“Man born of woman is short of days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1).
“Since man’s days are determined and the number of his days are determined and the number of his months depends on You, and since You have set limits he cannot pass, look away from him and let him rest so that he can enjoy his day like a hired hand” (Job 14:5-6).
Job continued to lament that since man’s days are short and then he dies, why doesn’t God just withhold his hand from man and let him enjoy his days?
It sounds nice but it’s not the simple. It presupposes that man is good and there is no evil or wrong. But again, this is not a theological treatise but a cry of the heart for relief from suffering. An asking of God for mercy since life is so short.
In this chapter too we see a Job’s hazy view of eternity. And this is common as Jesus was the one who brought more clarity to heaven and eternity. But in this season, death is seen as a fuzzy end with a glimmer of hope when the heavens are no more:
“But a man dies and fades away; he breathes his last–where is he? As water disappears from the sea and a river becomes parched and dry, so man lies down never to rise again. They will not wake up until the heavens are no more; they will not stir from their sleep” (Job 14:10-12).
He definitely defies any thoughts of reincarnation.
“When a man dies, will he come back to life? If so, I would wait all the days of my struggle until my relief comes” (Job 14:14).
But death is hazy to him and he asks for mercy from God so that he can enjoy the days he has. Again, he is just wrestling with raw emotion in his great suffering.
If Job had the understanding we have now of heaven and eternity, perhaps his struggle would be different. When death is hazy to you and you think that this life is all there is, then suffering is magnified a thousand fold. You will do anything to run from it. But when you have the hope of eternity, and you realize the length of eternity compared to our present reality, then you understand for those who receive the sacrifice of Jesus that our suffering is temporary.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18).