Job 24 – Though God is patient, don’t test it!

Job was trying to make sense of his suffering. He was deeply conflicted. On the one hand he was aware that the God he worshipped was righteous and just, but then he wondered why He seemed to be ignoring the plead for vindication of one who had done no wrong. So, in this chapter he cited several examples, giving the idea that God’s righteous rule was absent in the world. He started by asking, “Why are times not stored up by the Almighty, and why do those who know Him not see His days?” The crux of this question was an accusation. He was looking at his situation in perplexity. Job was in fact accusing God for failing to exercise a righteous rule. He wondered why do righteous people, more specifically himself, who has a relationship with God, yet has to wait in vain to see the manifestation of His divine righteousness.

In verses 3-12, Job cited a list of the sins of the wicked that he believed beckoned to be punished, yet God seemed to overlook them. He mentioned three crimes that God seemed to be ignoring. Firstly, there were those who shifted landmarks of others unjustly. Seeking to take advantage, some had unscrupulously moved stones that demarcate the property of others. What they had done was illegally seized land not belonging to them. Secondly, he cited situations where workers were defrauded of their rightful rewards. And thirdly he saw the mistreatment of the needy. Yet in all these, the righteous rule of God seemed to be absent. In verses 13-25, Job cited sins that were done in concealment. Thieves and adulterers who had acted covertly seemed to go unpunished. To Job it was as if God was protecting the wicked at times. And despite their sinful acts they experienced peaceful deaths much like all others.

Job’s argument contradicted the philosophy of his three friends. They insisted that only the wicked had to suffer but prosperity belonged to the righteous. They had deductively analyzed the situation of Job. So, they concluded that since Job was suffering, therefore it was an indication that he was wicked. Job vehemently refused to accept their argument. He insisted in his innocence. His point was simply this: both the righteous and the wicked can experience suffering as well as prosperity.

In perplexity, Job was echoing God’s marvelous grace. He saw God who doesn’t discriminate. He provides for the villains as well as the virtuous. His patience is demonstrated because he desires that none should perish but all to inherit the blessing of everlasting life. When the wicked does well, it’s not an indication that God condones wickedness but that God is merciful and giving them the opportunity to receive His grace. The point is this: we should not test God’s patience. No one knows when it would end. So, righteous living is still to be preferred. Let’s live righteously for God!