A READING FROM THE BOOK OF JOB
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements - surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?"
JOB 38:1-7
Sermon: The Rev. Dr. Maryann Amor
This past Monday was a difficult day for me. Instead of enjoying a restful stat holiday, I found myself attending a funeral service on YouTube. About a month ago, a former staff member of the Vancouver School of Theology, where I studied for four years, tragically died in a car accident while driving to Vancouver from Winnipeg. She was only 53 years old, and she left behind her partner and two sons. As I watched the livestream and saw many familiar faces filled with grief, I found myself wondering: Why doesn’t God prevent tragedies like this from happening?
This question often comes to mind when we face a sudden tragedy, like a deadly car accident, when we experience gradual suffering, such as the decline from illness, or when a series of smaller bad things pile up. As we wrestle with why God doesn’t stop these things, we might turn to the Bible for help. What’s fascinating is that this very question is at the heart of the Book of Job, showing us that even thousands of years ago, people wondered about God’s presence in their suffering, just as we do today.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been hearing portions from the Book of Job, but since we’re only getting snippets once a week, it can be hard to follow the entire story. So, here’s a brief overview:
At the start of the book, Job is introduced as a good man, deeply faithful to God. His life is filled with happiness and success. But then the story takes a dramatic turn as it shifts to a conversation between God and ha-satan (the accuser). The accuser challenges Job’s loyalty, claiming that Job is only faithful because his life is blessed. He suggests that if Job were to suffer, he would stop trusting God. In response, God allows the accuser to test Job’s faith. Job loses everything—his children die, his wealth disappears, and his body becomes covered in painful boils. Job is left in deep sorrow and confusion. His wife urges him to give up on God, and his friends tell him he must have done something wrong to deserve such suffering. But Job remains adamant that he has done nothing wrong and, despite his pain, he continues to trust God, never turning away from or cursing God.
Today’s first reading comes from near the end of Job’s story, when God finally speaks to him from a whirlwind. Rather than offering a clear explanation for Job’s suffering, God reminds him that human understanding is limited. God created the universe and knows more than humans ever could. As we heard this morning, God says to Job: "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone when the morning stars sang together, and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?"
God’s response is a reminder to Job that the workings of the world, and the reasons for suffering and God’s place in it, are beyond human comprehension. Job didn’t create the world, so he cannot fully understand its complexity. This, in essence, is the Book of Job’s answer to the question of where God is in suffering: God, as creator, knows; humans do not, and we shouldn’t expect to.
If we’re being honest, much of Job’s story probably doesn’t sit well with us. The image of God allowing the accuser to hurt Job is unsettling because it portrays God as causing suffering. This is not how I understand God at all. But, we need to remember that this story was written millennia ago, reflecting the beliefs of an ancient time, it doesn’t need to define our understanding of God today. The God I know is not a God who sends suffering but a God of love, who brings hope and healing.
Another difficult aspect of the story is the suggestion that we should accept suffering as part of God’s plan without questioning it. That doesn’t sit well with me either. I believe in a God who invites our questions, a God of compassion, not one who expects us to endure suffering in silence without seeking understanding.
So maybe we need to shift our interpretation of Job. Perhaps the real message isn’t about passively accepting suffering but about remaining steadfast in faith through suffering. Like Job did, we are invited to hold onto God, even when life feels unbearable. Job never turned away from God, even when everything was taken from him. In our own suffering, we too must choose to trust in God, even when we don’t understand why things happen.
As I reflect on that funeral and my own struggle with the question of why God didn’t prevent such a tragedy, I’m reminded of moments that revealed what it means to trust God. I saw people gathered in love, supporting each other, lifting their hearts, voices, and prayers, trusting God even in the midst of pain. One moment especially stood out for me: a family member took the clergy stole that had belonged to the woman who had died, wrapped it around her urn, and lifted her hands to God in a moment of deep surrender. In profound sadness—a sadness I can’t fully describe—there was also a deep trust in God. Despite the sorrow, there was a reminder that, in the hardest moments, the Creator of the universe holds each of us and is with us.
I want to end this sermon with a piece of music I discovered while preparing to teach introductory Bible courses, where I always discuss suffering and the Book of Job. This song captures the essence of Job’s message, and as you listen, I hope it helps you reflect on Job’s story. So, the next time you ask, “Where is God in my suffering?,” don’t take away the idea that it’s part of God’s plan or that God sends suffering and wants you to endure it in silence. Instead, think of the amazing Creator of heaven and earth who loves you and cares for you deeply. Trust in the God who speaks to us in the whirlwinds of life, just as God spoke to Job.
Amen.
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