My Confession: My reflections of Job 16-17

I continue my reflections on Job.

Miserable comforters

Job again rejects what Eliphaz the Temanite said.

“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters, all of you!
 Will your long-winded speeches never end?
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?" - Job 16: 2-3

Job maintains that God has targeted him.

"God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
     his archers surround me.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground." - Job 16: 11-13

Job still says he is innocent

"My face is red with weeping,
   dark shadows ring my eyes;
yet my hands have been free of violence
    and my prayer is pure.
Earth, do not cover my blood;
    may my cry never be laid to rest!" - Job 16: 16-18

Job's reputation has been tarnished

Job reveals that his misfortune was known in the land, and that people lost their respect for him.

 “God has made me a byword to everyone,
    a man in whose face people spit.
 My eyes have grown dim with grief;
    my whole frame is but a shadow.
 The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused against the ungodly." - Job 17: 6-8

Job then says he is simply waiting for death.

“But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.
 My days have passed, my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart
 turn night into day;
    in the face of the darkness light is near.
 If the only home I hope for is the grave,
    if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness," - Job 17: 10-13

Impressions

As Job rightly pointed out, none of whatever his friends said addressed the issue. What did Job do wrong to be a target of God's wrath? 

Despite this poignant rebuttal, tales of Job's misfortune had spread and a majority of people assumed that Job must have sinned.

My Confession: Reflections on Job 15

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

After hearing Job defend himself yet again, Eliphaz the Temanite responds.

The meaninglessness of Job's defence

Eliphaz accuses Job of engaging in empty rhetoric.

“Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
 Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?" - Job 15: 2-3

He criticises Job's wisdom and claiming that Job's limited experience of a human limits his understanding of God.

“Are you the first man ever born?
    Were you brought forth before the hills?
 Do you listen in on God’s council?
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?
What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?
 The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
    men even older than your father."- Job 15: 7-10

Eliphaz puts forth his wisdom on the consequence of good and evil

Eliphaz then explains his position.

“What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?" - Job 15: 14

“Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,
 what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors
 (to whom alone the land was given when no foreigners moved among them):
All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him." - Job 15: 17 -20

In fact, he reiterated that the wicked will face punishment.

"Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
    for he will get nothing in return.
 Before his time he will wither,
    and his branches will not flourish.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms." - Job 15: 31-33

Impressions

I think my first takeaway is that despite Eliphaz's claim that no mortal has monopoly on wisdom (Job 15:8), he presents his own wisdom to counter Job's earlier arguments. Eliphaz's justification was that Job was not the first man alive or the oldest or had a vast wealth of experience.

Such ad-hoc arguments may be good for a sound bite, but none of what Eliphaz said had any bearing on what Job had discussed before. What had Job done wrong that God allowed the misfortunate of the loss of wealth and the death of his loved ones to fall on him? (Job 12:7-9)

Finally Eliphaz affirms earlier claims (eg: Job 8:2-3)that Job must have done something wicked to deserve such fate. As this did not sway Job the first few times, Eliphaz repeat of the logic reveals that he may lack the wisdom that he felt Job lacked.

This lack of wisdom will eventually be addressed in the next chapters, Job 16-17.

My Confession: My Reflections on Job 12 - 14

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Job rejects the idea that he is deserving of punishment
After Zophar accuses Job of being guilty of hidden sin, Job counters that Zophar should not claim to know the mind of God,

“I have become a laughingstock to my friends,
    though I called on God and he answered—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!" - Job 12:4

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
   or let the fish in the sea inform you.
 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?" - Job 12:7-9

“My eyes have seen all this,
    my ears have heard and understood it.
 What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
    and to argue my case with God.
 You, however, smear me with lies;
    you are worthless physicians, all of you!
 If only you would be altogether silent!
    For you, that would be wisdom." - Job 13:1-5

Job puts his trust in God
Job continues to trust God, even though he does not understand the reason for his plight. He asks for God to hear him out.

“Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
Withdraw your hand far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.
 Then summon me and I will answer,
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.
 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
    Show me my offense and my sin.
 Why do you hide your face
    and consider me your enemy?" - Job 13: 20 -24

Job also recognises his life and legacy is in God's control.

“At least there is hope for a tree:
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots will not fail.
Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump die in the soil,
 yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant.
 But a man dies and is laid low;
    he breathes his last and is no more." - Job 14: 7-10

Thus Job knows that his only hope for restoration lies with God.

"Surely then you will count my steps
    but not keep track of my sin.
 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
    you will cover over my sin." - Job 14: 16-17

Impressions
One thing I did admire is while Job rejected the idea that he is in the wrong (as accused in the earlier chapters). He also rejects the idea that he needs to justify himself in front of his friends and knows the only being that holds his fate is God. God may choose to spare or strike him.

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

    I will surely defend my ways to his face." - Job 13: 15

Again, Job is willingly to be honest with his feelings about his circumstance with God, and not cover it up with pomp and flattery.

"If only you would hide me in the grave

    and conceal me till your anger has passed!

If only you would set me a time

    and then remember me!

If someone dies, will they live again?

    All the days of my hard service

    I will wait for my renewal to come." - Job 14: 13-14

Although I do not want Job's circumstance, I do pray I have faith and honesty to that closest with God.

Alternative Culture: Made in Italy Theological Review

 

Robert and his son Jack agree to renovate their old Italian house for sale

I rarely watch contemporary drama films as I have an inherent liking for action-based, fantasy or sci-fi films. Nevertheless, I decided to watch Made in Italy on Netflix for a few reasons. One, it starred one of my favourite actors, Liam Neeson, and two, it showcased one of my favourite countries, Italy.

Synopsis
Jack Foster (Micheal Richardson) is released from his job as an art gallery manager in England. The owner is Ruth, Jack's estranged wife. To continue his lifestyle, Jack offers to buy the gallery, by selling an Italian mansion he and his father, Robert (Liam Neeson) inherited.

The problem is that he and his artist father are not on good terms and he needs his father's consent to sell it. To make things worse, the mansion is in poor condition after years of neglect. After some father-son confrontations and advice from a property agent Kate (Lindsay Duncan) and a neighbour (Valeria Bilello), the duo decide to work together to restore the mansion.

Christian themes explored

The reality of suffering
One thing I did like about the film was the exploration of the reality of suffering. Jack's mother's death and the absence of his father during Jack's childhood were traumatic to him.

Similarly, Robert's abandonment of his son and loss of artistic talent was due to the immense guilt that he may have caused his wife's death. In his sharing with Kate (who is pained by her cheating husband),  they could never go back to how things were.

Except, you never really can start again. -- Robert to Kate

However in Christianity there is hope. Jesus is divine, and yet is able to empathise with us.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. - Hebrews 4: 15.

Jack and Robert look proudly at their renovation

Restoration of relationships
Being a simple film, the focus is on the restoration of relationship between Jack and Robert. It only happens after massive arguments, petty disagreements and quality time together. Yet though great desire, they realise that their restored relationship was worth more the monetary value of the mansion.

Similarly, God desires the restoration of relationship with us. The journey towards that restoration may be painful, but it will be worth it.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. -- Romans 8: 19-21

Conclusion
Despite being a simple film, I was suprirsed by how much I enjoyed it. Adding to the emotion impact was that Liam Neeson and Micheal Richardson are real-life father and son, and this film was seen as a passion project (as Nessons's wife Natasha Richardson died in 2009).

My Confession: My reflection on Job 9-10

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Synopsis
After Bildad's simplification of God's justice in Job 8, Job expressed his understanding that it is impossible to show your innocence in the light of God's power and wisdom.

Then Job replied:
“Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
 Though they wished to dispute with him,
    they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
    Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?" - Job 9:1-4

Yet Job maintains his innocence.

“Although I am blameless,
    I have no concern for myself;
    I despise my own life." - Job 9: 21

In addition, there is no point repenting because he has already been deemed guilty and he has no way of addressing his charges.

"If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
I still dread all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.
 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?" - Job 9:27-29

“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,
    that we might confront each other in court.
 If only there were someone to mediate between us,
    someone to bring us together,
 someone to remove God’s rod from me,
    so that his terror would frighten me no more" - Job 9: 32-35

Job therefore chooses to complain. He questions God, on why Job was born and then made to suffer.

“I loathe my very life;
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul." - Job 10:1

“Your hands shaped me and made me. 
    Will you now turn and destroy me?
 Remember that you molded me like clay.
    Will you now turn me to dust again?" - Job 10: 8-9

Job also demands an answer to whether he is guilty or innocent. He also recognsied that there is no apparent difference between his fate whether he had sinned or not.

"If I am guilty—woe to me!
    Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,
for I am full of shame
    and drowned in my affliction." - Job 10: 15

Reflections
What strikes me is that Job did not take the easy way out and just agree with his friends. To Him, God is a living all-powerful entity. He did not want to pay lip-service to God and suffer in silence over his innocence.

He also brings up an important message - what is the point of being innocent or guilty if the result is the same? Yet Job rightly points out that he has no entitlements; God does not have to answer his demand for a mediation.

Thus in a way, Job respects God's demand for authenticity (by being honest) and respect (by recognizing his status with God).

It would be easier if you were just a thought in my head
Simply something that I once read
A belief needing my defense

And it would be easier if you were something I once knew
A hope just to hold on to
But you're holding out your hands -- Tenth Avenue North (from the song The Truth Is Who You Are)

Alternative Culture: Tragedy in school

 

Students setting up an edible garden, taken April 2021

Recently, Singapore experienced a murder in school . I do not want to write exactly about what happened.

In fact, what really surprised me was that numerous people from reddit to Facebook have chimed in. And to some extent, I understand. After all, everyone wants to rationalise such senseless violence. A volatile, unpredictable world can be scary for one to accept.

Senseless violence

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” -- Luke 13: 1-5

'We cannot make sense of what happened' -- Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong 

In a way, there is no sense to this violence. For the Christian, it is a recognition that this earthly realm is sinful and broken. It should wake us up from complacence and call us to repentance.

And that is the learning point I want to take from it.

My confession: my Covid-19 reflections

As Singapore experiences it's "circuit-breaker" measures in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 (aka Wuhan virus/ Coronavirus), I find myself unable to attend church services.

Better blogs have written good reflections on this pandemic, so I will attempt to log in my reflections.

God is in charge of everything

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! - Matthew 8:27

The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord. - Proverbs 16:33

Regardless of how powerful the disease seems to be, I remember that ultimately God is in control of everything. The disease may have shut down shops and limited travel, but I am thankful to still have a job.

Material items are temporary

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. - Matthew 6:19

It is important to note that every achievement we accumulated on earth is not meant to last forever. With this black swan event, economies crash, events are cancelled and even weddings postponed. Visitations are limited and gatherings are discouraged. Even relationships are mot immune to this virus.

God of the good times and God of the pain

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”  - Job 1:20-21

If we trust God in the peaks of our life, we should continue to trust God in lows.

My Confession: An uncurable disease

One of my students awoke one morning and found she could not unclench her fist, nor straighten her leg. During her hospitalisation, she was diagnosed with myotonia.

Myotonia is a genetic disease that affects the muscular and the nervous system. Patients will find relaxing their muscles to be difficult. For most patients, the symptoms only manifest themselves at age 18-20. There is no known cure.

How can I bear to explain to her this: the life that she once knew no longer applies. From now on, her movements will be limited and her odds of starting a family have fallen way below average.

Why this is happen? In my head, I know the answers. Scientifically, the disease is autosomal dominant and thus was inherited. Her parents do not have the symptoms so it appeared that some epigenetic trait saved them.

Theologically, I know that this is a recognition that sin had infected the world and the disease is a manifestation of that.

Practically, I could advise her how to adjust her lifestyle to aid herself.

Yet, these are not answers she needs yet.

I only can pray. Despite how desperate the situation it, I can trust God is in charge.

"Yet at the same time Christian faith is more absurdly, outrageously more hopeful than liberal rationalism, with its unhinged belief that not only is the salvation of the human species possible but that, contrary to all we read in the newspapers, it has in principle already taken place. Not even the rose-tinted Trotskyist believes that." -- Terry Eagleton

With due respect: A powerful and loving God would not allow pain and suffering!

It is one of the most powerful questions I ever encountered, and it was one of the questions that drove me away from Christianity in my younger days. Yet years later, the same question drove me back to Christianity. So let's try to handle the question-- how can a omnipotent and benevolent God allow evil in the world?

Assumptions
Let's put into things into perspective. The question states three things:

1) God is all-powerful
2) God is all-good
3) Evil exist

And that all three things cannot exist together logically. However, the accuser would be right if one of the two following assumptions was true--

A) There is no logical reason why an all-powerful and all-good God would allow evil in the world
B) It is God's will for us to be senily happy

Poor apologetics
Before I start, I would like to say I will be handling the philosophical/spiritual problem of pain and evil. In other words I skip over the practical reasons of evil, such as evolutionary explanations for pain. For example-- the fact that our nerves can detect danger enables us to survive hazards.

That said, any defence that a Christian makes must not reject any of three realities-- that God is all-good, all-power, and that evil exist. For instance, the Christian cannot 'justify' evil. To justify evil is to deny the existance of evil (the reason why something is evil is that it cannot be justified). Are there reasons for evil? Yes reasons, but not justification.

Free-will defence
 For God to be good, (and fair), He has to allows us to experience consequences of every action anyone (or anything) makes (Lewis, 1940). There is no point giving us freedom to choose, while taking away consequences of the choice. If one chooses an evil act, he and others must face the results of that choice-- be it death or imprisonment.


What about natural disasters?
While most people can accept that evils commited by men, few can "excuse" God from the reponsibility of natural disasters. But the thing is that either for God to be omnipotent, He is involved in everything, or nothing. The natural laws that run our universe cannot be broken by any whim and fancy.

On other hand, I have no problem accepting miracles do happen, but they should happen rarely (hence the term 'miracles'). Although one may claim that God is unfair in saving others, one must remember, nowhere in the Bible claims that it is God's will for all of us to be healthy and wealthy. It is His will for all of us to be reconcile with Him ultimately.

Then how is God good?
In Christianity, God allows evil, yet it is not His will. He may use our acts of evil, to bring about His will (Genesis 50:20). God hates evil, but respects our decisions to choose it over Him (Platinga, 1977).

Problem with naturalism
The problem is simple-- without God, how do you know something is evil? Yet the thought process complex-- one may attribute morality to the natural world, but if nature is "red in tooth and claw", why should we view something that happens naturally such as death and destruction as evil? CS Lewis (1952) explores this concept in Mere Christianity, claiming that if anything,the existance of evil hints towards a god. Afterall, one does not call something unjust, unless he/she has an idea of what justice is.

Conclusion
Although the problem of evil has often been touted as a problem for a Christian God, from the Christian view it is not, and from a theistic view, it hints towards the existance of God. In fact, most philosophers regard the logical problem of evil to haven been sufficiently refuted (Gutting, 2009).

Postscript for the Christians
Yet for the followers of Christ, Jesus never promised freedom from suffering or pain from this earth. He told us that that in this world we will have trouble, but we can take heart -- He has overcome the world (John 16:33)

References

Lewis, C.S (1940) The Problem of Pain

Lewis, C.S. (1952) Mere Christianity

Gutting, G. (2009) What Philosophers Know: Case Studies in Recent Analytic Philosophy

Platinga, A. (1977) God, Freedom and Evil