If Only I Could Vanish in Darkness

Job 23:1-17

Context
The book of Job can't be understood without context. I recommend you read the earlier posts, starting with The Man From Proverbs.
Job has had family, possessions, and health taken from him by "the Adversary" - with God's permission - simply to see how he'll respond. His friends have told him he must have done something evil in order to earn such treatment; he has steadfastly disagreed. By chapter 22, Job’s “friends” are terribly upset that he won’t confess to whatever sin they think must have created his pain.

Listening to the writer
Sometimes we are told that God uses pain to “get our attention.” Is Job paying attention to God? Was Job paying attention when the pain started?

Christianity teaches that God is everywhere and knows everything. What is Job's feeling about God's presence in verses 3-9?

But, on second thought… God must already know about Job’s situation. Job thinks that perhaps nothing would change; God will do what God will do (23:13-17). In modern terms, Job is clinically depressed—he is overwhelmed by the desire to simply hide from everything (verse 17).

Listening to God
Job is paying attention to God, groaning out for comfort, and receiving none (23:2). Recall a time when God seemed distant in your pain.

Job wishes he could find God (23:3-4,8-9). Where do you go to “find” God? A place? Some Scripture? A particular way of prayer?

Job knows that his situation is unfair, and believes - sometimes - that God would listen to him if he could only find him (23:6-7,10-12). What would you tell God if you could have a face-to-face conversation? What unfair issues, in the world or in your life, do you need to pour out to God?

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