A Cowardly Lion in the Face of an Untamed Lion
Is it just me, or is today’s Bible reading* difficult to hear (especially Chapter 23)? Job’s reply to Eliphaz sounds haughty to me. He sounds proud. I can almost hear Job boastfully repeating these words, almost like he’s talking smack to God.
If only I knew how to find him, so that I could go to his throne. I would plead my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn how he would answer me; and understand what he would say to me. Would he prosecute me forcefully? No, he would certainly pay attention to me. Then an upright man could reason with him, and I would escape from my Judge forever. (Job 23:3–7 CSB)
In some way, I can almost see Job saying these words while putting up his fists like the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, “Put ’em up! Put ’em up!” He just sounds so full of himself.
Application
Yes, it’s important to see God as being approachable by His children. He can handle our complaints. He can handle our heart cries.
But at the same time, we must remember that God is still God — and we aren’t. He is still very distant and very different and distinct from His creation.
While we can feel an intimacy with our Father, we often need a reminder like Mr. Timnus the Faun tells Lucy of a different kind of Lion in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, “He is not a tame lion, you know.”
As that reminder echos in our heads — and our hearts — we can be comforted and reply with Lucy, “But He is good.”
Indeed He is!
* Chapters covered in today’s reading:
Job 22
Job 23
Job 24
This devotional was originally published on January 27, 2021.