Hi friends! Today continues more debates between Job and his friends. You have to feel for Job at this point...his friends seem more like "friends" with each passing argument. What lessons can we learn from these interactions with our own peers? Let's read to be inspired!
Scripture to Read
Audio Bible
Questions to Consider
What does this teach me about God?
What does this teach me about humanity?
What can I learn from these interactions about conflict management?
- My Thoughts -
One of the better (opinion) movements to come up in the last few years has been the empowerment of victims to speak up on behalf of their abusers. Women coming forth about men in the workplace, minorities speaking up about racial profiling, and even how people are being fired for their political affiliations at larger big tech companies. As people speak up about their experiences someone by the end of the day will start to blame the victim. If a woman speaks about sexual abuse at work they'll be blamed for what they wore, how they spoke, or that they had personal motive to do so. When people speak up about racial profiling we will be quick to blame the victim for pointing out smoke where there isn't a fire. Why are we so quick to attack the victim?
This section of Job makes me think of that. Job pleads with God to speak up on his behalf because no one will listen to him or believe him and then later comments to his friends that no matter what they will blame him for this. Again, why are we so quick to attack the victim? I think it has something to do with the grand balance of order and chaos. We like when our feet are on solid ground and we like when things have a place in a greater system. When things are changed, when gears are moved, and when the system is reworked it causes chaos. Maybe the chaos will make the system better in the long run, but maybe it won't, so we yell at the "engineers" tweaking the system to stop what they are doing and return to order. I think that's why we attack victims, because they cause a little (good) chaos.
But as Christians, Jesus was the ultimate form of chaos. He rocked everyones understanding of how the world was ordered. A system that knew where to put lepers, women, and other unclean sinners - Jesus welcomed them in and ushered in chaos. A system that understood the messiah to be a warrior king - Jesus came in peace and ushered in chaos. To be a baptized person means you are a walking hurricane into the cultural systems that we consider normal. We should be the megaphones for the voiceless and the abused, not the pillows to snuff out the noise.
Job is our moral compass in that case.
Prayer
Our prayer for today is inspired by hymn number 144 in our United Methodist hymnal - This is my Father's World
I'm about 90% these lyrics don't line up but this sounds way too cool to not link.
1 This is my Father's world, And to my listening ears All nature sings, and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas-- His hand the wonders wrought.
2 This is my Father's world: The birds their carols raise, The morning light, the lily white, Declare their Maker's praise. This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair; In the rustling grass, I hear Him pass, He speaks to me everywhere.
3 This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King: let the heavens ring! God reigns; let earth be glad!