Job 21:15

"They tell God, ‘Depart from us, for we don’t want to know about your ways."

Key Reflection

In Job 21:15, the individuals speaking to God express a desire to be distanced from His divine ways and knowledge. This sentiment reflects a deep-seated rebellion against divine authority during times of suffering, indicating that even in moments of hardship, some saw no value in understanding or acknowledging God’s ways, viewing such knowledge as burdensome or irrelevant. The original audience would have understood this as a poignant critique of the common belief that experiencing affliction should lead to seeking divine wisdom and righteousness.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? -compare for similar expressions,Exodus 5:2;Proverbs 30:9. The meaning here is, “What claim has the Almighty, or who is he, that we should be bound to obey and worship him? What authority has he over us? Why should we yield our will to his, and why submit to his claims?” This is the language of the human heart everywhere. Man seeks to deny the authority of God over him, and to feel that he has no claim to his service. He desires to be independent. He would cast off the claims of God.

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