Job 13:20

"Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee"

There is much in this section of verses from Job that we must consider and apply to our own lives. In the midst of Job's plea to God to answer him, his friends are assaulting him in his great anguish. But as this discourse continues between them, Job defends himself and comes to the point of simply discoursing with God. And here is the beginning of this, Only do not two things unto me - we are not able to dictate God, even though God may be willing to grant us the desires of our heart; Here Job is asking of the Lord for two things not to happen to him. He has the question of why the tragedies did happen to him. But now he is asking fo the Lord for these two things not happen. They are not trifle, earthly things but spiritual and all about God. When God blest Solomon for asking for wisdom, God praised him for not asking that he be delivered from all his enemies. Many a person given the opportunity to say, 'Don't let these two things happen to me' would ask out of selfish wants. 'Don't let canceer get me'; 'don't let my enemies get me'; don't let my family have hard times'; you see, the fleshly cares of most Christians is about themselves, not the Lord. A spiritual man will have spiritual desires. And when asking for things to happen or not happen, it is about the Lord. What is on your heart and soul? what would you ask of the Lord not to happen? But Job recognizes the hand of the Lord to affect a person's life, 'unto me'. What has God done 'unto me'? He has created me; He has preserved me; He has saved me; He has blest me; He has loved me; He has endued me. the Lord has done great and mighty things 'unto me'. Are you able to see and discern the hand of the Lord upon you to bless , keep and use you for His glory? But Job is asking for God not to do two things 'unto me'. He knows God is able to cause to happen and stop from happening things 'unto me'. And even if they be trials and tribulations, they are happening for a reason 'unto me'. And know that whether good or evil, it 'unto me' for His glory. ARe we willing to accept that and live in that? That is a hard point to be at, but it brings glory unto Him. Then will I not hide myself from thee - is a man able to hide from God? no; But Job is saying that if God allows these two things to happen to me, then he will try to hide away from His presence. He had been consumed with sorrow and grief and could find no refuge accept in God, even though he did not understand what was happening unto him. and yet, Job says, that if God allowed these two things to happen to him, it would bring everything crashing down and he would seek to hide from Him. Again, it is not about selfish ways, this is about the relationship of him and God. He is saying in the faithfulness of God, that God will do that which he asks of Him and he will not need to hide from Him. should we not be of the same mindset? why does God's own people desire ot hide from Him? Is there a cause? Is there a reason? He has given no reason as to why we should hide from Him. Look at Jonah, when given the commandment to go to Nineveh, he went the opposite way to hide from the Lord. May we be found faithful to abide in His presence instead of trying to hide from it. Do you beleive that there are Christians who seek to hide from God? Are they afraid of what the Lord might have happen? What He may ask of them? Would He ask of you to give up some sin? die to self in some area of your life? But oh, when we need Him, we want to come out of hiding and boldly come before Him making our request. Let us abide in Him consistently and we will not need to worry about such things. let the church quit hiding from Him and draw near unto Him, so that He may draw near unto us.