Page 135 - Reading Job to Know God

to court together. There is no umpire between us, who may lay his
hand upon us both. Let Him remove His rod from me, and let not
dread of Him terrify me. Then I would speak and not fear Him; But
I am not like that in myself.”
Here is what Job was saying. “It’s not fair! He is God and I am a man! He
can do anything He wants to me, and I cannot do anything against Him!”
If He were a man, as I am a man, then we could square off and we could
settle this thing. Or if there were an umpire between us – someone who
was God/man, who could lay his hand upon us both. Of course, this is a
picture of Christ who is going to come later on, who can put one hand on
God and one hand on man and bring them together. But in Job’s day, he
said, if there was only somebody. If He would let the pressure off, then I
would stand face to face with God and I would debate Him. Look at
chapter 13 verse 21
“Remove Your hand from me, (now he is praying to God) and let not
the dread of You terrify me. Then call, and I will answer; Or let me
speak, then reply to me.”
Let’s have this out, God. But in every case the heavens are brass, and
God’s ears are deaf, and Job is not answered. Chapter 23 Job speaks
again. He has been through these debates, and he has heard these
arguments, and he is getting more and more frustrated. He is perplexed
about the problems of life, and he thinks that God has set him up as a
target
– a special target. Chapter 23, verse 3,

“Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His
seat! I would present my case before Him and fill my mouth with
arguments. I would learn the words which He would answer, and
perceive what He would say to me. Would He contend with me by
the greatness of His power? No, surely he would pay attention to me.
There the upright would reason with Him; And I would be delivered
forever from my Judge.”
If I could only present my case, I would stand there and fill my mouth
with arguments. I would show Him that I knew what I was talking about.
Chapter 31, verse 35,

“Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the
Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has
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