Job 7:21
Why do you not pardon my offenses
and forgive my sins?
For I will soon lie down in the dust;
you will search for me, but I will be no more.”
The Bible is inspired by God and whatever it says we do not take it lightly even when it doesn’t make sense to us. The Bible does not contradict itself. In places where it seems to contradict itself, the problem is not the Bible but us. The Bible tells us that God is Omniscient, all-knowing, and Omnipresent or ever-present anywhere and everywhere. According to Psalm 139: 7-10 no one can hide from God anywhere on earth or out of the earth. Our Bible text today tells us there is a place a human being may not be found even by God. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
When one part of the Bible says you can’t hide from God and another part tells us you can’t be found by God, is there a contradiction? We need to explore and understand what is happening here. In our text today, Job is addressing God in the entire chapter of Job seven. Therefore the words of our texts are directed towards God. It is God that Job is telling that when I lie down in the dust, You will not be able to find me. Job is complaining about his suffering. He tells God if my suffering is caused by sin, why don’t you forgive me, because this suffering will cause my death and once I die you will not be able to find me. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
Job is telling us that when we die and lie in the dust, even God can’t find us. Job tells God that once he dies and lies down in the dust, he will be no more. He will not be able to interact with God again. Therefore he tells God, why don’t you forgive me now and avert my suffering now, because when I die, our interaction ends and we can’t access each other. Job is telling us that at death no further life goes on and you can’t interact with anyone else, not even God. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
Psalms 115:17
The dead praise not Jehovah,
Neither any that go down into silence;
Isaiah 38:18
For Sheol cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee:
They that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.
Bible doctrines are not built on one text. It’s not just Job who tells us that at death, there is no interaction with anyone else including God. The writer of Psalms 115:17 that we have just cited is clear that the dead do not praise God. Isaiah the prophet of hope in Isaiah 38:18 tells us that at death people do not praise God nor celebrate God or even enjoy the truth of God’s word. At death, all interactions cease, even interactions with God. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
For those who are reading this directly from the reikesis.com website, you can access this article from the blog by clicking this title, REST IN PEACE (RIP) EXPRESSION TO USE OR NOT TO USE?. That article gives a detailed explanation of what happens when we die. The summary is that human beings were created Body + Spirit(breath of life from God), Genesis 2:7. The combination of Body + Spirit = Soul. At death a separation happens, Body made of dust goes back to dust during burial, and the spirit or breath of life from God goes back to God, Ecclesiastes 12:7.
The Spirit or breath of life from God is not a person, it is the essence of life and can’t be unique to anyone or identifiable with anyone. Just like you cant identify which electric current is for lights and which one is for other purposes. The spirit that gives life to human beings is the exact spirit that gives life to animals, Ecclesiastes 3:19-21. If human life is made of body + spirit = soul, and at death, there is a separation of body from spirit, then that means that we cease to exist at death. We do not exist in heaven or hell or paradise or glory. That is why Job tells God when I die, we cant interact, You cant find me. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
When people die, they do not exist anywhere else. When people die they do not interact with angels. When people die they do not interact with God. When people die they can’t visit us in dreams or reality. When people die, they can’t repent their sins and experience the joy of salvation. When people die they can’t praise God. That is why Job in our text today pleads with God for forgiveness while he is still alive because at death, no further interactions even with God. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
A great funeral service with prayers and offerings will not make anyone interact with God. Our only opportunity to fix our relationship with God is now when we are alive. At death, we cannot interact with anyone, not even God. No one can pray for you to be forgiven sins you didn’t repent. The time to repent is now when you are still alive. At death, it is really over and all we all wait for is resurrection. At death no interaction not even with God. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
John 5:28-29 tells us that only at the resurrection will the dead hear the voice of God and rise. The dead do not interact with God, but they can resurrect and now interact with everyone else including God. The biblical resurrection teaching nullifies any belief that dead people are busy doing other things everywhere else in paradise, in glory, with angels, etc. Such teachings are not biblical. Why resurrect people from graves if they are in paradise enjoying life? That is absurd, to say the least. Until resurrection day, the dead cannot interact with anyone else, not even with God. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
Are there things you need to fix with God? Fix them now while you are still alive. Are there sins you need to confess and repent? Confess and repent now. Are there blessings you need from God for you and your family? Ask for them now, while you are still alive. Do not wait to guide your family by haunting them as a ghost, you will not be a ghost and you will not haunt or guide. Do it now, while you are still alive. If your family is haunted, we will offer prayers to drive away that demonic spirit and they will be at peace. At death, there is no interaction with anyone else, not even with God, until resurrection time. When even God can’t find you anywhere?
Are there people you need to apologize to? Apologize now. No apologies to dead people. They won’t hear and they won’t acknowledge Ecclesiastes 9:5-6. Are there people who deserve appreciation and praise? Appreciate them now and praise them now, at death they won’t hear you and it won’t matter. The most useless speeches in life are the praises we heap on the dead during funerals, yet while alive they doubted if we ever cared.
Dear God, like Job, teach me the value of now. Let me value this moment with You. Let me value this moment with my family. Let me value this moment with friends and colleagues. Let me praise people while they are alive and not make big speeches when they are dead. Let me treat people well when they are alive and not wait to show love and great concern when they are late. Remind me to value the now moment with you and everyone else. If there are things worth doing, let me do them now. Save me from procrastination. Remind me of the value of now, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
I think about this a lot. Thank you for this article. God’s blessings.
Almaz, you are thinking deep, may you find HIM in your thoughts!
Amen.
“The value of now”-a wonderful lesson.
Thank you pastor and God bless you.
Lord before I can’t be found anywhere pardon my offenses and forgive my sins.
Amen
Hallelujah, be blessed too!
Amen pastor
It is only in our aliveness that we can repent
You are right Biko!
I will not be found some day
Amen Pastor. May God bless you for such insightful teachings. Yes heavenly father, remind me of the value of now. Amen.
Amen
If not now while a live to repent and turn to God we will have no use after Death.
Correct!
Let us be found now…
Amen
Amen
Have been much blessed pastor,now I know there is no connection between the dead and God.
Hallelujah!
If not now while a live to repent and turn to God we will have no use after Death.
Yes, my pastor!
Hallelujah, Praise be to God our redeemer.
Glory to our God, Nina!
This state of the dead doctrine has been well-put in this article, it is very clear.
Asante Doctor Rei Kesis!
Amina!
The value of now. Such a powerful lesson. May we be found now. Thankyou for this great lesson. God bless you.
Glory to God, Mercy!
Amen 🙏
May God remind me to value the ‘now’ moment with Him and everyone else.
May He enable me to do things worth doing now to His honour and glory.
Thank you brother for the sharing.
Hallelujah!
May God continue giving you Wisdom Pastor. We are learning a lot.
Hallelujah, Shakira!