Error of Assumption

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV)

I recently started reading the book of Job, although it isn’t the first time. I’ve always felt slightly confused, especially with God’s reaction to Job’s friends. They seemed to know God, His ways and attributes. Eliphaz said, “Who does great things, and unsearchable, marvelous things without number. He gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields. He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot carry out their plans” Job 5:9-12 (NLT).

He also said, “Stop and think! Do the innocent die? When have the upright been destroyed? My experience shows that those who plant trouble and cultivate evil will harvest the same. A breath from God destroys them. They vanish in a blast of his anger” Job 4:7-9 (NLT). These are true about the God we serve, aren’t they? He made the earth and does extraordinary things. He also punishes the wicked and makes sure they don’t get away with doing evil.

However, the verses in chapter four were said in the context of God and Job. Job’s friends became judge and jury and were saying Job was being punished because he was guilty of something before God. And the more Job protested his innocence, the angrier they got with him. This frustrated Job that he referred to them as “miserable comforters”.

Job’s friends would argue that they were encouraging Job by pointing out that he must have done something terribly wrong for God to target him. They would also say that they were encouraging him to confess and repent of whatever he had done, so that he can experience God’s peace, healing, and restoration.

Unknown to them, in God’s eyes Job was innocent and God knew what was happening in Job’s life. We need to be careful not to make assumptions about people, their life experiences or about God and what He is doing in people’s lives.

1 Corinthians 1: 25 says, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men”. Even though we are Christians but once we are still in this body, our knowledge is limited and what we know and understand can’t be compared to God’s. He said, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…”

As with Job, God deals with us as individuals and therefore we can’t prescribe the way He deals with us to others and we can’t make assumptions either.

Do you know someone going through hard times? Prayerfully be there for them and be a source of encouragement.

Stay blessed,

Lara