” ‘Only two things do not do to me, Then I will not hide from Your face: Remove Your hand from me, And let not the dread of You terrify me. Then call, and I will answer; Or let me speak, then reply to me. How many are my iniquities and sins? Make known to me my rebellion and my sin. Why do You hide Your face And consider me Your enemy? For You write bitter things against me And make me to inherit the iniquities of my youth.’ ” (v20-24,26)
Job continues to struggle with how God is “handling” this situation. Job changes his mind about something he requested earlier – at first he wanted God to remove Himself from Job, but now realizing that God’s sustaining power was the only thing carrying him through these circumstances, Job requests that God remain with Him. Job also longs for restored relationship with God, wanting to hear His voice.
Though Job has maintained his uprightness this whole time, he is humble enough to admit he may be held accountable for some unknown sin, maybe even the sin of his youth. Perhaps God is now punishing him for something he did a long time ago. Job is not discounting the possibility, and requests God make any sin known to him.
Do we ever make requests like these to God – pleading that He remain near, asking Him to speak to us, and requesting that He open our minds to any ways in which we have sinned? How often do we long for that closeness with God, for that flawless relationship and clear communication?
My encouragement today is that it isn’t too late to make our relationship with God a priority. Like Job we can plead with God to restore us to Him, and grant us the wisdom, and knowledge to restore any relational damage we have caused (because if someone’s at fault for wrecking our relationship with God, it’s us, let’s be honest).
This is the main reason Jesus dies on the cross, so that we could be reconciled with the Father. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God…” (1 Pt 3:18a) Let’s take God up on His offer of reconciliation.
Father God, our Lord and King, we are a broken people. We confess we have sinned against You, and broken our covenant. Father, please forgive us our sin through Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. Please restore us to You, reconciling our relationship through the blood of Jesus. Please help us to remain steadfast in our pursuit of You, and desperately seeking Your face. May we lean not on our own understanding, but give You all power and authority over our lives. May we be beacons of hope for all those who do not yet have reconciled hearts, that they too may long for a restored relationship with You. In the holy name of Jesus, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training