Though He Slay Me

Job 13:15

One of my favorite lines from the movie The Sandlot is when Hamilton says to Scotty “You’re killing me Smalls!” Vickie and I will jokingly say that to each other when one of us (usually me) isn’t thinking right or forgetful of something. It is a statement of exasperation; one of those grief expressions that we make but not in reality mean. Job makes a similar expression in our text. “Though He slay me, I will still trust Him.” But this was not an expression of grief but one of complete faith and trust in God at whom he could not see, nor hear, but knew that He was there…somewhere!

Job has been visited by three friends who thought they came to console him but in reality we’re accusing and condemning this man who was upright, feared God and eschewed evil. Throughout all of their dialogue they are trying to make some sense of this unexpected and seemingly unfair attack on a man that has been faithful to God. The problem was that they where bringing God down to the level of human understanding and not lifting their thoughts to the level of His revelation. There may have not been as much revelation then as we have now in the life of Jesus and the scriptures. But there was enough for Job to respond to their assessment of God and His dealings by saying I am going to trust Him…even if it kills me!

This should be our attitude as well! Yes we have the fullness of God’s revelation given to us in His son Jesus. “The Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us” (John 1:14) and “A more sure word of prophecy” (2 Peter 1:19) which is the Bible. God has given us enough in creation and the law written on our hearts to believe by reason and sight, but still not enough that we still have to “walk by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

John said that “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.” (1 John 5:4) Faith endures and conquers all and many have overcome the world by “Loving not their lives unto death” (Revelation 12:11) They had the same attitude of the ancient patriarch Job. And the challenge to us is to continue that triumph in faith. We may not understand everything we go through in life, but in those moments let us have the faith of Job and trust God… even if it kills us!

Pastor Robby