Seeing God

August 17, 2017

After losing his wealth, his family, and his health, Job’s three friends came by to offer comfort. They might have succeeded had they continued the way they started. For seven days, they simply sat in silence with him, offering what is called “the ministry of presence.” Then they opened their mouths, and whatever comfort they might have given evaporated in the fog of their self-proclaimed wisdom. Sometimes silence is the best wisdom we can give.

They alternatively blamed Job, and tried to defend God for the troubles that had descended upon him. Some comfort! Life isn’t that simple, and God doesn’t need our defense. He is well able to take care of himself. The “comfort” offered by his friends prompted Job to defend himself, which was almost as big a mistake as their misguided words. Finally, after putting up with their misguided babble, God himself thunders onto the stage with a furious blitzkrieg, challenging the puny wisdom of these mere mortals. And rather than putting an arm around Job’s shoulder and clucking, “There, there,” he throws down the gauntlet, challenging Job to defend himself like a man. God’s assault is so sudden and overwhelming that Job is left dumbstruck, declaring that formerly, he had “heard of you with my ears, but now my eyes see you, and I repent in dust and ashes.”

It’s not uncommon for Christians to sing and pray to “see God.” I wonder if we have any idea what we’re asking. We imagine that such an seeing God will be a beautiful experience that fills us with peace and joy, that we can somehow conjure up this encounter with little effort and no sacrifice. Alas! It is not so. I cannot recall a single instance in which an unmistakeable divine encounter did not come through great trial and suffering. We all love the pleasant pastures and still waters of Psalm 23:2, but it is only in verse 4 when we go through the dark valley of death that God becomes personally real to us. God is addressed in the third person in verses 1-3; it’s only in the trial of verse 4 that “he” becomes “you.” 

Be careful what you pray for; you might just get it. And if you desire to see God, you had better be prepared for how he might want to reveal himself to you. I think I want this; it’s my willingness to go through the process God chooses that gives me second thought. In the meantime, I am thankful to know that God sees me, and never lets me go.