This statement was not made regarding the final judgment of man.  Instead, a grieving Job is responding to the poor perceptions and assumptions of an arrogant man, Zophar the Naamathite.  Zophar had rashly said such things as, “Know therefore that God exacts from you less than your iniquity deserves” (Job 11:6).  Job lost every dollar and asset he owned, as it were, all ten of his children died in the same accident, he was an outcast from society, and he had a painful, extremely aggravating infirmity, and he had to cope with the sorrowful feelings that his God had abandoned him.  Yet, Zophar says, in essence, “Job, you deserve worse.”  Zophar concludes that Job is deceitful, wicked, and empty-headed (12, cf. 20).  The miserable friend urges Job to repent so that he could have God’s favor restored (14ff).  Can you imagine what Job felt to have a “friend” making such presumptions and judgments about him, how that must have compounded his trials?

Amid his masterful answer, Job makes the statement of the above caption.  Job is saying, “If that view is right, how are you going to fare when God picks your life apart like you say he has picked apart mine?” (cf. 13:9).  Let’s consider an important principle borne out by this suffering servant of God.  It is so easy for us to smugly sit back and make judgments about people’s situations, why they lost their job, why their child has left the Lord, why they are embroiled in a lengthy series of setbacks or trials, or the like.  Yet, we had better be careful that we are not pulling a Zophar, rashly concluding and assuming without benefit of the whole picture.  Remember, in Job the whole picture is the Satan’s desire to test Job’s faithfulness.  All of that is going on “behind the scenes.”  Even Job was unaware of it.

What is called for in our dealings with each other is empathy, the benefit of the doubt, that loving cloak that hides rather than searches for faults, patience, and a love that does not think evil of others.  We need that humility that causes us to consider the question Job raises here before we snap to hasty assumptions about the unfortunate circumstances of others.   Almost always, we are not privy to the whole picture.  Instead of gossip or harsh judgment, may our response be one of desiring to help, encourage, and show love.  By taking such an approach to life, we can be assured that it “will be well when He searches us out.”

–Neal Pollard