Job 23:3-4 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
Job’s response to his suffering and to the accusations of his friends was to ask Why, defend himself, and argue with God: “Why is this happening to me? I don’t deserve this. Come, talk to me so I can present my case.” He is pleading for an audience with God and looking for answers, in essence calling God unjust. God does in the end show up and speak demonstrating His awesome power and mysterious wisdom. Then Job’s response was to shut up. He repented and admitted that he doesn’t know what he is talking about or why he is complaining. He surrenders to God’s will, wisdom, and grace.
But for now his response is totally natural. Pain always produces anger. He argues with God, pleads his case, defends himself, accuses God, and demands an audience to air his grievance. Any time we ask Why? we are in essence accusing God of being unfair. This is the opposite of surrender to His will and trust in His mercy. We are saying that we know better than God. We want to be God instead. It is for this First Sin (“you will be like God”) that the Son of God entered our world to die for us to bring us humbly and thankfully into His Presence.