當我需要神的時候，祂在哪裡？
約伯記二十三章1至10節
1約伯回答說：
2“如今我的哀告還算為悖逆；我的責罰比我的唉哼還重。
3惟願我能知道在哪裡可以尋見神，能到他的台前，
4我就在他面前將我的案件陳明，滿口辯白。
5我必知道他回答我的言語，明白他向我所說的話。
6他豈用大能與我爭辯嗎？必不這樣！他必理會我。
7在他那裡，正直人可以與他辯論；這樣，我必永遠脫離那審判我的。
8只是我往前行，他不在那裡；往後退，也不能見他。
9他在左邊行事，我卻不能看見；在右邊隱藏，我也不能見他。
10然而他知道我所行的路，他試煉我之後，我必如精金。
信息分享
約伯只有幾次提及其他人的說法，主要還是說出他自己的心聲。他的語調非常沉鬱。在第十章18至22節，他又重覆最初的話：「我為何生出母腹？我寧願我死掉。」今天許多人都經常這樣抱怨，他們只想到自己。有的甚至走得更遠，自憐自艾到自殺。
他在第二十三章提出質問：「當我受苦的時候，神在哪裡？我在哪裡能夠尋見祂？我不曉得祂在何處。」我們都有過類似的想法，人人都有疑惑的時候，而撒但正是散播這些疑惑的黑手。
接著在第二十九章，約伯緬懷過去的「黃金歲月」，「我但願回到從前擁有一切的時候」。到第三十一章，約伯顯得很沮喪，他在這章共用了15 次「若」字，包括我若變成另一個人；我若真是個罪人；若有人願意聽我等等。最後，他終於停下來，其他三人也默然不語。約伯的問題和他所受的苦難，究竟有甚麼答案呢？我們稍後將會看見，只有在基督裡才能尋獲答案。
直至如今，我們可以從約伯的經歷中學到甚麼功課呢？其中一點，就是要知道，不斷質問，無法獲得平安；惟獨信靠，才有平安。正如約伯所言：「祂知道我所行的路。」神永遠在我們身邊看顧我們。
以賽亞書五十章10節說得好：「這人行在暗中，沒有亮光。當倚靠耶和華的名，仗賴自己的神。」
讓我們再次翻閱箴言三章5至6節的著名經句，現在就禱告神，告訴祂你要倚靠主。「你要專心仰賴耶和華，不可倚靠自己的聰明，在你一切所行的事上，都要認定祂，祂必指引你的路。」
WHERE IS GOD WHEN I NEED HIM?
Job 23: 1-10
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;
Myhand is listless because of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,
That I might come to His seat!
4 I would present my case before Him,
And fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which He would answer me,
And understand what He would say to me.
6 Would He contend with me in His great power?
No! But He would take note of me.
7 There the upright could reason with Him,
And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.
8 “Look, I go forward, but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him;
When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him.
10 But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Message
Job made several references to what the others said, but most of all he spoke about himself. His was the voice of depression. In chapter 10, verses 18-22 he goes back to where he started, “Why was I born? I wish I could die.” Many people talk like that today. They can only think of themselves. Some go further and even attempt suicide as a result of self-pity.
In chapter 23, he asks, “Where is God when it hurts? Where can I find him? I don’t know where he is.” We all had thoughts like that. Doubts come to all of us and Satan is behind those doubts also.
Then in chapter 29, Job looks back and sees the “good old days”. “If only I could go back to the time when I had everything.” In chapter 31, Job seems frustrated. He uses the word “If” 15 times in the one chapter. If I had been different. If I had been a real sinner. If only there was someone to listen to me. Finally he stops and the other three are silent also. What is the answer to Job’s questions and his suffering? We will see later it is in Christ and in Christ alone.
But till now what can we learn from Job’s story? Simply that the way of peace is not in questioning, but in trust. “He knows the way I take.” God is there and He cares about each of us.
Isaiah 50:10 says it well, “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.”
Look again now at the well known words of Proverbs 3:5-6 and tell God your trust today is in Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight” now and always.