Job 23:1-10
‘Oh, that I knew where I might find Him!…. Will He plead against me with His great power? No!…. He would put strength in me!…. Behold, I go forward!…. He knows the way I am taking! When He has tried me — I shall come forth as gold! My foot has held His steps. His way I have kept. Neither have I gone back from the Commandment of His lips. I have esteemed the words of
His mouth, more than my necessary food!’ Job 23:3-12.
Job cannot find God. If He tried him, he would come forth as gold — for all his life long, he had kept His way and not departed from the Commandments of His lips. What confounds and paralyses Job’s mind, are not his calamities — or even his death in itself.
Job ardently desired that he could come to God’s judgment-seat, to plead his cause. He wished that God would give heed to him, and answer him.
Would He plead against Job, in the greatness of His power? Nay! But He would give heed to Job!
For He would then listen to Job! The latter’s wish, was that God would hear his arguments, and answer him.
Behold, I go forward! God knew Job’s sincerity. The Lord knew the way Job would take. God knew the conduct Job was pursuing. And God also knew the thoughts Job cherished.
If God were to try him, Job knew that he would come forth as gold. Job would pass that test, like burnished metal in a crucible.
Job rightly said that he had kept God’s way. That man had not gone back from the Commandment of God’s lips!
In the course of the discussion, Job had gradually acquired now confidence in God — which once more breaks through. He knows that God, if He could be found, would hear him.
God would then pay attention of Job. Towards all quarters of the Heavens, Job turns with his eyes and the longing of his whole nature, to see if he may by any means find God. Job would then come forth like tried gold. His foot had held firmly to the steps of God, so that Job was always close behind Him. Job guarded His way, and did not turn aside.
He kept the words of His mouth, and esteemed them high and precious After the manner of silver and other costly metals.
God shall investigate Job’s case in depth. Then, Job has nothing to fear. For Job has not walked his own way, but that of the Lord. He knows the way Job takes, and makes him pure gold!
