Published on

Job

Authors
  • avatar
    Name
    Jason Deramo
    Twitter

The test of attrition

Code

Adobe©

All of us can identify with the struggles of learning new and difficult things. My first exposure to basic programming came through a free workshop on Powershell. I need the skill for a job as a System Administrator, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure it out. In hindsight, those were the baby steps in my coding journey.

Defined.

at·tri·tion
/əˈtriSHən/
noun

  1. the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure.
    –Oxford Languages

When considering the trials and challenges we each face in life, the biblical story of Job often comes to remembrance. Essentially, Job was a righteous man who was allowed by God to be tested by the devil. This should all make us cringe to some degree, but it's important when considering the many difficulties we'll face on a coding project, technical interview, or workplace drama as developers. I recall many late evenings hammering away on code to no avail :/

Code

Wolfgang Diederich | Alamy©

Example (Job 33):

1 But now, hear my speech, O Job,
  and listen to all my words.
18 he keeps back his soul from the pit,
  his life from perishing by the sword.
2 Behold, I open my mouth;
  the tongue in my mouth speaks.
19 "Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
  and with continual strife in his bones,
3 My words declare the uprightness of my
    heart,
  and what my lips know they speak
    sincerely.
20 so that his life loathes bread,
  and his appetite the choicest food.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
  and the breath of the Almighty gives me
    life.
21 His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be
    seen,
  and his bones that were not seen stick out.
5 Answer me, if you can;
  set your words in order before me; take
  your stand.
22 His soul draws near the pit,
  and his life to those who bring death.
6 Behold, I am toward God as you are;
  I too was pinched off from a piece of
    clay.
23 If there be for him an angel,
  a mediator, one of the thousand,
  to declare to man what is right for him,
7 Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
  my pressure will not be heavy upon you.
24 and he is merciful to him, and says,
  'Deliver him from going down into the pit;
  I have found a ransom;
8 "Surely you have spoken in my ears,
  and I have heard the sound of your
    words.
25 let his flesh become fresh with youth;
  let him return to the days of his youthful
    vigor';
9 You say, 'I am pure, without transgression;
  I am clean, and there is no iniquity in
    me.
26 then man prays to God, and he accepts him;
   he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
10 Behold, he finds occasions against me,
  he counts me as his enemy,
27  He sings before men and says:
'I have sinned and perverted what was right,
  and it was not repaid to me.
11 he puts my feet in the stocks
  and watches all my paths,'
28 He has redeemed my soul from going down
    into the pit,
  and my life shall look upon the light.'
12 "Behold, in this you are not right. I will
    answer you,
  for God is greater than man.
29 "Behold, God does all these things,
  twice, three times, with a man,
13 Why do you contend against him,
  saying, 'He will answer none of man's
    words'?
30 to bring back his soul from the pit,
  that he may be lighted with the light of
    life.
14 For God speaks in one way,
  and in two, though man does not per-
    ceive it.
31 Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
  be silent, and I will speak.
15 In a dream, in a vision of the night,
  when deep sleep falls on men,
32 If you have any words, answer me;
  speak, for I desire to justify you.
16 then he opens the ears of men
  and terrifies them with warnings,
33 If not, listen to me;
  be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."
17 that he may turn man aside from his deed
  and conceal pride from a man;
Discuss on Twitter • View on GitHub