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"Even if I die in this war, I will still want to talk with God."

Job found himself in the midst of a terrorist war. The casualties were catastrophic, the enemy hidden, the real cause a mystery. Others accused him in his loss: "Perhaps this happened because you used your wealth to crush others. Maybe you failed to deliver on a pledge, or ripped off the poor, or sent the tired and hungry masses away empty" (Job 22:5-9).

Sounds familiar to me. Here’s how I read the rest of this epic of grief and pain.

Job had very appropriate feelings in response to the disaster. He cried out, "How I wish I were dead!"

Job said to God, "If you are my enemy, God, please take me to court. I plead for justice between you and me!"

The friends said to Job, "This is punishment; surely you have done evil." They also said, "This is discipline; learn from it."

Job said to the friends, "If only you’d just listen! I’d not treat friends the way you treat me."

Job also said to the friends, "You’re way off. I’ve not done bad things, but that is irrelevant. Before God I’m in the dust. My death would be easy for God, but the fact is that God and I have a relationship and God hasn’t been responding. If God were to kill me I would still claim my right to argue with this God I trust. I surrender to God, not you, my friends!"

God said to Job, as if coming late to the courtroom, "I’m here, Job. We’re still talking. I’m speaking to you."

God said to the friends, "Job got it right about me. If you’ll let him, he can teach you." So stood the final verdict in a case which turned out to be "Onlookers vs. Job."

So, bad things that happen are not punishment or discipline. And please don’t let your grief turn you away from God instead of toward God. That was Job’s wife’s suggestion.

You can choose to say with Job, "Even if I die in this war, I will still want to talk with God."