Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward
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When two massive egos clash we say “sparks fly.” But for Job, when “man” meets “world” that’s when the sparks fly.
As we’ve seen earlier, the book of Job is the story of man. And at its heart is the question of innocent suffering. Is there such a thing? His miserable comforters say no. And actually humanity has a lot invested in saying no. We would love to believe that our lives are in our own hands and that our efforts can save us. But if that’s true then trouble is earned.
However Job is here to tell us the truth about trouble:
“Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.” (Job 5:6-7)
Notice here that Job does not say “Existence is suffering.” He doesn’t think creation is “trouble”. The problem is not with physicality or the natural world. In Genesis, both “dust” and “the ground” are said to be the raw materials of “man“. But Job is clear that “man’s” matter is not the matter. Instead there’s something about man born into the world that inevitable leads to trouble.
Because the story of man is the story of falling and rising. In Adam man tumbles down. All who are born in Him are born to trouble. Yet Christ came as the last Adam. He takes our trouble on Himself. He is the One who is supremely born to trouble. In fact it’s His trouble – the cross – that defines the direction of travel for all men. But it’s trouble that has a happy ending. It’s not the last word of man, but it is the path we must tread.
So then in your affliction there’s bad news and good news. The bad news is, you’ve been born to it. But, if you belong to Christ, you’re born again to a renewed humanity. For the Christian there’s a sequel to the verse. After trouble and through trouble we can be certain: As surely as sparks rise – so will the believer!
The Apostle Peter gets that balance between falling and rising just right:
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13)
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