Route 66-17 Theater of Trouble

Before returning to the depressing path of Israel's history, I thought I'd step into the theater and catch a drama God shared with his people some time ago. It is a true story, but told in a way that maximizes the drama.

Set in the days of the patriarchs, maybe even as far back as Abraham, the reader is shown the behind the scenes planning of the tragic tale of trouble coming upon a good man by the name of Job. He had it so good, that his life seemed charmed. But, with God's permission, an adversary orchestrates a reign of terror on this one family. But the patriarch Job made it through two rounds of devastation.

And so, the darkness in the theater just seems to get darker. The audience scratches its collective head, wondering why they came. Why live the good life if nothing good comes of it?  But we sit there awaiting the intermission. As Job sits on the ground in misery, his wife will have nothing of it. Where is the man to turn now?

As Act II begins, we find three friends willing to sit quietly and mourn with our hero. But then they begin to speak.  We know that what they say makes sense, but that it doesn't apply to Job. Job complains that they don't know what they are talking about. We want to shout at the friends, but we respect the venue. Finally, a young man enters from the wings with a lot of good advice to the well meaning friends. It seems that perhaps even Job is confused.

The concluding act finds Job "face to face" with God Himself! The interrogation begins and Job begins to "get it".  Mankind has messed up everything in touches. The system works in spite of them as God works behind the scenes. Though in the "image of God", mankind cannot hope to become a family of gods. Instead, we grow strong against the odds, made stronger because we know that God has our best interests in mind.

As I walk back into the sunlit street of history, I have new insight into what is going on. The story of the rise and fall of the twin kingdoms now has meaning. I can walk those streets, kicking a can down the road.  God knows what is at the end of that road.