Job isn’t one of the books of the Bible that people study a lot these days, but it’s quite a story. Now old Job was being tested, and for the most part he did really well through his trials but eventually he began to lose his strength and after doing so well for so long, he fell into a bit of a problem when he started questioning God about they way things were going for him. If you read the whole thing, you might think that old Job had a point when he began to question God, after all he had been through an awful lot, but in due course, God had heard enough from old Job. So, beginning in chapter 38, God answers Job’s complaints:
Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said:
“Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?
– Job 38:1-7
God’s reply continues until chapter 40 when God finally says:
“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?
Let him who accuses God answer him!”
– Job 40:2
If you haven’t read this passage in a while, you really should take a look; God is speaking to Job, but it could be addressed to any one of us. How smart we humans think we are, and yet what do we really know?
Well, old Job came to realize that he wasn’t really quite qualified to challenge God, and I daresay we aren’t either. Job responds in humility and is restored to his former position as a very blessed man. The same is true with us when we respond to God in humility, we can be restored to a very blessed relationship with Him.
There sure is one thing that we can take away from old Job’s story: It’s a really good idea for all men to just let God be God; it doesn’t really seem like He needs our help being God. Our job is to serve Him, not to challenge His authority!
Job is a fascinating read. His friends were definitely no help in his trials (we should all learn what not to say by their examples).
A god that is incapable of taking care of us or knowing what is best for us, is a lesser god than the one true God. I believe our false understanding of God often times influences our understanding of how he works in our lives.
Thanks for the blog. It was very encouraging this morning.
Thanks Mitchell
Amen- god will reign
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“Let God be God”…. Thank you! I choose to let God be God in my life and over my circumstances.
Great Post! 🙂
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away – blessed be the name of the Lord.
Amen!
Great post. Thanks for the reminder. It’s amazing how much smarter we think we are in comparison to The Almighty sometimes.
It is amazing, that’s for sure
God is Sovereign and His response to Job is both delightful and highly enlightening. A big take a way for me was near the chapter end. God does not restore Job…until…he prays for his friends. “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he prayed for his friends….(Job 42:10) forgiveness, prayer and outward focus ~ Amen :Y
Absolutely right on!
Job 38 is one of my favorite chapters. Its awesome! It puts everything in perspective.
Yes it does!
Drawing from the world he created, God grills Job about the many mysteries of nature. He covers earth, the heavens, and a multitude of animals, but I would boil his questions down to two big categories:
Do you know? How the world was created? How the sea was formed? How to make the clouds? Where the light and darkness come from?
Can you do? Can you bind or loosen the stars? Can you lead the constellations into their place? Can you order the clouds to release their rain or send the lightning?
Of course Job doesn’t know the answer to any of God’s questions. He can’t do any of the things God asks him to do. He isn’t God, after all …
Do you see it? I think Job saw it. He wanted answers to life’s big questions (Why is there suffering? Why isn’t life fair?) and God said, “All right, but here is what you’ll need to know in order to understand my answers.” God isn’t dodging Job’s questions. Job, and you and I, aren’t able to comprehend the answers any more than we are able to tie a lasso around the moon. Job wanted to know the why but God is only able to show him the who – God himself present with Job.
Very well said, thanks for sharing!
A great reminder! Thanks for sharing Don.
These are the verses I go to when I need a dose of humility. I actually love these verses because they remind me just how wonderful, powerful, awesome, BIG and totally in control my God is. Thanks for sharing Don,.
Wonderful insight Sharon!
Thank you Don. Sometimes the Lord gets through. 🙂
There is another way of looking at this. When you have been through a serious trauma which changes your life (mine was being almost killed by a motorist whilst cycling and left walking with a stick and constant pain) then asking God why is the natural response. The answer is the same as Job’s, God is no less sovereign when things are going bad as when they are going well.
Asking God why, even yelling at God, is not a sign of a lack of faith, you cannot scream at someone you don’t believe in.
You could say that ranting at God is futile in that you are never going to win the argument. But this can be part of the healing process. If there is something to learn from Job, it is that Job’s arguing does not prevent God speaking to him. God’s answer shows that he is supreme in control of the universe, the fact that he answers shows that he cares.
Letting God know your pain is part of believing in God.
I agree wholeheartedly! Asking God “why” will result in our sounding quite a lot like a Psalm! 🙂
Great reflection!
When reading this book, you go through a lifetime and then some, but it is worth the journey. vw
Yes, it is
f
Exactly the book I have been reading of late in my daily readings , though I admit I need to do some catching up. Thanks for the little shove in the right direction!
I thought it was more of a nudge really…