“May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’ – Job 3:3

Today’s Scripture Reading (May 24, 2018): Job 3

The Greek historian Herodotus told a story about a culture that mourned births and celebrated deaths. According to Herodotus, they simply understood, maybe better than others, that life is hard and filled with suffering. This culture brought new life into the world, but they did so reluctantly, recognizing all of the trouble that this young life would have to endure to get to the end of existence. They celebrated death because it was a gateway to the end of the struggle. Death was the final release for which all who suffer long.

Herodotus has been called the “Father of Lies” by his critics, although that might be overstating Herodotus’s career. The reality is that Herodotus seemed to often deal with rumors and legends of which he had no personal experience, something that a modern historian would hopefully never do. So Herodotus's histories are filled with large ants that dig up gold in India, although in his defense there is a Marmot who did do that, and cyclops monsters that guard the gold of Europe.

However, a culture that mourns birth and celebrates death sounds at least possible. Every one of us knows the struggle that life brings. Some of us struggle more than others, but all struggle. And if we were to only focus on the struggle, then maybe we would mourn every time a child was brought into the world and the struggle.

But there is more to life than just the struggle. Life brings its share of pain, but it also brings its share of pleasure. On a personal note, when my wife and I were starting our family, we were cautioned about bringing new a life into our marriage. There was a chance that the child would share the same health issues that I have struggled with all of my life. And yes, my health issues have brought suffering, but at that moment walking out of the doctor’s office, my reaction was “what is wrong if they do end up just like me. I am fairly happy with the life that I have led.” I still am.

But this is nothing more than my experience. The reality here is that Job had reached a breaking point. Satan had argued that he could get Job to curse God, but he was wrong. What Satan was successful in doing was getting Job to curse the day of his birth and to mourn the moment that he was conceived. Job was drawing close to an ending point where he would welcome the release that was found in death.

Up until this point the battle had raged in the arena of Job’s possessions and his health. Now the battle would move on to the arena of his mind and soul. But it is wrong to assume that with these words the battle was coming to an end. It was only beginning, and Job was not about to give up. At least, not yet.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Job 4