I’m Innocent, I Tell You

Read Job 22:1–31:40

20. “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look.
21. You have become cruel toward me. You use your power to persecute me.
22. You throw me into the whirlwind and destroy me in the storm.
23. And I know you are sending me to my death—the destination of all who live.
24. Surely no one would turn against the needy when they cry for help in their trouble.
25. Did I not weep for those in trouble? Was I not deeply grieved for the needy?
26. So I looked for good, but evil came instead. I waited for the light, but darkness fell.
27. My heart is troubled and restless. Days of suffering torment me.
28. I walk in gloom, without sunlight. I stand in the public square and cry for help.
29. Instead, I am considered a brother to jackals and a companion to owls.
30. My skin has turned dark, and my bones burn with fever.” Job 30:20-30

Imagine that you’ve been framed for a crime. You feel frantic because no one believes your story. You’re embarrassed because your name has been muddied. Despite your frustration and gloom, you decide not to give up and determine to fight harder.

In trying to explain why Job is suffering, his friends have falsely accused him of sinning. Job has denied that this is true, but the friends don’t believe that Job is innocent—there is too much circumstantial evidence against him. Job isn’t ready to give in yet, so he digs in his heels and defends his innocence.

Is Job innocent? Judge for yourself and learn from his defense.

See these other lessons as well: being careful in applying God’s commands and moral standards to others (Eliphaz); showing compassion rather than giving advice (Job); and attacking others (Bildad).

In the middle of all the accusations, Job declared that he was not a sinner and that his conscience was clear (Job 27:6). How could he make this claim? Job was not claiming to be perfect, neither was he belittling his need for God’s redemption. He was simply saying that he had lived a righteous life before God (Job 1:1). As a result, his conscience was clear.

Outward circumstances are not always an accurate indicator of a person’s relationship with God. Some people who are blessed with health, power, or wealth are not righteous (see Matthew 5:45). Conversely, some people who are sick, poor, or powerless are righteous in God’s eyes. Job’s friends were wrong to assume that his suffering was a result of sin.

We must be careful not to make the same mistake that Job’s friends made. We can’t claim to have sinless lives, but we can claim forgiven lives. When we confess our sins to God he forgives us. Then we, too, can live with a clear conscience (see 1 John 1:9).

Be slow to judge others. And make it your goal to keep a clear conscience before God.