Contemplative Bible Reading

Job 35:5-6 (New International Version)

⁵ Look up at the heavens and see;
gaze at the clouds so high above you.

⁶ If you sin, how does that affect him?
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?

One of Job’s associates is speaking to Job. Job’s associates meant well, but didn’t do him much good in his situation. Still, they have words of wisdom now and then.

Such is the case here with Elihu. He encourages us all to look at the majesty of God’s creation and see the majesty of God. If I transgress against God, will I change the heavens, the sky, the clouds? Will I hurt God?

I can hurt people I know by doing wrong. I can bring them disappointment and emotional and physical suffering by doing wrong. Sometimes, we mistakenly think that since we can do that to people we can also do it to God.I can hear the buzzer sounding, “incorrect.”

Still “more wrong” is the idea that if I want to hurt others, I should hurt myself. I suppose this is one of the places where we get the old saying, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” That silly old saying isn’t so silly. The foundation of the problem wanting to hurt others. If I lead my life wanting to hurt others, well there isn’t much hope for good to come from anything I do.