Being on the Defense

 

    When a person feels attacked it is hard not to be defensive.  Once on the defense, it is hard not to come across hard, angry, or aggressive.  It leaves a person open for criticism and to be  misunderstood or misinterpreted.  Being on the defense is a natural state and is necessary at time.  However, it takes so much more work to stay open when you feel attacked.

    Job now has had two friends attack his faith, his words, and his attitude.  He was sick and weary.  He did not have the energy to get into it with anyone, especially not the people that should support him when things go bad.  However, he was still being respectful when he replied to Bildad.

    Job was aware that he was human like everyone else and that he had sin in his life.  He also knew that he had not done anything to deserve the punishment he was receiving.  However, he showed fortitude by not turning his back on God, even though he thought that God had turned His back on him.

    Job felt like he was on trial defending himself against his friends.  He recognized God's power even if he was not enjoying how it was being revealed in his life.  He could not see God, but he knew God existed.  If he could find God, he believed that he would not recognize God or that God would crush him.  He acknowledged the mysteries of life, but wanted answers. 

    Job was not aware that Satan was being allowed to torment him.  There is no way he could possibly understand the reason why.  From the human perspective, there is no good reason that he was tormented mentally, physically, and emotionally.  Can you blame him for coming across negative?  There are no easy answers sometimes.  There is no worse place to be in life than in the darkness of no hope.

Job 9