15 January 2024
Reading From Job 40-42
“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer—
twice, but I will say no more.”
–Job 40:4-5
Though Job had done nothing wrong to bring calamity upon himself, he was not a perfect man. No one is.[1] In the final chapters of Job, the bulk of what the Almighty says has much to do with displays of His power and might in comparison with the frail limitations of human beings.[2] This seems to indicate that pride in his own righteousness was Job’s struggle.[3] God also has something to say concerning Job’s friends. The Lord tells Eliphaz that they have not told the truth about His ways.[4] From other passages of Scripture outside the Book of Job we know that bits and pieces of what Job and his friends knew about God were actually true, but their views were mixed with incomplete understanding and falsehoods. For God to say that they did not speak the truth might mean that we need to be careful to speak the truth, the whole truth, so help us God.[5] How can we do this? We must be sure that our beliefs about God, mankind and the world around us are in alignment with the beautiful harmony of Scripture.[6]
At the beginning of this story, when all of these tragedies first fell upon Job, his response was, “‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’ In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”[7] We know from chapter one that it God had allowed Satan to test Job and we know from Romans 5 that all the misery in the world exists because of sin. Ultimately, God is supreme.[8] But in His sovereignty, he gave the angels[9] and mankind free will and life on earth suffers the consequences.[10] Even as He gave dominion to human beings,[11] He is still the God of the universe and has the ability to intervene at the invitation of His surrendered servants[12] and work all things together for His glory and for their good.[13] No matter how severe our troubles are or where they come from, our response is to be like Job. We are to worship the Lord[14] and continue to obey Him.[15]
In the end, God was merciful to the friends and blessed Job with a double portion of wealth in comparison with what he had before. He had ten more children and Job enjoyed his earthly family to the fourth generation. It is fascinating to me that the author of Job only lists his daughters’ names and not his sons and that they were allowed to share in the family inheritance the same as their brothers. Every once in a while, even in the Old Testament, we see glimpses of how God wants humanity to live in spite of the fallen culture embraced by the majority of people in that time. Just as my mother taught me as a small boy, “the whole world could be going along with something, but that does not make it right.”
“God, give me wisdom to know right from wrong regardless of what the culture around me says. I pray that I would choose to worship and obey You even when it seems as though everything around me is falling apart. Thank You that even though the world seems to spin out of control, You are ultimately sovereign and will bring everything together for Your glory and for the good of Your eternal family. Help Your children surrender more and more of their lives to You. Bring light to the world through us. Amen.”
I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.
–Psalm 34:1-3
[1] Romans 3:23
[2] Psalm 8:4
[3] Proverbs 29:23, James 4:6
[4] Job 42:7
[5] II Timothy 2:15, 3:16
[6] Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18
[7] Job 1:21-22
[8] Deuteronomy 10:17
[9] Revelation 12:4, 7-9, Ezekiel 28:16, Isaiah 14:12
[10] John 16:33, Romans 8:22-24
[11] Genesis 1:26
[12] Matthew 6:9-13
[13] Romans 8:28
[14] John 4:24
[15] I Peter 1:14
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
Leave a comment