当我需要神的时候，祂在哪里？
约伯记二十三章1至10节
1约伯回答说：
2“如今我的哀告还算为悖逆；我的责罚比我的唉哼还重。
3惟愿我能知道在哪里可以寻见神，能到他的台前，
4我就在他面前将我的案件陈明，满口辩白。
5我必知道他回答我的言语，明白他向我所说的话。
6他岂用大能与我争辩吗？必不这样！他必理会我。
7在他那里，正直人可以与他辩论；这样，我必永远脱离那审判我的。
8只是我往前行，他不在那里；往后退，也不能见他。
9他在左边行事，我却不能看见；在右边隐藏，我也不能见他。
10然而他知道我所行的路，他试炼我之后，我必如精金。
信息分享
约伯只有几次提及其他人的说法，主要还是说出他自己的心声。他的语调非常沉郁。在第十章18至22节，他又重复最初的话：「我为何生出母腹？我宁愿我死掉。」今天许多人都经常这样抱怨，他们只想到自己。有的甚至走得更远，自怜自艾到自杀。
他在第二十三章提出质问：「当我受苦的时候，神在哪里？我在哪里能够寻见祂？我不晓得祂在何处。」我们都有过类似的想法，人人都有疑惑的时候，而撒但正是散播这些疑惑的黑手。
接着在第二十九章，约伯缅怀过去的「黄金岁月」，「我但愿回到从前拥有一切的时候」。到第三十一章，约伯显得很沮丧，他在这章共用了15 次「若」字，包括我若变成另一个人；我若真是个罪人；若有人愿意听我等等。最后，他终于停下来，其他三人也默然不语。约伯的问题和他所受的苦难，究竟有甚么答案呢？我们稍后将会看见，只有在基督里才能寻获答案。
直至如今，我们可以从约伯的经历中学到甚么功课呢？其中一点，就是要知道，不断质问，无法获得平安；惟独信靠，才有平安。正如约伯所言：「祂知道我所行的路。」神永远在我们身边看顾我们。
以赛亚书五十章10节说得好：「这人行在暗中，没有亮光。当倚靠耶和华的名，仗赖自己的神。」
让我们再次翻阅箴言三章5至6节的著名经句，现在就祷告神，告诉祂你要倚靠主。「你要专心仰赖耶和华，不可倚靠自己的聪明，在你一切所行的事上，都要认定祂，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.