January 21 – Reading 21

January 21 – Reading 21

by Chris Rainey | January 21

“BLOWING IN THE WIND”
(Job 15:1 – 17:16)

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind.  Bob Dylan, Blowin’ in the Wind

Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?  – Job 15:2

In his book Screwtape Letters, C. S. Lewis warns about two errors that people can fall into around the topic of devils. The first, he says, is to “disbelieve their existence.” The second is to take an “excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”  This distinction will be an issue as we continue our journey through the Bible chronologically, as this portion of the Book of Job turns into what we might call a slog.  The three friends remain convinced that Job needs to repent of his sin. Job is certain that he does not. They go back and forth, tit for tat, mano a mano, droning on and on until chapter 28, where a narrator interjects a chapter that points to God as the only source of true wisdom, implying that human wisdom has reached its limit and failed miserably. Then the slog resumes for a bit longer until God thankfully and finally intervenes.

It is also apparent in trying to figure out what happened to Job that the lack of perspective of what happened in heaven (chapters 1-2) is the limiting factor. There is a real adversary, Satan, who has coordinated these efforts to destroy Job with God’s permission. Without this knowledge, the cycles of dialogue result in frustration, false accusations, and angry denials.  Without the limited human insight on devils, the three friends’ repeated attempts to pummel Job into repentance really is just blowing in the wind.

Let’s Pray…

Father, may my words provide support to those who are suffering, rather than merely spouting empty spiritual cliches. And, help me to recognize that You are working in my life, in all things, no matter what I may see and hear today.