Open Mouth, Insert Foot

Then Job answered the LORD and said: “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” Job 40: 3-5

We have all been there. We’ve said something we wish could be taken back.

I remember a particular episode of the Andy Griffith show. Andy had “put his foot in his mouth” by making a statement to Ellie that he wanted to take back. He pretended to reach out and grab the words and put them back in his mouth. He made some comment about them being pretty bitter going back in. Oh, that it were that easy to take them back.

I remember one time at a church gathering while going through the food line I made some disparaging remark about an item of food. Something like “what is that awful looking stuff?” Much to my dismay a friend in line with us said his wife had made it. So I proceeded to stumble around looking for words, getting some on my plate and commenting how good it was. Too late. Damage done. Open mouth, insert foot.

It is almost comical to think about Job with his hand over his mouth. Unfortunately, it was not a humorous thing. Job in his frustration had questioned GOD. Beginning in chapter 38, GOD begins to ask Job some questions. There are over 50 questions asked of Job. GOD says to Job, “Tell Me, if you have the answers!”

The last question is “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes GOD, let him answer it.”

Job realized his mistake. One does not question GOD.

Paul makes a similar observation in Romans 9:20. He asks, “Who are you to reply against GOD? Will the thing formed say to Him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’”

Psalms 141:3 – Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep a watch over the door of my lips.

There are so many things in life that I can’t explain. Why do good people have to suffer? Why do some innocent little babies die and some of the meanest people I know live a long life? Why can’t people just get along? Why doesn’t everyone understand the Bible alike?   There are many questions for which I have no answer.

But I will end my thoughts with only one simple question.

Who am I to question GOD?

As long as I live I am sure I will be guilty of putting my foot in my mouth many times. But I hope that I like Job can realize I am not to question GOD and when it comes to that line of questioning “I will proceed no further.”