On The Ash Heap..

Scene 2 of Job takes place on an ash heap in the land of Uz, here on earth ( Job 2:8)
Job is suffering pain and anxiety.

He is emotionally alone , tormented , confused, angry .
His three friends who come to comfort him are instead emotionally and verbally persecuting him.

The human actors in the drama have no idea God is deeply involved in Job's life at this precise moment.
They have no understanding of what God is trying to accomplish nor why Job is suffering so terribly.

Nor do they grasp that a cosmic issue is at stake.
Job himself does not understand why this evil is happening to one who has faith in God.

Why has such a good God allowed such terrible things to happen to a, if not perfect at least decent, God - fearing human being ?

Job, in short is asking, " Why me, Lord ? "

On the ash heap , the issues are very human, confused and not completely understood.
The principle characters here are all plauged by incomplete and distorted knowledge.

They make partial or even incorrect judgments about God's activitys.
Or they misapply general observations to Job's specific situation.

The prologue has given us a sneak preview of the heavenly perspective on Job.
We know God is much pleased and concerned about him.

No matter that God has temporarily suspended Job's protected condition.
There is a reason.

Job is not a victim of time and chance but a part of God's orchestrated purpose.
Job has no inkling he is the star actor in a God directed morality play on earth.

As far as Job knows, God has disappeared from his life..