Today's passage is Job 11.
Zophar the Naamathite replies to Job's complaing. He gives Job traditional wisdom coupled with criticism and admonition to look for his guilt. Zophar says that Job is having trouble in life it because he's sinned and God is punishing him.
Zophar is right when he says, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" But his follow-up comments show that he doesn't understand this truth because he tries to limit God by saying that God will give you a good life when you "devote your heart to him" and make sure there is no "evil ... in your tent."
Zophar preaches the gospel of good works as well as the prosperity gospel.
Neither of these gospels have anything meaningful to say about suffering.
And suffering is the basic condition of humanity.
Chrisitianity is unique because it's the only religion that puts a suffering Christ at the centre of its message of hope, faith and love.
It's to Jesus I turn in my time of pain.
I don't usually do it right away, however.
It takes me time, sometimes years, but in the end I turn to Jesus for comfort because there is no one else.
Today I got unhappy news from the doctor. I hoped I would be able to go home tomorrow so I could go to worship on Sunday. "Impossible," said the doctor.
I can't leave the hospital until the swelling and pain in my knee are gone.
I have to be able to walk without pain before I can go.
Maybe I can leave on Monday, God willing.
So, what understanding is occurring because of the mystery of this mild suffering?
One thing is that I ask all my visitors to pray for my healing.
I know they came to encourage me and I believe they want to pray for me.
But they are often shy. So I ask them all to touch my knee and pray.
My couples mokjang, Jim Strong and his family, David Lee, my brother in law, my mother in law, my father in law and my wife have prayed.
That's a lot of prayer!
And there are others who have written to say they are praying too.
And I know there are many others who are praying who haven't told me.
It makes me feel like I'm buoyed up by a cloud of prayer!
I needed to be a recipient of prayer to better understand the value of praying for others.
When I told my wife that the doctor said I couldn't leave as early as I wanted, she told me to obey.
I don't have to obey.
I can take my crutches and leave the hospital. I have the freedom to do that.
But I also have the freedom to obey what is best for me and my knee.
For an arrogant man like me, obedience is a valuable exercise in humility.
I have to have opportunities like today to practice it.
As I reflect on Job and use his experience to interpret my distant past, my recent past and my present, I learn that sometimes Job's friends are right.
Many of my sufferings are the inevitable consequence of my sins.
I also see that sometimes there is a mystery to suffering.
No sin of mine led to my fall on the swimming pool deck and a broken bone in my knee. Something else is going on.
At least I can see no direct correlation between my sins and being in the hospital for a week or so.
Suffering circumstances are such good opportunities for learning.
Today I learned my long phone calls disturbed many of my fellow patients.
I hadn't even thought to leave my room of ten patients and speak outside the room until I was told today. How thoughtless of me!
When I was told that I was disturbing others I immediately apologized and I repented of thinking only of myself and my caller.
This made me wonder about how else I am inattentive to the concerns and needs of others. I realize how much I lack empathy.
In phone conversations with the Chairman of my Board this week, I have been able to raise many issues and talk through a few problems and receive correction and guidance.
Without being in the hospital, neither of us would have had time for such conversations.
We have now agreed to regular communication which I know will benefit the school.
I have learned that, unlike Kota Kinabalu, trying to do QT in the morning in Sam Hospital is very difficult because a hospital is an extremely busy place in the morning, full of nurses and doctors doing their duty, patients awake and chatting with visitors, breakfast trays coming and going, the TV turned on, cleaning being done, phone calls. At night, like now, the hospital is calm.
I am learning many things by being here with a broken knee and the doctor has ordered more time for me to stay. God has more to teach me.
Lord, let me obedient to your will. Let me not be so caught up in my own agenda that I fail to serve you and others with a loving heart. Forgive me my trespasses against my fellow patients. Thank you for all those who love me enough to pray.
