults and probe after my sin -
...
is my complaint directed to a human being? why should i not be impatient?
look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth.
when i think about this, i am terrified; trembling seizes my body.
why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power?
they see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes.
their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.
...
can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?
one person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease,
well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow.
another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good.
...
far be it from God to do evil, from the almighty to do wrong.
he repays everyone for what they have done; he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
it is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the almighty would pervert justice.
...
here's what i think of the book on job. i take the point that God is omnipotent and omnipresent - although that is quite definitional, but nonetheless i take the point. but here's what i think from reading chapters 38-42 - i think that God bullied job into submission, when job's questions should not have required him to submit.
okay. so God says, procedurally, you don't ask me those questions. well, i think there's room, biblically speaking, for disagreement with God, so procedurally, it never is out of bounds to ask, and in any case i shouldn't think we need to be satisfied with this kind of dismissal. see romans 9:
therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. one of you will say to me: “then why does God still blame us? for who is able to resist his will?” but who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘why did you make me like this?’” does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?
i daresay this is not satisfactory.
God seems to mainly rely on his omnipotence and un-knowability, which is to me a non-starter because i think God is required (well, obliged, honour-bound, dare i say, eager to defend himself) to reply on our terms if we seek him on those in good faith, and none the less so because he considers himself the well-spring of justice and mercy, and has "given" us good reason, desire and conscience, so as to appreciate those very virtues. we are, after all, encouraged to seek him, so it stands to reason that God would condescend a little and guide our puny human understanding in spirit and in truth. and yes, he created the heavens and the earth, and all that is in it. but the question remains, given some god-power, is it not possible that someone else might do a more reasonable job than God has?
the Lord said to job:
will the one who contends with the almighty correct him? let him who accuses God answer him!”
then job answered the Lord:
“i am unworthy—how can i reply to you? i put my hand over my mouth.
i spoke once, but i have no answer—twice, but i will say no more.”
then the Lord spoke to job out of the storm:
“brace yourself like a man; i will question you, and you shall answer me.
“would you discredit my justice? would you condemn me to justify yourself?
do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his?
then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
unleash the fury of your wrath, look at all who are proud and bring them low,
look at all who are proud and humble them, crush the wicked where they stand.
bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
then i myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
if a human being told you this, he would be a tyrant. a tyrant.
if you told me the ultimate answer is Jesus Christ, i would take the point as well, but my question remains, what's up with the flood, etc. i assume you to agree with me that the only reason one is not saved is because he has refused it; would you therefore rightly claim that those people who died in the flood, etc., refused salvation?
