On Monday in Cross-Examining the Witness, we started to look at God’s amazing series of rhetorical questions to Job.

I ended that post with this question: Notice that after this challenge from the Lord in chapter 40, Job seems to give a humble answer.  Why does God start the questioning over again?  What is missing in Job’s statement in 40:4-5?

So today, let’s take a look.

The LORD said to Job:

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!”

Then Job answered the LORD :

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.

I spoke once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I will say no more.”

Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:

“Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.

Job 40:1-5

A few observations:

“Would you discredit my justice?
Would you condemn me to justify yourself?

Job 40:8

Who has a claim against me that I must pay?

Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Job 41:11

“I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’

My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”

All the posts in this series are indexed here.

In Friday’s post, Dragging God to Court, we looked at the dangerous ground Job stood on as he demanded God give an answer for his suffering.  Job believed that God had wronged him.

Remember all of that courtroom terminology Job uses as he accuses God of wrongdoing?
Notice how God answers him.

Back in October I reviewed Ace Collins’ book Farraday Road.  I was glad I was given the opportunity to have closure with the story line when I was sent Collins’ sequel to this book, Swope’s Ridge, to review.

Let me just say- I always really hope I will like the books I am sent to review.  I do not enjoy giving negative reviews.  But, I’m going to have to do it.

Farraday Road was a let-down to me.  Shallow characters and a nearly non-existent spiritual component in this “Christian” fiction book were at least bolstered by an exciting plot. Swope’s Ridge, sadly, did not leave me with a drastically better opinion.

Plot Line
I enjoyed Farraday Road‘s plot line, as I mentioned.  It was fast-paced, action packed, and unpredictable.  While Swope’s Ridge was also a fast-paced and unpredictable tale, I found the plot so complex as to be ridiculous.  There were amazing amounts of “accidental” discoveries of facts whole states and continents away from the main characters that somehow would make their way together.  This included a random purchase on ebay, found by the seller mistyping a word and therefore ending in the main character’s search, which provided a major clue.  I found it laughable and not believable whatsoever!  I admire Collins’ creativity in spinning this complex and multi-faceted tale… but I just couldn’t quite swallow it as realistic.

Character Development
One of my main complaints about Farraday Road was character development, or lack thereof.  I can actually quote from that review here: “I was underwhelmed by the character development – after spending almost 400 pages with the main characters, I did not find them compelling or feel attached to them.”  Ditto.

With only one exception (a blind woman who I found to be believable and appealing), the rest of the characters fell flat.  I didn’t mourn the demise of those who had an untimely end, I didn’t celebrate the victories of those who prevailed.  Characters seemed more like pawns to make the super-intricate plot play out.

Spiritual Component
Once again, I can quote from the review for Farraday Road:
“While I don’t expect every piece of Christian fiction to have a pat overview of the gospel and basic theology, Collins has presented very “churchy” characters who appear to have been transformed more by “learning to love themselves” than by a relationship with God. If I had picked this book out of the secular mysteries at the local library, I would have appreciated it for being free of bad language or scenes that I wish weren’t burned in my imagination. Since it came in a box of Christian books from Zondervan, however, I found it shallow and void of real truth and substance.”

I will give Collins this: there were several pastors mentioned, the main character gives some money to a missionary, and there is a scene with several characters sitting in a church service.  But honestly, I have read completely secular novels which present a more accurate view of saving faith in Christ than this does.  I wouldn’t even really call it “Christian Fiction.”  It’s just clean and a little churchy.

**I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for my review from Zondervan. I am an amazon associate and would receive a small percentage of any sales resulting from the link provided. The opinions expressed in this review are my unbiased thoughts as in keeping with my disclosure policy.

To catch up on the posts in this series that you may have missed, they are all indexed here.

On Wednesday we looked at the evidence that Job was also working from a perspective of retribution theology.  He knew he had not sinned, and he knew that he was suffering.  Therefore he concluded that God was unjust and had wronged him.

Perhaps we haven’t been so bold as to say to the Lord, “You have wronged me!”

But have we asked, with a whining or accusatory tone, “Why me/ her/ him, God?” We list before him the list of accomplishments, relationships, contributions.  We accuse Him of not being fair.

There is a difference between asking “why” as a request for clarification and asking “why” as an accusation against God’s character. Notice the terminology Job uses as he speaks of his desire for “justice” from the Lord.

“How can I find words to argue with him?” (9:3)

“Even if I summoned and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.” (9:16)

“But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated.” (13:3)

Friends, it is a serious thing to demand that God give us an account.  Job bodly uses courtroom terminology, demanding that God answer him – and he believes he will have the final say!

He will not.

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm.

He said:

Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?”

Job 38:1-2

Sometimes we initially respond to suffering well, like our friend Job.  But over time, our hearts turn bitter, accusing, angry with God.  We want to drag God into the courtroom.

The courtroom is not a place we want to be with God on trial.

[to be continued...]