Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”
The Wizard of Oz movie portrays very well the terror of the four weary travelers when faced with the Wizard, even though it was a giant green head projected onto a screen and a smoke machine. The real “wizard” was the feeble man behind the curtain. Job knew the true, bone shaking fear of being in the presence of the Lord. God had just asked a question to Job. Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Job’s response was appropriate and, most likely, involuntary. I have a hard time imagining Job or Isaiah taking up the challenge of contending with the Creator of the universe. Job knew immediately how small he was when faced with the glory and majesty of the King.
That fear does not reside in many people in our society. They either don’t believe he is there or, if they do think there is a God, choose to live as if he isn’t there. They think they are much bigger than they are and God is much smaller than he is. They think they are flying solo but they are in for a hard landing. Job got it right when he laid his hand on his mouth. That is a lesson for us. We are much wiser sometimes when we just listen to the Lord. Our prayers are much more effective when we ask him to speak to us rather than telling him how to run the world or trying to fix his politics. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.
The Lord has spoken.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church