For many of us, we turn to God with our questions. This is normal! The whos and whats and whys of life are bigger than we can comprehend.
But sometimes, in these conversations with God, our egos can take over a bit, and our questions become demands… requirements… expectations. We shift from asking God to telling God: what we want, how we want it, and when.
And today’s readings give us a couple of classic examples of this.
And, they give us a couple of classic examples of how God sometimes answers our questions… without answering our questions how we expect.
He’s had a VERY difficult time, so he’s asking some hard questions, and staying faithful to God (despite the comments from his well-meaning-but-not-helpful friends). Job is sharing of his soul with God, asking for help, for understanding, for some measure of normalcy – because everything from his past – literally everything, family, livelihood, land – that is all no more. So Job asks God for answers.
That’s normal – who hasn’t been there?
Today’s passage is just a tiny snippet of a much larger dialogue and discourse: Chapter 31 has ended with The words of Job are ended.” Okay.
This is when God’s designated speaker – named Elihu – jumps in to try and help out, saying “But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to my words:”… and this is where we get some fantastic nuggets of wisdom and perspective and advice. The first one says:
“I will answer you: God is greater than any mortal.” (33.12)
For several chapters, Elihu continues declaring the glory of God – which is exactly what Job and his friends have started to forget, as they’ve been distracted by the inconveniences of life.
And Elihu gives these folks a context: as he says “Remember to extol his work, of which mortals have sung.”
So we have multiple chapters of hearing of the amazing things that God has created, and gifted, to humankind. Food and livestock, lands and leaders, the privilege of worship and the opportunity to live justly.
“Surely God is great, and we do not know him” continues Elihu, as he boasts of the sun and moon, the clouds and the earth, the rains and snow, the animals and birds and fish – the entirety of the cosmos!
And then: the invitation extended to Job is this: “Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.”
And here today’s lesson starts is where God takes over, and speaks directly to Job. God is not punishing or insulting Job, but has simply turned the questions around, asking about all the foundations of the earth for a few chapters. God presents the whole of the creation as it is: a work of God’s majesty; and a responsibility – that God bears.
It’s as though God is saying to Job: this is hard work; and it’s harder than any human is capable of doing. Are you sure you want to complain about it? Are you sure you want to try and take it over?
To which, of course, Job – being a wise man – says NOPE. All yours. Thanks for letting me be a part of it.
Hmm. How often have we been there, too. By changing the question, by adjusting the context, our understanding and role in the situation changes.
Job’s suffering is real – no denying it. And his questions directed at God are not inappropriate:
But we can learn about how God answers our questions and prayers, when we remember how we are in this relationship with God.
We worship God: the one who bears the responsibility for the entirety of creation! It is not our place to demand that God worship US or respond in the manner we want in our timeline.
And how very human for Job – and us! - to forget that for a few moments;
And how very powerful when a healthy relationship is restored between Job and God –and between us and God.
We see the same pattern in today’s Gospel: James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Remember, these two are the first disciples called by Jesus, the first to leave their family and business and sense of consistency. And so, now that Jesus has a full complement of 12 followers, and many others being converted along the way: they are seeking a bit of reassurance that they are the special ones… the chosen ones… the first place ones.
And so they ask Jesus. Straight out. Do for us what we ask of you.
Sometimes, our own egos get this big: who among us hasn’t told God in our prayers what we want or expect: Perform a miracle cure or give me authority or bring back the pre-COVID myth of ‘normalcy’: human desires that are the centre of our focus, that we want someone else to magically intervene on (ideally without us having to do any work), that… well, are in that ego space.
And God – in the person of Jesus: turns the question.
What is it that you want?
Well now: that’s a bit of a game-changer of a question! Because when we start really reflecting on our wants, our desires, our requests – that’s when we start seeing the fuller picture. The impact of these things, on us and on others. The intention behind our ask. The responsibility of the outcome… The context of the desire…
Our questions – even to God – reveal a lot of truth about ourselves: if only we can look deeper into them.
It’s why James and John, when they articulate their desire – to sit at right and left of Jesus, who they still perceive as the future king – are recognising that what they are really asking for is earthly power and authority. They want to be public figures, comfortable, holding preferred status in society.
And yet Jesus patiently engages with them. “Are you SURE you want that?” he asks.
And the pure earthly focus remains. With their affirmative answer, and with the resultant squabble with the others. Rather than see themselves as equal, they’re jockeying for position.
Yet Jesus is speaking of a theological, not literal, perspective – “You do not know what you are asking” he says. And in bringing the references to baptism and the shared cup – well, that should catch the keen hearers of this news that Jesus is on a whole different scope and context.
And once again, God re-focuses the context. It’s not about who sits in the favourite seat at the table, he says, but about sitting at the table. It’s about sharing the ministry and mission that God has called us to: to love God – fully! And to love others! These are privileges we have all been given.
So Jesus tells them all – and US all – that he is not about earthly political power and prestige, and instead he shares with them his desire and example of seeking ways to serve, to love, to be faithful. It’s a way that they aren’t expecting: but a way that all the followers are invited into.
So we are reminded that asking questions – even of God! - is okay!
But with that, we are invited to hearing the answers – even when they aren’t coming the way we want.
And, that in dialogue with God, this means that we too are likely to be asked questions – and this, we see, is one of the gifts of God.
The scriptures today make it very clear: God doesn’t turn away from us, God doesn’t ignore us, we are never unheard, ignored, or abandoned.
Sometimes God – like a great parent – will invite us to participate in our own questions.
And from this, we can engage in a Godly-focused life, that is played out in earthly ways that can be exciting, new, and empowering. And in ways that are inviting: inviting us to sit with Jesus, delighting being at the table. To sit with the presence of God, in the midst of all that God has created. To sit in the presence of the Spirit, as she invigorates us to service together.
So let’s keep asking questions: God’s okay with that!
But let’s be just as open to asking ourselves what we can do, as we dwell in the real and present kin-dom of God.
