10月7日

標　　題：質問神

經　　節：那時，耶和華從旋風中回答約伯說：誰用無知的言語使我的旨意暗昧不明？你要如勇士束腰；我問你，你可以指示我。（約伯記卅八章1∼3節）

由人的角度來看，約伯是個義人，他不應該遭受如此的痛苦。他過著無可指責的生活，並且徹底遵守神吩咐的每條律法。當他遭受到極大的磨難時，他困惑地向神質問為何讓他遭受苦難。神從旋風中回答約伯。神一開口，約伯就領悟到自己不應該質疑神的智慧。神對著約伯問了好些令他恍然大悟的問題：「我立大地根基的時候，你在哪裡？當我劃定海洋的界線時，你在哪裡？我安置星宿的時候，你在哪裡？」神的問題使約伯的態度謙卑下來，神的問題也提醒他，他的智慧根本無法與神的智慧相提並論。

當神結束所問的問題，約伯回答︰「誰用無知的言語使你的旨意隱藏呢？我所說的是我不明白的；這些事太奇妙，是我不知道的。」（約伯記四十二：3）在困惑沮喪時刻，約伯曾經挑戰神的智慧。神堅決地提醒約伯祂仍掌權，這個答案對約伯已然足矣。我們不清楚約伯是否知道自己曾是宇宙注視的焦點。也許約伯不曾理解到，他的經驗使神在面對撒但的挑戰時得到榮耀（約伯記一：8∼12）。但是，約伯知道神的智慧是毫無瑕疵，就心滿意足了。

你有時候可能不明白，為甚麼慈愛的天父會容許你遭遇這些苦難。你可能會質疑神引導你人生方向的智慧。要學習約伯。回顧全能神可畏的能力與智慧（約伯記卅八至四十一章）。要有信心，同樣的這位神正引領你前面的道路。

Questioning God

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." (Job 38:1-3)

Job was a righteous man who, from a human perspective, did not deserve to suffer. He lived a blameless life and followed God’s laws to the letter. As he was experiencing great tribulation, Job cried out in frustration and questioned why God was allowing him to suffer. God came to Job in the form of a whirlwind with His answer. As soon as God spoke, Job recognized that he should not have challenged God’s wisdom. God turned to Job and asked him several sobering questions: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Where were you when I set the oceans in their place? Where were you when I put the constellations of stars in position?” God’s questions humbled Job and reminded him that his own wisdom did not begin to compare with God’s.

When God finished asking His questions, Job replied, “I have uttered what I did not understand, / Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know” (Job 42:3). In a moment of despair and frustration, Job had challenged God’s wisdom. God had firmly reminded Job that He was still sovereign and that this truth was enough for Job. Whether Job ever knew that his life had been the focus of a cosmic struggle is unclear. Perhaps Job never realized that his experience brought glory to God in the face of Satan’s challenge (Job 1:8–12). But Job was satisfied to know that God’s wisdom was flawless.

At times you may not understand why a loving Father would allow you to suffer as you are. You may question the wisdom of God’s direction for your life. Learn from Job. Review the awesome power and wisdom of almighty God (Job 38–41). Have confidence that this same God is directing your path.