Job 32-34, God Plays the Long Game. A young man shows up in today’s reading, Elihu, and he initially seems to bring some much-needed wisdom to the conversation with Job. Unfortunately, he heads down the same path as the three friends telling Job what a rebellious sinner he must be for God to punish him so. Before he starts accusing Job without truly knowing the background, he says some things about God that are true as he describes God as merciful. In Job 33:29-30 Elihu points out that God will allow pain and suffering to get a person’s attention and to turn them away from sin and back to Him. This is a true statement, and it speaks to God’s mercy. But it is not the reason for all pain and suffering as Job’s story shows us. There are times when the brokenness of this world impacts us and we suffer independent of our relationship with the Father. And perhaps an even more paradoxical reason is that in some cases the suffering of a righteous person might be to reach an unrighteous neighbor, friend, or family member.
The martyred missionary, Jim Elliot comes to mind. Jim felt called to reach a cannibalistic tribe in the upper Amazon region of Ecuador. After months of preparation and repeated attempts to find ways to communicate with the tribe, the missionaries found an area on a river in the jungle where they could land their plane. Within a few days they were killed. While this could easily be the end of the story; a thwarted attempt to reach a remote, violent tribe in some distant jungle, it was not. Jim’s widow, Elizabeth, shared his passion. Not long after Jim’s death, Elizabeth was able to reach the Waodani tribe that had killed her husband. She befriended them. She moved in to live with them with her and Jim’s young daughter. And through her the tribe was converted and the Bible translated into their language. Jim’s words written shortly before his death are a powerful reminder that God plays the long game, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
Father, help us to keep in mind the long game. Remind us that our words echo through time if they are your words spoken in truth and love. Teach us to number our days with eternity in mind, that we might live lightly in this world and fully with you. In Jesus’ Name we pray.
areliablefaith 