Job 10:9

Remember, I pray, that you fashioned me of clay,

   And to dust, you will return me.

I see this as keeping the beginning and the end in mind. Many times, we are given the impression that people focus on their past and stagnate in the present never ready for the future. Others look so much forward that they ignore the lessons of the past and repeat those mistakes. We had a client ask what he thought was a really simple question that we could answer in a few minutes. It was with a material we do not normally use, and we told him we would have to review the material requirements again before answering the question, and the client went off in a huff. He wanted the answer now not considering the past it takes to get to where he wanted to be.

“Fashioned” was “molded”, “made”, “kneaded”, and “worked”. After shaped and made in the last verse, I went with fashioned here to play the whole team. I one day must see why some sources include “I pray” and others do not. It seems a consistent one or the other.

“Dust” was also “dirt” and “return” was “turn” without the again aspect. I much preferred the again aspect of return linking clay and dust.

To me, Job is asking God why He would waste His previous effort in making Job by returning him to dust early. I do not appreciate this aspect, as I believe that God doing anything for us is a blessing beyond expectation. Any limits we place on God are not real and of our own making. Job’s life was as insignificant as any others, but his example was a huge blessing.

I am not super great in big groups as I tend to want to talk to people I know, but last night I ended up standing next to someone I did not know who reached out to shake my hand and say hello. I remembered my conversation skills and asked questions. At the end, I hoped they did not walk away thinking I was a total heel. It reminded me that God has a purpose for us, and we never know what it might be. We are here to do as he bids, and, even when we hide in a corner, He can drag the opportunity to us.

(Written 12/10, Posted 12/17, Job 217)