Summary: It's frustrating to ask a direct question without getting a direct answer, so I apologize, that as is the case so often with politicians, doctors, and lawyers, where many significant statements are made but few direct answers are given, we also have this Scripture lesson from the 38th chapter of Job, where after Job asked a direct question to God - "Why, Lord, must the innocent suffer?" - not even God seems willing to give a clear and direct answer in response. It's frustrating. What Job wants is the truth, but God seems to be echoing those iconic words of Jack Nicholson when he starred in "A Few Good Men," "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth." Our passage begins: "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.'" This is not a gentle response, nor is it a direct answer, but anyone who asks questions has learned that sometimes you get an answer and sometimes you don't. I remember well enough a day in Sunday School long ago, we were in 4th or 5th grade and had just read the account in the Gospel of Luke chapter 2, "After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child..." "Mr. Farrah," I asked my teacher, "what exactly is circumcision?" "Well that's a question you should probably ask your father," he responded.
