“O that I knew where I might find Him!” — Job 23:3

In Job’s uttermost extremity he cried after the Lord. The longing desire of an afflicted child of God is once more to see his Father’s face. His first prayer is not “O that I might be healed of the disease which now festers in every part of my body!” nor even “O that I might see my children restored from the jaws of the grave, and my property once more brought from the hand of the spoiler!” but the first and uppermost cry is, “O that I knew where I might find HIM, who is my God! that I might come even to His seat!” God’s children run home when the storm comes on. It is the heaven-born instinct of a gracious soul to seek shelter from all ills beneath the wings of Jehovah. “He that hath made his refuge God,” might serve as the title of a true believer. A hypocrite, when afflicted by God, resents the infliction, and, like a slave, would…

run from the Master who has scourged
him; but not so the true heir of heaven, he kisses the hand which smote
him, and seeks shelter from the rod in the bosom of the God who frowned
upon him. Job’s desire to commune with God was intensified by the
failure of all other sources of consolation. The patriarch turned away from
his sorry friends, and looked up to the celestial throne, just as a traveller
turns from his empty skin bottle, and betakes himself with all speed to the
well. He bids farewell to earth-born hopes, and cries, “O that I knew

where I might find my God!” Nothing teaches us so much the preciousness
of the Creator, as when we learn the emptiness of all besides. Turning
away with bitter scorn from earth’s hives, where we find no honey, but
many sharp stings, we rejoice in Him whose faithful word is sweeter than
honey or the honeycomb. In every trouble we should first seek to realize
God’s presence with us. Only let us enjoy His smile, and we can bear our
daily cross with a willing heart for His dear sake.

To make sure you never miss an episode, please subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.

Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen