Finding God's Comfort'. 3

AN APPEAL TO GOD

Each of Job's friends, in turn, argued his case, and to each of these Job replied. Three times the discourse went around in this way, excepting that in the last round, Zophar was silent—a confession of defeat. The friends urged Job to confess and repent, promising that then God would restore him to favor. They believed that it was for sin of his, that the hand of God rested so heavily upon him. Job was bewildered—but indignantly repelled the charge that he was being punished for sin.

But in all the great hurt of Job's loss and sorrow, and in all the intensity of his own personal affliction, he did not breathe a murmur against God. Once, indeed, he did say, "Even today is my complaint rebellious." But he meant that his sufferings were so great that he could scarcely, if at all, repress his complaint. He does not mean that he was rebellious against God, for he was not; but that with his faith in God and his submission to the divine will—he could hardly keep his grief and pain from breaking out in cries and groanings. Though crushed by the terrible blows which had fallen upon him, his heart gave way to no bitter or unbelieving words.

There is here a beautiful lesson for us. Eventually, we must all have troubles which will sorely try our souls to endure. If we are God's children, we should bear even the sorest trials and the greatest sufferings without complaining against God. It may not always be possible to repress the outcries of anguish, though as far as possible we should do this; but even if our complaint is rebellious, too full of pain to be repressed, we should not have in our heart any rebellious feeling toward God.

One writer tells of two birds and how they acted when caught and put into a cage. One, a 'starling', flew violently against the wire walls of its prison, in unavailing efforts to escape—only battering and bruising its own wings. The other bird, a 'canary', perched itself on the bar and began to pour forth bursts of sweet song, from its little throat. We know which bird was the wiser and happier.

Some people are like the starling—when they are in any trouble, they chafe and fret and complain and give way to wretchedness! The result is, they only hurt themselves, make themselves more miserable, and do not in any sense lessen their trouble. It is wiser always, as well as more pleasing to God, for us to bear our trials patiently, singing songs of faith and love—rather than crying out in rebellion and discontent.

Patient Job wanted to get near to God in his great trouble; he cried, "Oh that I knew where I might find him!" He felt sure that that would be the best and safest place for him to be. We ought not to lose this lesson. When trouble is upon us—the true thing for us to do, is to flee to God! Some people, in their affliction and sorrow, flee away from God. They pray less, rather than more. They become afraid of God, at times almost distrustful of him. They even think God cannot be their friend—or he would not cause them such suffering. Many people in time of sorrow, get away from God. Thus they lose their joy and peace, missing the comfort which they would get if only they kept near to him. The right way to respond, is to try to find the way to God's very presence. This is the only safe refuge, when the storms of trouble break upon us.

Even the young ought to learn what to do in the time of sorrow—for sorrow comes to all. Some day they will have to meet it, and if they know where to go and how to bear themselves, they will not be overwhelmed even by the most sudden calamity breaking upon them. The first thing always, in any time of trouble—is to find God and hide away in his bosom, as a child runs to the mother in alarm, or as the little bird flies to its nest. To find God is to be safe.

The reason Job wanted to get face to face with God, was stated by him: "I would set my cause in order before him." He had confidence that God was his friend and that if he could stand before him and tell him all about his life, it would be well.

We may have the same confidence—if we are God's children. This does not mean that we have no sins, and that we can appear in God's presence and explain our acts and show him that we have done nothing wrong. We are sinners and can come before him only with penitence and confession. But when we come thus and cast ourselves on his love and mercy, we may order our cause before him without fear, not pleading innocence—but pleading the grace of Christ.

We know that God is pitiful toward our infirmities. "Like as a father pities his children, So Jehovah pities those who fear him. For he knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust." Ah! still sweeter truth than that which is uttered here—is that we have One who can order our cause before God and who will always seek acceptance for us. "If anyone sins," said the beloved disciple, "we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous!" We may go to God in his name, in the time of trouble—sure that in his hands all our interests will be safe, for he ever lives to make intercession for His children.

Job was sure that if he could only get to God, that he would find him a Friend. "He would give heed unto me!" was his expression of faith. He had been learning more and more of God's real nature, and had at least some gleams of the true character of the mighty God. Especially does he seem to have gotten some glimpses of the divine Redeemer who was his friend. Thus a little earlier he said: "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" Job 19:25-27

Just how much Job really did know of the character of God, we cannot tell. He certainly believed now, that if he could come before God he would meet a friend. We live in full gospel light, and we know that God is our truest and best friend! He is our Father—we need never fear to go to Him. His almighty power is not used to oppose us, to break us and crush us. He gives heed unto our cries. He loves us. All His omnipotence is on our side. No mother's heart was ever so full of love for her child—as is the heart of God for us, His children.

Though clouds darkened his sky, Job's faith was not clouded. He said, "He hides himself . . . that I cannot see him. But he knows the way that I take." God is invisible—and we cannot see him. We see that he is working here and there, and we turn quickly to find him—but our eyes get no glimpse of him. We cannot lay our hand upon him. We cannot see his face. Yet we know that while he is not visible to our sight—he sees us always and knows our way. He knows where we are, what we are doing, what our circumstances and experiences are. There is wonderful comfort in this for us, especially when we are in the midst of dangers and trials. "He knows!"

There is a beautiful illustration of this in the Gospels. One night Jesus sent his disciples out upon the sea, in the boat, to go to the other side—but he did not go with them. In the night a great storm arose, and the disciples were alone. They were in great distress. We can imagine their looking to the right and to the left, forward and back—but they could not find their Master. Meanwhile, however, though unseen by them, he was looking down upon them in tender love from the mountain-top. He knew the way that they took in the darkness on the sea. His eye was upon them in all their danger; and we well know, that they could not have perished in the storm, for he was caring for them. In our experience, it may often be that we cannot find God; that we cannot see him; that he shall elude our search, and not answer to our cry, and not come when we call for him. Yet it is a precious comfort that in all such cases—he knows the way that we take, where we are, and what we are suffering. We are never out of his sight! We are never forgotten by his love! Always "he knows," and that is enough. "Your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him." "The Lord knows those who are his." "The eyes of Jehovah are toward the righteous. And his ears are open unto their cry."

Job's faith enabled him to say, "When he has tried me—I shall come forth as gold!" Another translation of this verse is: "He is trying me—I shall come forth as gold." Job had caught the true meaning of his suffering. It was trial—testing—as gold is tried and tested. He felt sure, too, that the trials, sore as they were—would not do him any real harm. We have all the light of divine revelation, on this mystery of pain and suffering, and we know that what Job had here learned as in a glimmering shadow—is the blessed truth about trial. God chastens, always to profit His children. He sends trouble—to prove us and to establish us, to make us strong, to cleanse us from sin, and to bring out in us the divine graces. We are all the while being tested and proved. Trials show us what is in us.

Someone says that afflictions are to the soul—as a driving rain to a house. The water comes through the roof. The owner did not know in the long dry season, that there were holes and crannies in the roof. The storm simply revealed them. Just so, we do not suspect our weak points—until temptation comes; then we find them out. So in many Christians, there are noble qualities of character which do not appear in the common experiences of life—but which come out in severe afflictions.

On a sinking ship there was only one life-belt left, and it was the captain's. There was a poor lad on board—a stowaway. The captain took his own life-belt and gave it to the boy, himself perishing in the waters. No one would have suspected this grandeur of soul in the captain an hour before. Like revealings of character are made continually in life—on the playground, in homes, in times of danger, in the sick-room. People whom we supposed, thought only of themselves, are found to have hearts of unselfish love. Those whom we thought weak or timid, are proved strong and heroic. We are on trial all the time, and the experiences of life show what is truly in us. Well is it for us—if we always come forth as gold!

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