The ‘scrapheap’ Job -- #299

[July 2006 journal entry]
I have two primary reactions to 38:12-39:30. First, the entire section is thoroughly and essentially pre-scientific in imaging the relation of ‘God’ to the natural order. If Job were recast as a modern/scientific individual, he would be in a position to claim knowledge – even deep knowledge – about many of the questions posed by ‘God’. Though the RSV translation has no parallel for Peterson’s “You don’t for a minute imagine these marvels of weather just happen, do you?” (38:30), Peterson with this question seems to capture the thrust of all the illustrations in 38:12-39:30. Second, as far as I can tell, nothing is said

1. about human beings as a classification of creatures,
2. about the purpose of the natural order,
3. about the baby/adolescent disorder found in the natural order,
4. about mercy, peace, justice, or
5. about the breadth/depth of human suffering.

What do the questions ‘God’ puts to the ‘scrapheap’ Job have to do with the ‘scrapheap’ Job’s desperate situation? his pained questions? The tone attributed to ‘God’ in this whirlwind section does not suggest such questions would be entertained if pressed by the ‘scrapheap’ Job. And yet these questions are significant, at least for a ‘from below’/‘with the world face to face’ spirituality and ethics.