Job 34:13-20 – I OBJECT TO CHRISTMAS!

Job 34:13-20 – I OBJECT TO CHRISTMAS!

A man dressed in pure white and with a distinctly angelic face addresses the courtroom in answer to a question. His face is literally glowing with excitement. “Yes, it is true but don’t be afraid!” he says. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born in Bethlehem, the city of David! (Luke 2:10-11 NLT). “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14 NLT).

“Oh, please!” The prosecutor is nauseated by these words “Peace on earth! You have got to be kidding! I have no more questions, your honour, to a witness who is oblivious to the suffering, disease and death in this world. Roman Terrorists wreak havoc in our world and God sits there and allows it all to happen without blinking an eyelid! If this is his idea of Christmas, then I object! Let’s leave God out of Christmas this year!” The gallery hums with agreement.

The next witness is the accused Himself and He walks into the witness box. His awesome presence fills the room which is both compelling and disturbing. The prosecutor doesn’t seem to notice. The swearing in takes an odd twist as the witness produces His own Bible, but now the preliminaries are over. God is in the box, where we want Him.

Prosecutor: “You speak of Christmas, a time of peace, hope and joy, but amidst the echoes of angelic declarations of joy after Jesus birth there is deep, gut wrenching tragedy, is there not? King Herod, a military genius and cruel political tyrant has exercised ruthless terror in the village of Bethlehem. He has murdered the baby boys in an effort to destroy Your Son, Jesus, who supposedly is born king of the Jews. It is well known that he has also murdered his own wife and three of his sons because he is suspicious of them taking over his kingdom. The man is insane! Such merciless power. Yet You stood by while it all happened. Why didn’t You step in and do something?” The prosecutor is demanding and almost rude. Filling the gallery of the courtroom, we all agree with the prosecutor though each of us has a separate list of questions and grievances.

Elihu, counsellor to the accused, is on his feet. “I object, your honour. God ‘brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, …. He knows what they do, … He strikes them down because they are wicked, … For they turned away from following Him. … They cause the poor to cry out, catching God’s attention. He hears the cries of the needy… He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.” (Job 34:24-30 NLT). The courtroom erupts with laughter. How naïve.

The prosecutor is relentless, taunting, sarcastic, and looking directly at Elihu says “Ask the grieving mothers in Bethlehem whether God hears the cries of the needy. Too late! It won’t bring back their children! Does God strike down the wicked openly? Sometimes maybe, but not when it would be obvious and logical for God to intervene with a lightning bolt or something equally fitting.” Turning away, he addresses God again, “Now answer the question. Where were You? Why didn’t You do something?”

It seems that every crevice of the room is filled with the sound of His voice as God speaks. “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, FOR I DO WHATEVER I WISH.” (Isaiah 46:10 NLT) “My plans are perfect. If I planned to destroy you, I could do so, quite easily. ‘If I were to take back My spirit and withdraw My breath, ALL life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.’ (Job 34:14-15 NLT) but I’m not really being slow about My promise, as some people think. No, I am being patient for your sake. I do not want anyone to be destroyed. I would rather everyone repent, including you counsellor” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). The gallery breaths in a collective whisper of horror in the face of such audacity. We all expected that it was our right to put the Sovereignty of God on the spot, but God is not co-operating!

The prosecutor is relentless on our behalf, “Why did Pastor Bill die of cancer and another Pastor in our Church lose his baby recently? Why did Hilda die yesterday after having a massive stroke? This will be the first Christmas without them. And why does Job sit in ashes in excruciating pain waiting to die? Do you even know what it is like to experience such devastating tragedy?” God is silent.

“The witness will answer the question!” “But your honour”, says Elihu, giving a quick disclaimer for God in defence “… if He chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize Him?” (Job 34:29 NLT). Daniel, sitting in gallery shouts “He is SOVEREIGN, NOT CRUEL! … No one can stop Him or say to Him, “What do you mean by doing these things?” (Daniel 4:35 NLT). The judge is adamnant “Quiet in the court. The witness will answer the question or will be HELD IN CONTEMPT of this court.”

All of a sudden a CROSS appears in the witness box with a scroll attached by large nails. It reads “He was despised and rejected— a MAN OF SORROWS, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on Him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.” (Isaiah 53:3 NLT). And everyone knows that God has already been held in contempt, by us all. He has already been judged and convicted by us when we rejected His Son. He knows the deepest passages of our grief when He died on the cross for our sins.

Far from seeing God as a merciless tyrant, at Christmas I see Him as a loving Saviour. I see the tragedy of heaven’s Son bearing the weight of mankind’s rebellion and realise that I cannot hold Him in contempt or judge the only One who has come to save me. And as I see things through the eyes of the Cross, I find myself saying “I object to Christmas without Jesus!”

Pastor Ross

Created 6 months ago