I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?
Job 38:4, The Message translation
Tell me, since you know so much!
The Bible is a complicated spiritual book (or compilation of books) to understand. It’s often been wielded to justify many actions and attitudes, often to the detriment of others.
Yet, if you mine its pages for wisdom that is applicable today, you will find many passages (in their proper context) that provide insight. For me, the book of Job is one I keep returning to for its reminder of our inflated sense of knowledge and self-importance.
To give context, the book of Job chronicles the life of a devoted and righteous man who is suddenly struck with disaster. All his kids suddenly die, his fortune is stripped from him and he is afflicted with disease. He literally went from riches to rags with only a few friends to console him.
Yet, during this horrible time, he never curses God, but monologues endlessly on why he is suddenly being punished. God is silent the whole time Job is speaking, then finally speaks to him in the end.
Thus giving rise to my absolute favourite line:
Where were you when I created the earth?
It reminds me of this line from Harlan Ellison on working with directors—”Where the f*** were you when the page was blank?”
Which then reminds me of the endless critics in our world who are happy to tell you what is wrong and how to fix it. Yet, when you ask them to do the hard work, the real work, of actually creating, it is met with silence.
We always have more to learn in life, but one should never trust a person who self-assuredly thinks they have anything figured out.
After all, where were they when the world was created?