30 September 2022

Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discern the paths to its home?
Surely you know, for you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
From Job 38: 1, 12-21, 40: 3-5, NRSV

Is it possible for God to be sarcastic? It would seem from this passage that God does have, at the least, a sense of humour! Job has made a complaint to God but God’s reply is not to justify or explain the suffering that Job has endured but to point out that it was God who undertook the creation of the universe – who causes the sun to rise to disperse the darkness of night – and, in parts of the Book not included in our Reading, knows stars by name and causes wild creatures to obeyHaving pointed out  how great all these works are, Job is challenged as to whether he could have achieved them! And at the end, the apparently tongue-in – cheek question: you have lived a long time Job, surely you were there at the beginning of all this and can explain it all..

• • Why does God seem to resort to irony or sarcasm in replying to Job?
  • How would you react to such a response to your own prayers of complaint or seeking answers to suffering?

Pray today for those who are suffering and who seem only to receive platitudes. Pray that they might be given the grace to see that the God who created the universe is intimately concerned for them too.