There used to be a commercial on TV that I HATE. It was for some carpet spot cleaning product, and it featured various family members spilling a variety of stain-producing items on the beautiful light-colored carpet. Without fail, the perfectly composed, mother, with her lovely combed hair, says through her unforced, natural smile, with her white, shiny, straight teeth, in a sing-song voice, "Oh, that's O.K."
I'm not entirely sure why it caused such a total sense of loathing within me. Perhaps, it is because I was raised in a home that did not have a lot of money, and so it was drilled into us to take care of what we had. Perhaps, it is because my own nature is usually to kick into crisis-mode (which usually includes a bit of "OH NO!", "Oh GREAT.", or even at times, "OH CRAP!!) and take care of the mess, and then to follow up with reassurances that I really do love the perpetrator more than the carpet or whatever else was threatened or even ruined (sometimes after having to pause and remember this fact). So, maybe, to me, her reaction just seemed SOOOO staged; so unlikely in the real world; so irritatingly imperturbable.
In the same way, I used to not like Job. Yep, Job. The Old Testament prophet who is the ultimate example for enduring trials well. Ya. Not my proudest moment, but I really had a problem with a guy who could lose his whole family (with the exception of his wife) and pretty much all that he possessed, and say, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21) I guess to me, it seemed dismissive of the significance of what he had lost. It echoed, in my mind, the sing-song, "Oh, that's O.K."
Admittedly, however, that was before I ever took the time to actually READ the book of Job. All I had ever heard from the book of Job was the verse I just quoted above. Now, however, I loooove Job. I am reading the book of Job for the second time now. The first time I read it, I literally could hardly put it down. Admittedly, (as with a lot of the Old Testament) there is stuff in there that I don't get, but I definitely understand most of it, and the over-all feeling is unmistakeable. Job did not in any way, shape or form dismiss the significance of his loss. From the depths of his soul he grieved. His soul was peirced, and he longed for death rather than to endure the pain of his loss.
"Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?"(Job 3:20 - 22)
On top of this, in the midst of his mourning, his so-called friends called on him; supposedly to offer their support and condolences, but in reality -- not understanding the depth of his loss, his grieving, or of the workings of the Lord -- they add to his pain through their unfounded accusations and judgements.
"BUT Job answered and said, Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!"(Job 6:1 - 2)
He was in physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, as well as social agony. Even his wife tempts him to "curse God, and die." (Job 2:9) The true beauty of Job, and the reason that he is the paramount mortal example of enduring trials is that he never lost his faith in the Lord. No, Job did not endure his immense trials without complaint. Personally, I love that he complained. Sometimes trials are hard, really hard, and pretending that everything is o.k. when it's not, does little to actually make things o.k.. Job actually did a LOT of complaining, or rather, speaking from the pain of his soul. There was no sing-song, "Oh, that's O.K." attitude. But there was a deep and abiding testimony that he and all he had (and had lost) was in the care of the Lord.
Yep. I love Job. He keeps things real.
