Job 38-42

Here we are in the final chapters of Job.  Here above the large 38 marking the 38th chapter in my Bible, I see the words "The LORD Answers Job."  After all those men tried to come with wisdom, but lacking true wisdom, not having all the knowledge necessary to truly understand, the Lord will answer, and we will see the rest of the story.

Not only is God now answering (giving Job his day in court), but He (Yahweh, the covenant LORD) is answering out of a whirlwind, and He comes forth reminding Job of both of their places.  Before Job's vindications, he needs to be reminded of who God is.  He speaks of His Sovereign rule over creation.  He asks Job where he was when He laid the foundation of the earth and shows him that he simply cannot understand everything because he does not know everything.  I often think of this passage when I cannot understand why something is happening and might be tempted to be angry with God for allowing something.  I remember who am I to understand the ways of God.  He is so mighty and wise!  He is Sovereign Creator!  How very foolish of man to accuse almighty God of not being fair.  Let us really think about creation, about biology and physics, astronomy and chemistry.  It is God that knows the why and caused His creation to act in the way that it scientifically does.  He is God, and He can be trusted even when we do not understand.  God does not answer Job's accusations with an explanation of what happened with Satan and why Job had to experience the troubles.  He rather questions Job and his understanding of Himself.  He asks Job if he knows how all of creation works and can create and control it, many parties of creation with their varying ways, giving lots of examples from the natural world.  Job obviously is humbled, reminded that dominion is the LORD's.  God then (in chapter 40) gives Job a chance to answer.  No longer seeking vindication, but completely humbled in comparison to God's greatness, Job has nothing to say.

God continues to speak to Job, telling him that He will continue to question him and give him a chance to answer.  Of course God knows all the answers to His questions, but He asks them to help Job see the ere in his questioning God's justice, his need to trust in God's all-wise, sovereignty.  After establishing Himself as Creator and Sovereign over the natural world, we see God challenge Job about His dealings with morality, and judgement of the wicked.  He basically asks Him to do his work for Him if Job thinks that he can do a better job.  He then speaks of His great creation of the Behemoth and Leviathan of the land and sea.  While man cannot control these mighty creatures, the Lord can with ease for they are his creation, as is everything under the whole heaven.  The Lord asks Job is he would be willing to stand against these creatures.  Of course he would not, so why does he dare stand before God who is far greater than these.

The final chapter of Job (42) is quite full.  It begins with Job answering God, still without knowledge of why this all happened but in faith declaring God's sovereign rule, repenting of his rash words and doubts, fully humbled before God's magnificence.  Job's eyes have been opened to truly see God's greatness, and his faith grows.  Praise God for revealing Himself to us and growing our faith!  (Even now as we read His Word!)  Satan is proven wrong.  While Job's faith is tested and he has to repent of his wrong thoughts of God, he never turns from God as Savior.  Job's friends are also proven wrong.  The Lord turns to Eliphaz, angry with him, Bildad, and Zophar for their wrong accusations.  He commands them to sacrifice burnt offerings and have Job pray for them.  They do as they are told, and the Lord grants them all forgiveness.  Praise God for the ultimate sacrifice paid for our sins, for Jesus Christ's death and resurrection! Finally we see the end of the story.  The Lord more than fully restores Job's fortune.  He gives him twice a much as before.  All Job's family and friends come together and eat and comfort and bless him with money and gold rings.  The Lord also blesses Job with three more beautiful daughters and seven sons (and he has plenty inheritance for all ten of them).   I love that while we see Job's livestock replaced with double the number, we see the children replaced with an equal number because though his first children were gone from him, their souls live on forever.  Sometimes I think about how the Lord granted me children in my womb after my two losses and that they are not replacements for their siblings, rather additional children, for my sweet Hope and Kyson are alive in heaven, and we will be reunited one day.  Job lives a long life and sees his children to the fourth generation.  What a beautiful story of restoration!

I will end with this: God is in control.  He is wise and faithful.  We can trust Him.  No matter what we are going through, we can rest in Him.  And when we fail to fully trust in His will, and we question and complain, He lovingly reminds us of who He is and is faithful to forgive us.