When You Are Answered Back, Where Are You?
Job Chapter 11
Zophar begins to speak.
“Should not many words be answered?”
“God has even forgotten some of your sin.”
He responds to Job’s words
with force.
Zophar’s words are sharp.
You speak too much.
You are wrong.
He says it directly.
When people are answered back,
they try to defend their position.
I am not wrong.
I am not understood.
That feeling grows stronger.
Yet the more words are added,
the deeper the conflict becomes.
Job does not answer back.
He does not resent.
This appears as his devotion.
Yet he is holding on to that devotion.
He believes
he is within God’s speaking.
When you are answered back,
where are you?
Do you protect your own righteousness?
Or do you turn back toward God,
and stand in the place
where awareness is given?
Job does not answer Zophar’s accusation.
He remains devout.
Yet he holds tightly
to that devotion.
He believes
he is within God’s speaking.
God watches him quietly,
in silence.
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