Scripture:
What is man, that You think so highly of him
and pay so much attention to him?
You inspect him every morning,
and put him to the test every moment.
Will You ever look away from me,
or leave me alone long enough to swallow?
Job 7:17-19
Observation: In the midst of his appeals - Job declaring that he remains righteous and therefore cannot understand the curse upon him - Job turns from his friend to God and wonders ... why does God even care enough about mankind to curse him?
God is all-powerful and wonderful. So Job wonders why would he even take time to consider any man. Furthermore, why would God waste his time testing individual men? And when they fail, why spend energy punishing them ... why not just ignore them and let them die as their final punishment? Due to the painful sores upon him, Job observes that God's attention is so acute that he even takes the time to analyze how Job swallows his own saliva.
Application: Of course, the answer to Job's questions are obvious. God pays attention because he cares about us. When we are doing well and right, we are happy for that attention. When we fail and sin, that attention feels like part of the curse. However, it is all the same ... God's love means that he, in fact, cares about our swallowing, breathing, pain, and happiness all the same.
Like Job, I wish God only paid attention to me on my good days. When I'm angry, or sinful, I don't want God looking my way. When I'm peaceful and kind, I pray that he's smiling down upon me.
Job and his friends believe God is cursing Job, they are just debating why. Job wishes the curse would end by God simply going away. However, the truth is ... God isn't the source of any curse, and he will never forsake us in any situation.
Prayer: Abba, thank you for loving me! I am so sorry when I fail to return that love through proper behavior and obedience. Please forgive me sins and my thoughts, my anger and my pride. Today, I ask for just whatever you would like to provide me, as it will always be enough. Amen.
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