Job and the freedom of God

I read somewhere that within the rabbinic tradition of Judaism scripture was like a multifaceted diamond. You gaze, contemplate, read, discuss a passage from one angle, and then turn the diamond/passage a little and gaze, contemplate, read, wrestle with, discuss from another. How far we have come from that understanding. Today churches are pulled apart over the one right way to read scripture. And so often our way of reading is shaped by our world view, our hopes and dreams for ourselves and those we love – no the other way around. Even the disciples were not immune to that. James and John in today’s story were pretty sure they were being biblical and they were right – despite everything Jesus had been saying about his impending death.

There were some big themes is Jewish scripture. One is: because God is moral and just, God will reward you if you are good with long life, wealth and children; and if you are not good, then the opposite. James and John were simply looking for the reward for being super good. And then comes Job, a good man, who losses everything. And the argument begins. Job says he is good, so God has not acted morally or justly and he wants vindication. The friends mock and say God is just, therefore you, Job, have been not good; repent! And God says “Stop! Who says that is how the universe operates? Who says that is how I must act?”

So what might it mean for us to pick up the multifaceted wonder of scripture and read from different angles? What cherished ways of understanding scripture and God is Job inviting us to let go of?