What if God came to you and said, “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?” Can you imagine that? That’s what He said to Job.
Job suffered greatly; everyone agrees. And he complained greatly. For 37 chapters, God listened silently to Job’s bitter complaints, most of which could be summed up as “I wish I had never been born” (Job 3:1, 3:16, 10:19). Finally, God answered the man. Job must have been shocked and terrified—he never expected God to bother. But God had a lot to say. He spoke to Job throughout chapters 38, 39, 40, and 41. God’s first lines are famous:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man, and I will ask you questions and you can instruct me!” Job 38:2-3.
God says, “Who is this who buries my words of wisdom under his own words of ignorance? Stand up and fight like a man, and answer my questions.”
Can you imagine God saying that to you? Of course, you won’t be able to answer ANY of God’s questions. But He is going to ask.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Who set its measurements, since you know?” Who enclosed the sea? Where is the snow and hail stored? How does the lightning flash? Can you command the lightning and thunder? Do lightning bolts come to you and say, ‘here we are’? Where is darkness stored? Tell me, since you know. Can you make the constellations travel across the night sky? Do you give strength to the horse? Do you adorn its neck with a mane? Does the eagle soar at your command? Does the hawk take flight by your understanding?”
Finally God says to Job, “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer.”
What can Job say? God is waiting on an answer. What would YOU say? After two chapters of un-answerable questions, are you humbled yet? Have you realized that you have no right to question God?
Job repents.
“Behold, I am insignificant. What can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice and I will add nothing more.” Job 40:4-5.
Job gets it. He knows it is time to shut up, to “be still and know that He is God.”
God goes on, schooling his accuser:
“Would you really challenge my justice? Would you declare Me guilty to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His? Can you capture the Behemoth [probably a Rhino] and pierce his nose with a ring? Can you pull in Leviathan [probably a Nile Crocodile or even a dinosaur] with a hook, or tie his tongue down with a rope? Can you put a cord through his nose or pierce his jaw with a hook? No one is ferocious enough to rouse Leviathan; who then can stand against Me? Everything under heaven belongs to Me.”
God goes on and when He is finished, Job repents again. May this be our attitude toward God:
“Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…. I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore, I repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:3-6.
Job lived another 140 years, and God blessed him by doubling everything: He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, 1,000 female donkeys, plus seven more sons and three more daughters. (And the number of children did not double from ten to twenty. Do you know why? Because God knows the first ten are alive in heaven. Job has not really lost them. This is an early indication of the resurrection.)
In the end, Job has had an amazing experience with God, a revelation every bit as incredible as those given to Noah, Moses, and others.
Dear God, help us to walk by faith, no matter how hard our circumstances might be. Thank you for the incredible example set by Job.
ΑΩ
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