J O B

The Sovereignty of God in the Suffering of Job

F. Wayne Mac Leod

Light To My Path Book Distribution

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written

permission of the author.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise specified, are taken from the New International Version of

Scriptures marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible

Special thanks to the proof readers and reviewers without whom this book would be much harder to

read.

CONTENTS
Title Page
Copyright
Preface
Introduction to Job
- The Trials of a Blameless Man
- More Troubles
- Job Curses the Day of His Birth
- Eliphaz: Make Piety Your Confidence
- Job's Response: The Devotion of Friendship
- Job's Cry to God: Leave Me Alone
- Bildad: Plead with the Almighty
- Job's Response: Can a Mortal Be Righteous?
- Tell Me the Charges you Have Against Me
- Zophar: God's Wisdom and Human Wisdom
- Job's Response: Can We Understand God?
- Job's Cry to God: Is There any Hope?
- Eliphaz: The Godless Will be Barren
- Job's Response: My Intercessor is My Friend
- Job's Cry to God: The Righteous will Hold On
- Bildad: The Wicked are Snuffed Out
- Job's Response: He has Stripped Me

- Zophar: The Joy of the Wicked is Brief
- Job's Response: Why Do the Wicked Live On?
- Eliphaz: Submit to God and Be at Peace
- Job's Response: I Wish I Could Find God
- The Outer Fringe of God's Word
- I Will Maintain my Righteousness
- In Search of Wisdom
- Shattered Dreams
- If...
- Elihu: Introduction
- Elihu: Job Receives What He Deserves
- Elihu: Judging According to Circumstances
- Elihu: Consider the Wonders of God
- Have You? Can You? Do You?
- God's Response: Wild Animals and Birds
- Behemoth
- Leviathan
- Repentance and Restoration
About The Author

PREFACE

he book of Job is the story of a blameless man of God who fell on

hard times. More than that, however, it is the story of a man of

God who was tested beyond his limits and remained faithful. The

story of Job is a story of a man’s feeble attempts to understand the purpose

and plan of a sovereign God. In this story we meet Satan in the presence of

God. We see the righteous suffer while the evil prosper. We watch a

blameless man curse the day he was born and wish to die. We watch God

remain silent to the cries of His righteous servant. More than anything else,

however, we meet a God who can use the efforts of Satan and accomplish

great good in the life of a persevering saint.

The book of Job is a message from a sovereign and loving God about

suffering and pain in this world. It is a book we can all identify with

because we live in a world of pain and suffering. Take your time reading

this commentary. Please do not read this commentary on its own. Read the

Bible passage quoted at the beginning of each chapter. Ask the Lord to open

your eyes and ears to what He wants you to learn from each passage. Take

the time to read and consider the questions at the end of each chapter. Pray

over what you have learned.

My desire is that this commentary will be an aid to help you understand this

complex book of the Bible. I pray that this section of Scripture will be as

much encouragement to you as it has been to me. May God bless you richly

as you take the time to read and study the book of Job.

F. Wayne Mac Leod

INTRODUCTION TO JOB

Author:

here is no indication anywhere in the Bible as to the author of the

book of Job or the time the book was written, although various

opinions have immerged. It is quite obvious that Job was a real

person. Evidence for this is found in Ezekiel 14:14 where he is listed with

other Old Testament characters:

Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it,

they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares

the Sovereign LORD.

There is also evidence that the author of the book was quoted in the New

Testament. A comparison between Hebrews 12:5 and Job 5:17 as well as 1

Corinthians 3:19 and Job 5:13 show that the book was well respected by the

writers of the New Testament.

The material found in the book indicates that the author was close to Job

and was able to obtain detailed accounts of the conversations of Job with

his friends, his thoughts and the words of God to him.

Background:

Job lived in the land of Uz which seems to be located somewhere around

the region of Edom as evidenced in Lamentations 4:21:

Rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who live in the

land of Uz.

Job is described as a blameless and upright man who feared God (Job 1:1).

Not only did he fear the Lord and walk in His ways but Job was also a very

well respected and wealthy man in the region where he lived. Through a

series of events, Job lost his family, his wealth and physical health. He was

left to question God and His purposes. The book is an account of Job’s

pilgrimage through the trials he faced.

Importance Of The Books For Today:

The book of Job is probably one of the most important books in the Bible

dealing with suffering and trials and is entirely devoted to this subject. It is

written in a manner that reflects Job’s personal experiences but designed to

teach its readers about suffering and God’s sovereignty over it.

Job’s friends present their opinions about his suffering and trials but in the

end they have to admit that they do not have an answer. God’s purposes

were too great for them to understand. This shows us that God’s ways are

much higher than our ways and there are times when we simply will not

understand what He is doing.

Job never fully understood what God was doing in his life but he did

persevere in his confidence in Him. The book teaches us the importance of

faith and confidence in God even when we don’t have the answers we

would like to have.

Job’s struggle was intense. He was brought to the limits of his strength. He

cursed the day he was born and wished he could die. He was broken and

crushed. His friends accused him. Fellow citizens, who had once respected

him, mocked him and refuse to be seen in his presence. His wife told him to

curse God and die. Job was left without strength, confused and depressed

but God carried him through to victory. What an encouragement this is for

us. This book reminds us that the battle in not in our strength but in the

strength the Lord provides.

Satan unleashed all he could on Job in an attempt to cause him to renounce

God. God allowed Satan certain privileges but protected Job and kept him

in His hands. The God of Job will care for us in the same way. We belong to

Him and Satan cannot have us. God will keep us, protect us and strengthen

even though Satan does his utmost to destroy us and our faith. Job’s

example is proof of this.

While sometimes difficult to understand, the book of Job brings great

comfort and strength to those of us who have had to face struggles in life. It

shows suffering at its worst but points us to a sovereign and loving God

who keeps those who belong to Him.

1 - THE TRIALS OF A

BLAMELESS MAN

Read Job 1

ne of the greatest challenges of the book of Job is to understand

the work of God. In a sense, the book is about a God whose ways

are higher than our ways. Throughout the generations human

beings have attempted to understand the mind of God. We have formed a

theological system and dissected the various attributes of God, but have we

really come to understand who He is and how He works? In this

commentary we will see the futile attempts of Job and his friends to define

God. Ultimately, we will be confronted with God Himself who is beyond

description.

As we begin the book of Job, we meet Job himself. He lived in the land of

Uz in the region of Edom (see Lamentations 4:21). While it is uncertain

when Job lived, it is generally agreed that he lived around the time of

Abraham (approximately 2100 BC). We learn several things about Job in

this opening section of chapter 1.

First, Job was blameless (verse 1). The Hebrew word used for blameless

(perfect, KJV) has the idea of being morally complete. That is to say, Job

was honest and mature in his dealings with God and people. He lived a

morally pure life. This does not mean that Job never sinned. The Lord Jesus

alone was without sin. Job was honest, pure, and sincere and lived an

exemplary life; but he was still a sinner in need of God’s grace. Verse 1 tells

us what being blameless means when it tells us that Job “feared God and

shunned evil.” He loved God and lived for Him.

Second, notice that God gave Job seven sons. Sons, in the Old Testament

context, were a true blessing from the Lord. Job also had three daughters.

Besides his many children, Job was rich in livestock. Verse 3 tells us that he

owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred donkeys,

and had a large number of servants. He was considered to be the richest and

most influential man in the East.

Third, notice that Job had a deep concern for the spiritual welfare of his

children. We are told that his sons took turns holding feasts in their homes.

Job would sacrifice burnt offerings for them in the event that during their

time of feasting and drinking, they may have sinned or cursed God in their

hearts. It is of particular interest that Job spoke here of the hearts of his

children. He was not just interested in their outward actions; his deep

concern was for inward, spiritual well-being. He wanted them to be

cleansed from every wrong action, thought, or attitude. This indicates that

Job’s faith was more than a superficial, outward faith. Job’s faith came from

his heart, and he expected the same from his children.

Following this introduction the scene is moved to heaven (verse 6). The

angels were coming to present themselves to God apparently to account for

their activities. Satan also came with these angels, and God asked him

where he had come from. Satan told the Lord that he had been roaming

through the earth. God asked Satan if he had noticed Job (verse 8). This

leads us to understand that the reason Satan was roaming was to find

individuals to tempt and turn from God. The apostle Peter warned believers

about Satan and the way he roams through the earth seeking someone to

devour:

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1

Peter 5:8).

What may seem strange here is that God does not try to hide Job from

Satan. The Lord openly asked Satan if he had ever considered tempting Job.

God did not fear what Satan could do. Satan’s efforts in the life of Job

would not affect God’s ultimate purposes for Job.

Satan jumped at this opportunity. He wanted an opportunity to tempt Job.

The problem, however, was that God had been protecting Job by putting a

protective hedge around him and his family, sparing them from harm.

According to Satan, Job had no reason to turn away from God. God had

made Job’s life so comfortable and blessed that Job was more than happy to

be faithful to Him. Satan suggested that Job was committed to God simply

to get God’s blessing.

It is important that we consider the reason for our commitment to God. Do

we serve Him for what we can get from Him? Do we love Him because He

has made our lives easy? What would happen if God took away His

blessings? Satan told God that if Job was stripped of these things, he would

curse God to His face. In response to this, God placed everything Job had in

Satan’s hands. God told Satan, however, that He could not touch Job’s

person.

Notice that Satan had no ability to take anything away from Job that God

did not give him permission to take. Though Satan lashes out in great fury,

he is not in control. The Lord God still rules in heaven. Satan is limited in

power.

Satan left the presence of God that day and wasted no time doing his evil

work. On one of those occasions when Job’s sons and daughters were

feasting together, Satan attacked.

The first Job heard about this was when a messenger arrived to tell him that

the Sabeans had attacked and carried off the oxen and donkeys that were

grazing in the fields. The raiders had also killed the servants who were

looking after the animals. Only one servant had escaped to give Job the

news.

While the first messenger was speaking, a second arrived. He told how the

fire of God had fallen from the sky and burned the sheep and more servants.

Yet a third messenger arrived telling Job that the Chaldeans formed three

raiding parties and carried off his camels, putting yet more servants to

death.

The fourth messenger came with even more tragic news. He told how Job’s

sons and daughters were feasting and drinking together when suddenly a

great wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house

so that it collapsed on them, killing them all.

Job lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, servants, and all his children. We

can only imagine the pain Job experienced. In response, He rose up, tore his

robe, and shaved his head, as a sign of deep mourning. He fell to the ground

in worship of God and said in verse 21:

“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.”

We do not always understand why God allows what He does, but we must

never lose sight of the fact that He is able to use the worst things Satan does

to us to accomplish His glory and draw us closer to Himself. Although Job

grieved, he still worshipped the Lord. He acknowledged the Lord’s

sovereign control over all the events of his life.

This passage ought to challenge us to examine our love for God. What is

the basis for your love for God? Do you love Him because He has given

you lots of good friends and a wonderful church? Do you love Him because

He has blessed your ministry and given you a wonderful spouse? Do you

love Him because He has given you all you need for each day? What would

happen if all of these things were taken from you? Would you still love

Him? Job loved God for who He is. Even if God stripped Him of everything

He had, Job would still love and obey Him.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about Job? What kind of person was he?

Do the righteous suffer? What evidence is there of this in your church and

community?

Where is God when trials and suffering come our way? Do we have to

understand what God is doing to trust Him?

Why do you love God? How much of your love for God is based on what

He has given you in this life?

In this passage we see that sometimes God puts a protective wall around

His people and sometimes He removes that wall. What do we learn from

Job about how to deal with the times when God removes the wall?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is in control of everything in this life.

Take a moment to praise the Lord for the things He has given you.

Can you, like Job, still worship God when blessings are removed from your

life? If so take a moment to do so right now.

Ask God to help you to understand the motivation for your love for Him.

Ask him to give you a love that is sincere.

2 - MORE TROUBLES

Read Job 2

n the last meditation, we saw how Satan stripped Job of all he had in

an attempt to make him turn from God. Job lost his livestock, his

servants, and all his children but refused to turn his back on the God

he loved.

On another occasion the angels came to present themselves to God, and

again Satan came with them. Notice the boldness of Satan. He appears

before God with the angels of heaven. We need to understand that Satan

will stop at nothing to destroy the work of God. If he was willing to appear

in the presence of the angels of heaven before God, we should not be

surprised if he shows up in our churches or Bible studies. His boldness is

second only to his hatred of the things of God.

When the Lord saw Satan, again He asked him where he had come from.

Obviously, the Lord already knew where Satan had been. The question was

asked not so that God could gain information but rather to ask Satan what

he wanted. Satan told God that he had been roaming the earth. Satan

roamed looking for people to tempt. He roamed seeking any opportunity to

hinder the work of the Lord. He does not hide this from God. He is very

open about his purposes.

Again, the Lord asked Satan if he had considered Job and reminded Satan

that Job was blameless. Job had not sinned even though Satan had tempted

him. Notice in verse 3 that God accused Satan of causing Job’s suffering for

no reason. This should not go unnoticed. God did not allow Satan to attack

Job’s possessions because Job deserved punishment. Job was more

blameless and upright than anyone else on the earth. He lived for God and

loved God with all his heart. Though God allowed Job to pass through this

trial, we can be sure of one thing: God was in control and would use this

trial to accomplish good in the life of Job.

Satan contended that the reason Job did not curse God in his suffering was

because God was protecting his physical health. Satan was confident that if

God would let him strike Job’s body with disease, then Job would turn from

God and curse Him. God again gave Satan permission to distress Job. God

hindered Satan only from taking Job’s life.

Satan left the presence of God that day to assault Job. Verse 7 tells us that

Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the sole of his feet to the top of

his head. So great was this disease that Job used a piece of broken pottery to

scrape and scratch himself. He sat among the ashes. He could no longer live

in his home because he was unclean, filled with running sores. He sat in

what would appear to be some sort of garbage dump amid the ashes in

absolute agony and pain.

In verse 9 Job’s wife came to see him. As he sat there in the ash heap, she

said to him: “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and

die!” We can only imagine the impact of this statement on Job. Even his

wife asked him to curse God and die. She could not bear to see him in such

pain. Her commitment to God was not equal to Job’s. She preferred to see

him dead than to see him in such a condition. Job had lost the support of his

wife. He was alone in this trial.

Job listened to his wife but challenged her attitude. In verse 10 he told her:

“You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and

not trouble?” Job’s words are powerful. He reminded his wife that they

must be ready to receive whatever God chose to give.

We are more than willing to accept the things we like from God, but we do

not want to receive difficulty. Sometimes God will ask us to carry a burden.

Some people go through life with a physical affliction. They must carry that

affliction with them to the grave. We may not understand the reason for this,

but we can be sure that God has a purpose in it for good. Sometimes the

world needs to see how God can give believers the victory of faith and joy

in affliction.

In verse 11 we meet three friends of Job. When Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz

heard about Job’s suffering, they came to visit him. They hoped to comfort

him in his pain. When they saw Job at a distance, they did not recognise

him. When they finally realised that this suffering man was Job, they were

stricken with grief. Verse 12 tells us that they wept aloud, tore their robes,

and cast dust on their heads. They did this to indicate their intense grief at

seeing their friend in such a condition.

Verse 13 tells us that they sat on the ground with him for seven days and

seven nights without saying a word. We can only imagine the intensity of

pain that Job experienced that day. All his friends could do was to watch

him as he groaned in agony.

God never promised that things would be easy for us. Here we have a

picture of a man of God sitting on an ash pile in intense suffering, not

because of anything he had done but because Satan was afflicting him. God

watched what was happening but did not interfere with Satan. Job was

stretched beyond his human ability to endure. What we need to understand,

however, is that without the stretching there can be no strengthening. God

was not blind to what Job was facing. Though Satan was vicious in his

attacks, God would use what Job went through to strengthen and purify his

servant. Would you be ready to face what Job faced if by doing so you

would be drawn closer to the Lord God?

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the boldness of Satan? What does this teach us

about our need for caution and discernment?

How is the power of Satan limited?

Does God allow or even send trouble to His servants? Why?

What is the connection between being stretched and being strengthened?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you greater discernment in your ministry and walk

with God to recognise the attack of the enemy.

Thank the Lord that He is greater than Satan and that Satan can do nothing

to us that God does not first allow.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you refused to accept His means

of strengthening you.

Thank the Lord that no matter what the enemy may do to us, He is in

control.

3 - JOB CURSES THE DAY

OF HIS BIRTH

Read Job 3

ob and his friends had been sitting in silence. The time finally came

when Job broke the silence and expressed his grief in words to his

friends. Here in chapter 3 Job cursed the day of his birth. The pain he

was experiencing was so great that Job began to wish he had never been

born. Notice that he does not curse God, though admittedly he does begin to

question why God had let him be born at all.

From verses 3-7 we see that Job wished that he could erase the day of his

birth from the calendar. He wished that the night had never come when his

parents were told: “A boy is born!” Job wished that the day he was born had

been nothing but darkness and that God had cared nothing about it. That is

to say, he wished that God’s blessings had never fallen on that day so that

he would never have been brought into the world. He expressed his wish

that the night he was born would have been a barren night. “May no shout

of joy be heard in it,” he says in verse 7. In particular he was thinking of the

shout of joy that was heard when the news of his birth was announced.

In verse 8 Job called on those who cursed days. Possibly, he was referring

here to magicians or sorcerers of some kind to whom people would go for

the purpose of cursing someone or something that had offended them. Job

called on these individuals to curse the day of his birth.

Notice also in verse 8 that Job called on those who were ready to rouse

Leviathan. Leviathan was a fierce sea creature mentioned in the Bible. In

the book of Isaiah, Leviathan is described as a gliding and coiling serpent:

“In that day, the LORD will punish with his sword, his fierce,

great and powerful sword, Leviathan the gliding serpent,

Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the

sea” (Isaiah 27:1).

Psalm 104:26 states:

There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you

formed to frolic there.”

Leviathan was a sea monster of some kind. The reference to those who

would rouse Leviathan is a reference to those who sought to bring

tremendous curses and terror to others; these are likely pagan sorcerers. We

need to understand that Job was not actually calling on sorcerers and

magicians. He was simply recognising a practice of his day and using it in a

poetic form to express his deep pain.

Job’s desire was that the morning stars had become dark and the dawn had

never come on the day he was born (verse 9). He wondered why he had not

perished at birth. Why had God allowed his mother’s knees to receive him

and her breasts to nurse him? Had he died at birth, he would never have had

to face the pain he felt at that time. In death, he would be at rest.

Job reminds his friends that if he had died at birth, he would be lying in the

ground with kings and the wise counsellors of the earth (verses 14-15).

There in the grave he would be with rich rulers who had filled their houses

with silver. At present, he was sitting on an ash heap in both physical and

emotional agony. For Job the grave would have been a welcome sight. In

the grave even the wicked ceased causing turmoil. Those who were weary

and overworked were finally able to rest in peace. The captive slaves were

released from the terrible burden of life and no longer had to listen to the

cry of their slave drivers (verse 18).

How easy it is in our suffering to forget the good we have experienced.

During our suffering all the past blessings of God seem to be forgotten. All

Job could see was his present pain. Job failed to understand the purpose of

God in his suffering. In verses 20-22 he asked:

“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of

soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who

search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with

gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?”

Life on earth is indeed filled with pain and agony. Sin has had a terrible

effect on nature and on human relationships. Sometimes the weight of sin

and its effects is too much for some to bear in their own strength. Even

those who know the Lord have been known to cry out for death because of

the weight of evil and oppression on them.

In 1 Kings 19:4 we see that the prophet Elijah, under the pressure and stress

of the day, cried out to God to take his life. In Jeremiah 20:14 the prophet

Jeremiah cursed that day of his birth. The reality of the matter is that even

believers can feel the terrible weight of pain and suffering to the point

where death seems preferable to continuing in this world.

The question Job asked was why would God allow humans to go through

this type of pain? Why did He not protect them from the overwhelming

effects of sin, evil, and pain? Job’s experience was causing him to ask some

hard questions. He had no peace or quietness in his soul. For Job his worst

fears had come true.

There will be times in life when we may be brought to the same point as

Job. As someone who has suffered from clinical depression, I can at times

identify with what Job was saying. I still remember the time when, walking

home from church one Sunday evening, I cried out: “Lord, if you have

finished with me, then take me home. I don’t want to continue like this

anymore.” Obviously, God was not finished with me. He would later open

up a greater door of opportunity for these commentaries. The reality of the

matter, however, is that as long as we live in this body and on this earth, we

will have to deal with sin and its effects. As long as God has not finished

with us, we will always be stretched and strengthened through what we

suffer. We may, like Job, not have the answers to our questions, but be

assured that God has not finished with us. He will teach and purify us in

these times like gold refined in the fire.

For Consideration:

Does God always give us reasons for the things we have to face in life?

What do we see in the life of Job?

Have you ever found yourself wondering what God was doing in your life?

Explain.

Do we need to have answers to our questions before we can trust God?

What does God accomplish in us through suffering and trials?

For Prayer:

If you are facing a deep trial right now, commit yourself afresh to trust and

seek the purpose of God alone.

Do you know of a fellow believer who is facing a deep trial? Take a

moment to pray for this person and to ask the Lord to show you if there is

anything in particular you can do to help.

Thank the Lord that He is trustworthy even when things seem to overwhelm

us.

4 - ELIPHAZ: MAKE PIETY

YOUR CONFIDENCE

Read Job 4-5

fter a long period of silence, Job finally spoke. In the last

meditation, we saw how Job cursed the day of his birth. He

wished he had never been born. The pain and suffering he felt at

that time seemed beyond his ability to endure.

It was Eliphaz who spoke first in an attempt to explain the reason for Job’s

suffering. It seems that as human beings we need to understand everything

God does even though His ways are often beyond us. His first argument to

Job is found in chapters 4 and 5. To get the general sense of his argument,

we will look at both chapters in this meditation.

Eliphaz had listened to Job curse the day of his birth. As he listened, his

heart stirred within him. He felt the need to speak and share what was

burning in his heart. In verse 2 he approached Job somewhat cautiously.

Eliphaz asked Job to be patient with him as he ventured to speak. Eliphaz

was hesitant to speak, possibly because of Job’s profound suffering, but the

words seem to burn in his heart and needed to be released. For the sake of

clarity, we will break down his argument into its various sections.

Easier To Instruct Than Live (4:1-5)

The first part of Eliphaz’s argument in chapter 4 is really an accusation. He

began by reminding Job how he had instructed and strengthened many

people in his lifetime. With his great wisdom, he had supported those who

had stumbled and strengthened those whose knees were weak with

difficulties. Although Job had encouraged others in their troubles, he was

discouraged and overwhelmed when trouble came to him. Eliphaz was

frustrated with Job because he did not practice what he preached.

Here in his opening statement, Eliphaz shows us that he believed Job to be

inconsistent. He encouraged others but did not listen to his own advice.

Make Piety Your Confidence (4:6-11)

The second part of Eliphaz’s argument is in verses 6-11. He told Job to

make piety his confidence and blamelessness his hope. In other words, Job

was to live such a life that there would be no reason for God to teach him

lessons he had not yet learned. Eliphaz was saying that living a good life

was Job’s hope. The fact that Job was experiencing problems was an

indication that he was not living a pious and blameless life before God.

Eliphaz supported this view by telling Job that the innocent never perished.

Those who lived an upright life would never be destroyed. Those who

ploughed evil would reap trouble (verse 8). Evil people, according to

Eliphaz, would be destroyed by the breath of God and the blast of His

anger. Like lions, evil people roared and growled in their pursuit of prey.

They destroyed innocent men and women, but God would break their teeth

so that they could no longer torment their victims.

Eliphaz accused Job of serious crimes here. He compared Job to a lion

devouring the innocent. He told Job that the innocent never suffer. Job

somehow deserved what he had received from God. Eliphaz, however, had

no proof of his statements. God had called Job “blameless” in chapter 1;

Eliphaz accused him of sin.

Can A Man Be More Righteous Than His Maker?

(4:12-21)

In verses 12 to 17, Eliphaz told Job about a vision he had. While he was

asleep one night, fear and trembling overtook him. He felt a spirit slip by

him and his hair stood up on end in fear. He saw the indistinct form of a

spirit. As he trembled in fear, he heard the spirit speak: “Can a mortal be

more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his Maker?” (verse

17).

Eliphaz felt that this vision was very appropriate in Job’s situation. He

believed that Job was claiming to be more righteous than God. He saw Job

accusing God of punishing him without cause. Eliphaz felt that Job was

accusing God of wrong. The voice in Eliphaz’s vision reminded him that

humans could not be more righteous than God. If there was someone to

blame, it certainly could not be God. That could only mean that Job was to

blame for his suffering.

Eliphaz reminded Job that not even the angels were perfect. They were

capable of making mistakes and errors (verse 18). If God could not

completely trust His angels, how could He trust mere humans who live in

bodies made from the dust of the earth?

Eliphaz reminded Job that humans are as fragile as moths (verse 19).

Humans are broken to pieces between dawn and dusk and perish, never to

be remembered again. That is to say, the time between the dawn of birth and

the dusk of death is short. In that period our bodies will become more

fragile with age. Our vision will disappear; our strength will wane; and

eventually we will fade away like flowers. In an instant the cords of our

tents can be pulled up—life can be suddenly taken from us. How could the

words and judgments of such weak and helpless beings be trusted? Mere

human could never accuse God of wrong. Eliphaz believed that Job was

setting Himself up as God’s judge. This was very foolish indeed.

Hardship Does Not Spring From The Soil (5:1-7)

The next element of Eliphaz’s argument can be found in verses 1-7 of

chapter 5. In verse 1 Eliphaz asked Job who in heaven he could turn to for

support of his arguments. Eliphaz made it clear to Job that no one in heaven

would support him. Eliphaz believed that he, however, had heaven’s support

in what he spoke.

For Eliphaz things were very simple. “Resentment kills a fool, and envy

slays the simple,’’ he told Job (verse 2). The sinful acts of the sinner destroy

him. Eliphaz reminded Job that he had known evil people who seemed to

prosper for a moment, but they were ultimately cut down. Their children

were not safe. They suffered the consequences of their father’s sin. The

hungry consumed the harvest of the wicked. Evil people would get what

they deserved.

Hardship, according to Eliphaz, was not natural to the earth (verse 6).

Trouble did not sprout from the ground naturally. Hardship and trouble was

not the portion of the righteous. They were the punishment of God for evil.

In verse 7 Eliphaz reminded Job that people were born to trouble as surely

as sparks fly upward. Eliphaz was telling Job that since trouble and evil did

not grow naturally in the soil, they occur some other way–that way was

from people. Humans reap what they sow. Job had sowed evil and was now

harvesting the consequences of his actions.

Appeal To God (5:8-12)

Eliphaz pleaded with Job to appeal to God (verse 8). He told Job to lay his

cause before God and listen to what He would tell him. Eliphaz reminded

Job that God performed wonders and miracles. He was a God of mercy and

compassion who gave rain to the earth. He set the humble in high places

and lifted up those who were mourning to safety. Those who were crafty

and wise in their own eyes, however, were under the curse of God and

would never prosper or have success.

God Will Catch The Wise (5:13-16)

Eliphaz continued by saying that God is not fooled by the words of the

wise. He is not taken in by their evil schemes. Though they devised

ingenious plans, God would see through all the plans of the wicked.

Ultimately, darkness would fall on those who were wise in their own eyes.

It would fall on them in the daylight when they least expected it. They

would fall before their time. Their evil plans would fail. God would rescue

the needy from the sword of the wicked. The poor of the land could have

hope because God was against these evil people and their schemes. No

more would these so-called wise people keep the poor from justice.

Eliphaz saw Job as being wise in his own eyes. Maybe he believed that

somehow Job had cleverly deceived those around him and had hidden his

sin. He reminded Job that God would reveal his sin and punish him.

Do Not Despise Discipline (5:17-18)

It was quite clear in the mind of Eliphaz that Job was being punished for

some hidden sin. He challenged Job not to despise God’s discipline. For

Eliphaz, Job’s complaints proved that he had rejected what God was doing.

He reminded Job that while God wounded, He would also bind up those

wounds; and although He injured, he would heal. God would punish and

discipline, but when His child learned the lesson, He would quickly restore

him. Eliphaz challenged Job to accept God’s discipline, repent of his sin,

and be restored.

No Harm Will Befall You (5:19-26)

Eliphaz concluded his arguments by telling Job that if he listened to God

and accepted His discipline, then only good would happen to Him. God

would rescue Job from famine, battle, and sword. Job would be protected

from the lashing of the tongue and from destruction. He would be able to

laugh at destruction and would not need to fear the wild beast.

Eliphaz told Job that those who were right with God were protected so that

harm could not befall them. They had a covenant with the stones of the

field, and the animals of the wild would be at peace with them. The tent of

the righteous would be secure and nothing would happen to their livestock.

The ones who served God would know the blessing of God and have many

children. Their descendants would be as numerous as the grass of the earth.

These people would die in full health, having lived a fruitful and blessed

life.

Eliphaz ended his speech by telling Job that these things had been examined

and found to be true. He encouraged Job to listen to what he was saying and

apply it to his life. In brief, Eliphaz believed that if people lived good lives,

they would prosper. The blessing of God would rest on those who did His

will. God would protect them and nothing evil could happen to Him.

According to Eliphaz, Job must have done something wrong to deserve

such a drastic judgment from God.

For Consideration:

How important is it that we are able to live by the wisdom that we teach

others?

Does the argument of Eliphaz make sense? Do you agree with what he had

to say to Job? Why or why not?

Is the argument of Eliphaz the complete answer to why Job was suffering?

Why or why not?

Does God correct His people? Have you ever experienced the correction of

the Lord?

What encouragement do you receive here from Eliphaz regarding the way

God can rescue us from our trials and difficulties?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He does correct those He loves.

Thank the Lord that He is a holy God who does no evil.

Ask God to keep you from being quick to judge others.

Ask God to give you patience under His discipline and training.

5 - JOB'S RESPONSE: THE

DEVOTION OF

FRIENDSHIP

Read Job 6

n chapters 6 and 7, Job responded to the remarks of Eliphaz. In

chapter 6 he addressed his friends, and in chapter seven Job cried out

to God. In this meditation, we will look at the response of Job to his

friends. This chapter can be divided into two parts. In verses 2-13 Job spoke

about the agony he was facing. In verses 14-30, he spoke directly to his

friends regarding their efforts to minister to him in his hour of need.

Job began by telling his friends how he wished his anguish could be

weighed and placed on a scale. What did Job mean by this? Perhaps Job

was not convinced that his friends understood the weight he was bearing.

The comments of Eliphaz seemed to say that Job deserved what he got.

This would likely have hurt Job who felt that he did not deserve such a

heavy measure of pain. Perhaps, and much more likely, is the fact that Job

was seeking justice. At this point in his life, he did not think he deserved

what he received from God. If only he could take his grief and pain, put it

on a scale, and compare it to his sin, he would at least have a way of testing

to see if his punishment met his crime.

In verse 3 Job seems to respond to Eliphaz’s accusation that he was being

impatient (see Job 4:1). Job told his friends that the reason he spoke with

such impetuousness was the weight of his pain and agony. He told them that

if he were able to weigh the agony he felt at that point, it would outweigh

the sands of the sea.

Job felt justified in what he was saying. God’s arrows of judgment had

struck him. Even as he spoke, Job was drinking the poison of those arrows.

He was terrified as God set Himself against him. Job saw the arrows of

God’s judgment as a poison that was slowly killing him. He did not know

how much more he could handle.

In verse 5 Job asked his friends a question: “Does a wild donkey bray when

it has grass or an ox bellow when it has fodder?” What was Job saying

here? When a donkey or ox is well fed, it has no reason to bray or bellow.

But it cries out, however, when it is hungry. In a similar way, Job’s

complaint had reason. He spoke from the pain and agony of his soul.

In verses 6 and 7 Job asked his friends if there was any taste in the white of

an egg or if tasteless food was eaten without salt. There are certain foods

that are unpleasant to eat. In order to make those foods more agreeable, salt

or some other type of seasoning must be added. Job’s life was at present

very disagreeable. All that made life agreeable to Job had been taken from

him. Like tasteless food, Job’s life was detestable to him.

Job cried out in his despair, and he believed he was justified in doing so.

His complaints were not without reason. His life was stripped of any

blessing that would ease his suffering and make life more bearable. He

wished that God would crush him and end his suffering (verse 8). Life had

no more meaning and joy, and he wanted to die. At least if he died, he could

do so with the knowledge that he had not denied the words of God (verse

10). Job believed in his innocence.

God had set Himself against Job (at least this is how Job saw it). There was

nothing Job could do before a holy and sovereign God. Job saw himself as

being without hope. He did not see any benefit to being patient (verse 11).

He could only handle so much. His body was being broken down. His spirit

was being crushed. The day of his death was approaching. He did not have

flesh of bronze that he could resist indefinitely the attack of the Lord. If

God was against him, what hope did he have?

Before a holy and awesome God, Job had no power to defend himself

(verse 13). His only hope was in the Lord God and His favour. If there was

one thing this trial was teaching him, it was that a person apart from God

could do nothing. Everything we have we owe to the favour of God. Take

away that favour and we perish. Job could only wish that God would speed

up the process of crushing him so that his suffering would come to a speedy

end.

From these remarks, Job turned his attention to his friends. In verses 14-30

he told them what he felt about them and their futile attempts to help. Job

reminded his friends that a despairing man should have the devotion of his

friends even if he forsook the fear of the Lord (verse 14). How many

believers have turned their backs on those who have even once fallen in

their walk with the Lord? What Job is telling us is that we ought not to

abandon our friends in their need. True friends stick with each other

through the good times and the bad times. To stand with a friend in a time

of rebellion does not mean that we support his or her rebellion. It simply

means that we care for them and are concerned for their well-being.

This, however, was not the type of friends Job had. He compared them to

undependable streams. These streams overflowed in the winter, but when

the dry season came, they were nowhere to be seen. They had been great

friends in Job’s prosperity; but now that everything had been stripped from

him, they turned away.

In verses 18-20 Job compared his friends to the caravans that travelled

through the desert. These travelling merchants moved with confidence

because they knew where the streams were located. They arrived at the

location of the stream but were distressed to find out that it had dried up,

leaving them thirsty and perishing.

This is what Job’s friends were like. They had proved to be of no help to

him at all in his hour of need. They sat before him in accusation. In his pain

they blamed him for abandoning the Lord God. Accusations flowed freely,

but love and devotion was nowhere to be seen.

Job was confused as to why he was being punished. He asked his friends if

he had ever taken advantage of them or taken anything from them for profit.

To the best of his knowledge, Job had never taken advantage of his friends.

In verse 24 Job challenged his friends to show him where he had gone

wrong. To this point, they had only spoken in vague generalities. Job

wanted them to search their memories to find evidence that he deserved to

be punished. He admitted in verse 25 that honest words were very painful at

times, but he did not run from them. He wanted to know what God found

against him. The problem was that neither his friends nor God Himself had

ever shown Job what his fault was.

Job’s friends found Job in despair and assumed that he had nothing to say.

They saw his pain and assumed that God was punishing him. Because they

saw him as a sinner, they put no trust in anything he said. They treated his

words like wind that blew past but had no wisdom to impart.

Job accused his friends of being the type of people who would do anything

to benefit themselves (verse 27). They were the type of people who would

cast lots for the fatherless in order to use them as their slaves.

Job saw his integrity at stake. He was being accused of evil. Even his

friends questioned Job’s integrity. He pleaded with them to consider that he

might have a just case before God. He pleaded with them to be true friends

in this season of grief.

For Consideration:

Why did Job want his sins to be weighed? Have you ever felt that your

punishment was unjust?

What do we learn about the favour of God? Where would we be if it were

not for the favour of God?

What does Job teach us about our devotion to a friend who has fallen?

Job accused his friends of being there for him when he had lots of money

but putting no confidence in Him when he was stripped of everything. How

easy is it for us to respect the rich and look down on the poor?

What kind of friend are you? What does Job teach us about friendship?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the wonderful favour He has given

you.

Do you have a friend who is in need of encouragement? Ask the Lord to

help you to be loving toward this friend.

Ask the Lord to remove any prejudice you may have in regard to certain

people in your society. Ask the Lord to help you to respect people He sends

to you regardless of their social standing.

6 - JOB'S CRY TO GOD:

LEAVE ME ALONE

Read Job 7

n chapter 6 we saw how Job responded to his friends. He told them

that they were of no help to him. Instead of sharing his sorrow and

pain, they attacked him and accused him of evil. Here in this next

chapter, Job spoke to God. His cry to God was very honest. He did not hold

back his feelings or questions.

Job began by speaking of the hardships of life. “Does not man have hard

service on the earth?” he asked in verse 1. He compared his life to that of a

hired servant or slave. The servant worked hard all day in the hot sun.

Fatigue overwhelmed him so that he began to long for the end of the day

when he would be paid and return home to rest.

Job felt like that servant. He longed for the end of his life when he could

rest in peace from his pain and agony. He could not understand what was

happening to him. These last few months were months of futility for him.

What had been accomplished through his pain and affliction? Even his

nights were nights of misery.

He would lie down at night thinking that he would rest from his pain but

this would not happen. Instead, he would toss and turn all night in his

longing for the morning. There was no rest at night and only futility all day

long. Job reminds God that his body was clothed with worms and scabs

(verse 5). His skin was broken and festering. All day long he had to suffer

the pain of his festering wounds. He saw no purpose in this.

As Job looked at his life, he felt that it was short and futile. He compared it

to the weaver’s shuttle. This was an instrument used to make cloth. It

moved from one side of the cloth to another so that the strands of thread

could be woven together. Job was saying that he saw his life like this.

Maybe this is a reference to how quickly the shuttle moved from one side of

the cloth to the other. His life went by as quickly as the weaver's shuttle

moved from one side of the cloth to the other.

In verse 7 Job stated that life was but a breath and then was no more. He

would perish and never see happiness again. He would disappear in death,

never to be seen again. Like a cloud, he would vanish and never return to

the land of the living (verse 10).

We need to understand that Job spoke out of pain and anguish and not from

a deep theological understanding of God and His plan. Job may have lacked

some basic theological understanding of the resurrection and the hope we

can have through the Lord Jesus. Job spoke from a partial understanding of

God and out of deep pain and suffering.

Job refused to be silent in this time of his life (verse 11). He chose to speak

out about the anguish he felt in his spirit. He felt justified in complaining

bitterly. He did not feel that he deserved what he was receiving from the

hand of God. “Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep that you put me

under guard?” he asked God (verse 12). Job has enough understanding to

know that man was the crown of God’s creation. Man was to be treated with

dignity and respect. He felt that he was being treated like a monster that

needed to be crushed or like an object that needed to be controlled lest it

unleash its deadly power and destroy the earth.

Job believed he was being attacked by God and expressed this to Him

openly (verses 13-15). Here he told God that even when he laid down to

rest from the weariness of the day, God pursued him with frightful dreams

and terrifying visions. These dreams and visions at night were so horrible

that Job felt as though he preferred strangling and death rather than living in

the body God had given him. Death seemed to be the only way of escape

for Job.

Job made it quite clear in verse 16 that he hated his life as it was. He

pleaded with God to leave him alone. He found no more reason to live. His

life seemed to be a waste of time and an unnecessary anguish. He just

wanted to die.

In verse 17 Job asked God why He made so much of man. Why would God

give Job so much attention? It seemed that God looked down on Job every

morning and tested him every moment of the day. God would not leave him

alone. Job pleaded with God to show him what he had done to deserve such

wrath (verse 20).

In verse 21 Job asked God why He did not pardon his offences. Why would

God set His heart to punish and torment? He reminded God that his life

would soon be over. Soon he would die and no longer be a burden to Him.

Chapter 7 reveals the true pain of Job. He was not only tormented on the

outside with open wounds but also on the inside with deep unanswered

questions. Job’s greatest pain was the silence of God and the uncertainty of

what He had done wrong. Job’s spirit was crushed. Depression had set in

and Job could no longer see any reason to live. Life was futile and

meaningless. Death seemed like the only escape.

It is important that we see that God never left Job. Admittedly, Job saw the

presence of God as a negative thing. He could not get away from God. In

reality, however, it was that presence of God that kept him safe from even

more evil and oppression at the hand of Satan. Job was able to overcome

only because God never left him and would not let him go. The pain was

very real. The depression and anguish of spirit were overwhelming, but God

was still there by Job’s side.

For Consideration:

Have you ever experienced times when you wondered if you could ever get

through the trials you felt? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by suffering

and anguish? How did God take you through those times?

What comfort do you find in the fact that God never left Job in this time of

trouble?

Have you ever felt the silence of God? Why is it so difficult for the believer

to handle the silence of God?

For Prayer:

Ask God to show you His purpose for you in the struggle you are facing

right now. Commit yourself to the Lord and to faithfulness in this time.

Thank the Lord for the times He has carried you through great struggle and

pain.

Take a moment to thank the Lord that His ways are always perfect. Ask

Him to increase your faith when you cannot understand His ways.

7 - BILDAD: PLEAD WITH

THE ALMIGHTY

Read Job 8

n chapter 8 Bildad the Shuhite spoke to Job. He began by telling Job

that his words were like blustering wind. They were offensive and

cruel. To Bildad, Job was accusing God of injustice. Bildad reminded

Job that the Lord God could never be accused of perverting justice.

Everything He did was righteous, just, and holy.

According to Bildad, Job’s children had sinned and were justly punished for

their sin. He did not base this on what he knew about the events of that day

but rather on the idea that God would only punish Job’s children if they had

not done something terrible.

Bildad felt the need to defend God’s honour. He believed he spoke on God’s

behalf. He said that Job’s children deserved their punishment (verse 4). He

told Job, in effect, that he too deserved what was happening to him. He

spoke these things because he believed God’s honour was at stake.

Bildad shows no sympathy for the pain Job faced here. There is a time for

theology and a time for sympathy and compassion. At this point in the life

of Job, he needed fewer theological answers and more comfort and concern

from his friends.

Bildad challenged Job in verse 5 to look to and plead with the Lord God.

He went as far as to tell Job in verse 6 that if he were pure and upright, then

God would restore him to his original place of honour. He believed that if

Job repented, then the result would be that God would make him so

prosperous that the wealth he previously had would seem like nothing

(verse 7).

In verse 8 Bildad challenged Job to ask the former generations about these

matters. He was convinced that if Job were to listen to the instructions of

the former generations, they would clearly tell him that God’s blessing falls

on those who are obedient. What we see here in the book of Job, however,

is that God considered Job to be the most blameless person on the earth:

“Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my

servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless

and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil’” (1:8).

If God was punishing Job because he had sinned, why were his three

friends not being punished, since they were less blameless than Job? If God

considered Job to be the most righteous person on the earth, why was he the

target and not his friends?

With a hint of pride, Bildad called on Job to plead with God for forgiveness.

Bildad believed that if Job would do this, then all his prosperity would be

restored. The matter was not as simple as that.

In verse 11 Bildad went on to illustrate his point through nature. He

reminded Job of the papyrus that grew tall in the marsh. He reminded Job,

however, that these reeds could not thrive without water; they would wither

away even more quickly than grass. Bildad told Job that this was the same

for anyone who forgot God. Their belief, trust, and obedience were the

sustenance that allowed them to prosper in this life. Without this they would

perish as quickly as a reed without water. If Job’s trust was not in God, then

what he trusted in was as fragile as a spider’s web (verse 14). It would give

way in an instant. God alone is our only true security.

Bildad used another illustration in verse 16. He spoke about a well-watered

plant in the sunshine. That plant spread its shoots over the garden and

prospered. When this plant was pulled up by its roots, however, it quickly

perished. This is what Job’s life was like according to Bildad. He had been

anchored in the blessings of God though obedience and faithfulness. As

long as he was faithful to God, he prospered. Now that he had turned from

God, he was like a plant with its roots pulled up. He would perish. If Job

returned to God he could again experience blessing.

Bildad told Job clearly that God would never reject a blameless man nor

would He strengthen the hands of an evil man (verse 20). For Bildad the

answer was very simple. Trust God and be blessed; curse God and perish.

This is why he pleaded with Job to repent and return to God.

God is not easily put in a box. His purposes sometimes defy our

understanding of theology. He is bigger than our ability to understand Him.

None of us can truly claim to fully understand His ways and purposes.

Bildad believed he was defending God when, in reality, he was

misrepresenting him. Bildad’s limited understanding of God, led him to

wrong conclusions.

Job had not abandoned God. He had not turned his back on his Maker. The

blessings of the Lord had not been removed from Job because of some deep

sin in his life. God was testing Job and strengthening him. That testing was

extremely painful, but God had not abandoned Job.

What is most challenging about this is that God is testing and strengthening

the man He considered to be blameless. This blameless man was being

drawn closer to God and His purposes. God was refining him and changing

him. No matter how close we feel we are to the Lord there is always more

room for change and refinement. This is what God is doing to Job.

For Consideration:

Can we truly defend God? Does He need us to defend Him?

How can limited understanding lead to false conclusions? How much of a

problem is this in your church and society today?

Bildad spoke elements of truth but did not show any compassion for the

pain of Job. When is it important to speak theologically to those in pain,

and when is it more important simply to show compassion?

Does God allow good people to suffer? Explain.

Is it possible for us to be deceived by carefully reasoned and illustrated

theological arguments? Why do we feel it important to understand God and

His purposes? Can we really ever understand everything about Him and His

ways?

What is the role of faith and trust in the times when we simply do not

understand God and His ways?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is bigger than our ability to understand Him.

Ask the Lord to give you the humility to admit that you do not always

understand His ways and purposes.

Thank the Lord that He is a God who forgives and restores.

Ask God for discernment to recognize false but carefully reasoned theology.

Ask God to give you a greater confidence and trust in Him when you do not

understand what He is doing.

8 - JOB'S RESPONSE: CAN

A MORTAL BE

RIGHTEOUS?

Read Job 9

n Bildad’s reply to Job in chapter 8, he told Job: “God does not reject

a blameless man.” He challenged Job to plead with God for

forgiveness and get his life back on track so that the blessing of God

would no longer be hindered in his life. Although Job listened to what

Bildad had to say, he had certain problems with the reasoning. Job agreed

with Bildad that God blesses those who honour Him and live a righteous

life. Job’s problem, however, is stated in chapter 9: “But how can a mortal

be righteous before God?”

In other words, how can a sinful man ever meet the standard God has set

out for him? Job felt the futility of even trying to reach the standard of

perfection that God required. The apostle Paul recognized this problem in

the book of Romans when he wrote:

“As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there

is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have

turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no

one who does good, not even one’” (Romans 3:10-12).

This same problem exists in our day. None of us can ever meet the standard

that God has set out for us in His Word. We have all fallen short. Not one of

us can claim to be perfect or sinless. As such, we are separated from God. It

was for this reason that the Lord Jesus came to the earth. Job was aware of

this universal problem of humanity. We are sinners and God is righteous.

We are separated from God with no ability to attain the standard He has set

out for us. Not one of us lives up to the perfect standard God has set for us.

In verse 3 Job reminded Bildad that even if he wished to dispute or argue

his case with God, there was nothing in him that would give God cause to

consider his request. Why would a holy God listen to proud and rebellious

humanity?

There is no reason logical reason why God should be interested in us as

human beings. We have all too often turned our hearts in rebellion against

Him. We have dishonoured His name. We are sinners and He is holy. We

are fragile and finite creatures, and He is an almighty and everlasting God.

We differ from Him more than day differs from night.

The wisdom of God, according to verse 4, is profound. His power is vast.

How could any human stand against Him and prevail? This awesome God

moves mountains and overturns them in His anger without humanity

knowing it. He does not need permission to move the mountains. He shakes

the earth and makes it tremble (verse 6). He speaks to the sun and causes it

to cease shining. He can block the light of the stars. We cannot imagine this

power.

This wonderful God stretched out the heavens by Himself. Even the waves

of the sea are under His feet. He controls when they rise and fall and how

far they travel. He created the constellations of the sky. Job noted several

constellations (verse 9). He spoke of the Bear, Orion, and the Pleiades. Job

had an understanding of the stars in the heavens. He realized that the stars

were not in their places by chance. Each star owed not only its existence to

God but also its placement in the sky.

The God that Job knew was a God who performed wonders that could not

possibly be understood. He defied scientific knowledge. He did as He

pleased. He multiplied His miraculous works on the earth so that they could

not be counted. This is the same God we know today. Every day evidences

of God’s miracles can be seen. Each breath and beat of our hearts are

miracles that science has never been able to reproduce. His miraculous

works cannot be counted. He does as He pleases and moves where He

wants. We cannot see Him nor do we always recognize His work. No one

can stop Him from doing as He pleases.

If God decided to snatch something away from one of His created beings,

no one could stop Him from doing so (verse 12). No one can question what

He is doing. He owns everything and has absolute right to everything on the

earth. If He took the life of one of His creation, He could never be accused

of wrong because every life belongs to Him.

Job’s God was also a God of righteous anger. He would not hesitate to

move in wrath and judge the earth. He was a God to be feared. Job tells us

in verse 13 that even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at His feet. Rahab is

seen by many commentators and historians to refer to a mythological sea

monster. The idea here in this verse is that as powerful as this great sea

monster was, it was no match for God. Rahab and all its followers would

tremble at the feet of this great God of Israel.

It is important to note here that while the New International Version speaks

of Rahab and her helpers other versions of the Bible translate this verse

slightly differently. The King James Version translates this phrase by “the

proud helpers,” while the New King James Version uses the phrase “allies

of the proud.” The reason for this is found in the Hebrew word for “proud”

(rahab). What Job is telling us here is that even the greatest and most proud

on the earth must bow down before God. Even those who lift themselves up

boastfully above God will one day be humbled and brought down.

Bildad had told Job that he should plead with God (8:5). Job reminded

Bildad, however, that in light of who God is, how could anyone approach

Him with their argument? Even if Job were completely innocent, what

could he say to such a God? He could plead for God’s undeserved favour,

but how could he argue his case before the God whose wisdom had put this

world into existence? Job could not imagine God giving him a hearing. He

felt so unworthy of God and His attention.

For Job all he deserved from God was to be crushed and wounded. In verse

18 Job told his friends that if he ever drew God’s attention to himself, God

would inflict him with even more misery. Though he believed he was being

wrongly punished, he did not feel that he could summon God. He felt that if

he stood before God to defend his name, he would say something that

would condemn himself. Job was aware of the infinite distance between

God and man.

At this point in Job’s experience, he had lost all taste for life. His pain had

been so great that it no longer mattered that he was innocent. He just

wanted to die and escape the agony he suffered each day. There was very

little fight left in Job. He saw no reason to live any longer.

Job struggled to understand God and His ways. He reminded his friends that

when a disaster of some kind came on the land, it took away both the

righteous and the wicked. Job went as far as to say that God mocked the

despair of the innocent (verse 23). The righteous died just like the wicked.

Sometimes their deaths were just as cruel.

In verse 24 Job asked where God was when the land fell into the hands of

wicked people whose judges were corrupt. He told his friends that God

blindfolded these corrupt judges. It is hard to imagine Job accusing God of

blindfolding judges so that they acted corruptly. From Job’s perspective,

however, he knew that an almighty and all-powerful God could destroy evil

in an instant. God could wipe out every evil judge or ruler if He so desired.

Why did He not do this so that justice could prevail in the land? Why did

He allow evil people to live?

Job’s life seemed to be passing him by like a runner moving toward the

finish line (verse 25). He said his days passed quickly like the papyrus boats

that sped through the waters of Egypt or like an eagle descending for its

prey. There is an element of despair in the words of Job in verses 27-32.

Here Job reminded his friends that it made no sense to bring his complaint

to God, because God had already judged him guilty. Even if Job washed

himself with soap and washing soda, he felt that God would plunge him

into slime. In other words, no matter what Job did to make things right, God

would always have reason to punish him. God was not like a man that Job

could stand before and challenge His ways.

In verse 33 Job cried out in a sense of hopelessness:

“If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his

hand upon us both, someone to remove God’s rod from me, so

that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak

up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”

Job longed for someone to stand between him and this holy God. He cried

out for someone who could speak to God on his behalf and have the

judgment of God removed from him. Job did not live to see the answer to

that prayer. In time, however, God would send His Son Jesus to be that

mediator. Jesus would stand between God and people to be the bridge of

peace. Jesus would take the punishment of God on Himself so that people

could be set free from the curse of sin and separation from God.

Because of Jesus, we can now stand boldly before God and address Him as

our Father. Job began this chapter with a question: “Can a mortal be

righteous before God?” He wrestled with this throughout this chapter and

concluded that the separation between God and humans was so big that

unless someone came to be a mediator between the two, there was no hope

for sinners. That is why Jesus came. He alone can reconcile God and

sinners. He was fully God and fully man and, as such, was the only one

who could speak to both parties and bring reconciliation. Jesus alone is our

mediator. If you want to be right with God, you must do so through Him.

This is something the Job longed to see.

For Consideration:

Can a mortal be righteous before God in his or her own strength?

What is the difference between God and people?

What makes God listen to our cries for help?

Is there anything that we can do on our own to make ourselves right with

God? Explain.

What is a mediator? Why do we need a mediator? Who is the mediator

between God and sinners?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is able to be a mediator between God and sinners.

Thank Him that He opened the door for you to be completely restored to a

right relationship with God.

Thank the Lord that though we are not worthy of His attention, He still

reaches out to us in our need.

Take a moment to thank the Lord that He is holy and completely separated

from sin.

Ask the Lord to keep you faithful to Him even when you do not understand

His ways.

9 - TELL ME THE

CHARGES YOU HAVE

AGAINST ME

Read Job 10

n chapter 9 Job responded to Bildad and his argument. He reminded

Bildad that no matter what he did, he could not possibly be righteous

before a perfect and holy God. As a sinner, he needed someone to

plead his case. In chapter 10 Job continued to speak and voice his complaint

to God.

Job began by reminding his friends that it was because he loathed his life

that he would give free rein to his complaint. The life that Job was

experiencing was a life of misery and suffering. It was because of this

misery that Job felt compelled to speak out. He had nothing to fear. He felt

that God’s hand was against him. If God struck him dead because of his

complaining, he felt that his life would be better than it was at present. If,

on the other hand, God heard his request, maybe He would relieve his pain

and forgive him.

It was out of the bitterness of his soul that Job cried to God. His soul was in

pain. God was not speaking to him. He felt that he was without hope in this

life. Many people in this world find themselves in the situation of Job. Their

hearts are breaking within them. They feel that death would be preferable to

life. Where can we turn in our pain if not to God? Job had nowhere else to

turn. He voiced his complaint to the only one who could do anything about

it. If you find yourself in Job’s situation, maybe you need to follow his

example, come to God and express the pain of your heart.

Notice in verse 2 what Job asked of God. He asked God not to condemn

him but to tell him what charges He had against him. In the last chapter, Job

told his friends that there was no reason why a holy God would ever listen

to him as a sinner. Here he cried out to God anyway. He recognized that

although God was indeed holy and pure, He was also a God of mercy and

compassion; and so he pleaded with God to forgive him.

What seemed to disturb Job more than anything else was the fact that he did

not know what he had done to deserve the judgment of God. His plea to

God was that God would reveal the charges against him. Why had God

stripped him of everything? If he knew what he had done wrong, then he

could seek forgiveness and make things right. The agony of God’s silence

seemed to be worse than the pain of his physical affliction.

Job hid nothing from God in his prayer: “Does it please you to oppress me,

to spurn the work of your hands, while you smile on the schemes of the

wicked?” (verse 3). Job was confused in the overwhelming silence of God.

It caused Job to question God’s purposes and character. How much easier it

would have been for Job if God had spoken to him in those days. A

reassuring word from the Lord or a sign of His presence would have gone a

long way to ease his spiritual and emotional suffering. This silence,

however, was agonizing.

Job began to wonder if God actually took delight in afflicting him. He

looked around and saw how wicked men prospered and lived their lives in

full health. Though he had served the Lord God with all his heart, Job

suffered. This made no sense to him.

In verse 4 he bluntly asked God if He had eyes of flesh. The eye of flesh

does not see everything. The eye of flesh is limited. God, on the other hand,

sees everything and knows everything. Job was questioning God’s power

and love. In his suffering and confusion, Job could not understand why a

God, who can see all things, would not notice the suffering of those who

loved Him. Job questioned God in verse 5: “Are your days like those of a

mortal or your years like those of a man that you must search out my faults

and probe after my sin?”

What was Job asking God here? It seems that Job was confused about why

God would spend so much effort searching him out. Was God limited like a

mortal? Did He only have a few years of life to accomplish His purpose?

Did Job warrant such severe punishment because he was such a severe

hindrance to the purpose of God? Job knew that God was an almighty and

eternal God. Why did He even concern himself with Job? Could one man

change the plans of an eternal and sovereign God?

In verse 8 Job pleaded with God to remember how He had shaped him. Job

was the work of God’s hands. After creating me “will you now turn and

destroy me,” he asked. Job knew that God had made him from the clay of

the earth (verse 9), clothed him with skin, and knit him together with bones

and sinews (verse 11). God’s work was wonderful. The body that Job had

received from God was a masterpiece of creation. God had put the effort

into shaping and knitting him together. Why would He now crush what He

had put together so wonderfully? Why would God pour Job out as

discarded milk or curdle him like cheese?

Job was aware that God had given him life and showed him tremendous

kindness in the past. God had watched over Job. For a moment in time, Job

reflected on the past and the blessings of God. He recognized the many

good things he had seen and experienced from God’s hand (verse 12).

In verse 13 Job confessed that all this affliction and agony was also part of

the purpose and plan of God for his life. The God who created and knit him

together also had a purpose in his suffering. God was not taken by surprise

by Job’s present afflictions. Job had to believe somehow that God knew

about them and would somehow use them.

It is easy to accept the good things God gives us but not so easy to accept

difficulty. When Job’s wife told him to curse God and die, Job had

responded: “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good

from God, and not trouble?” (2:10). Job realized deep down in his heart that

even trials and agony are in the hands of a sovereign God who is working

out all things for His glory and the good of the person afflicted.

Job expressed more of his confusion in verse 14-15. Here he told his

listeners that if he had sinned, God would see and not let his offenses go

unpunished. Even if he were innocent, however, Job could not lift up his

head for he was full of shame, and his affliction had drowned him. In other

words, even if Job were blameless, he still could not lift up his head in

pride. Similarly, Jesus told his disciples in Luke 17:10:

“So you also, when you have done everything you were told to

do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done

our duty.’”

The holiness of the Lord God is such that even if we could live perfectly

before God, we would still stand before him ashamed, because we

understand that even our best is less than what He deserves. He is worthy of

far more than we could ever give Him. Who could ever lift up their head to

this awesome God without feeling shame at their own condition? Job

sensed something of this in his spirit. In verse 16 he told God that if he

lifted his head up high, God would still have reason to stalk him like a lion

and display His awesome power against him. Again, this comes back to

what Job told his friends in chapter 9 –a mortal man, no matter how good

he lived, could never truly be righteous before such a holy and perfect God.

Not one of us could ever reach the standard of God’s perfection. Every one

of us will one day stand before the Lord. We will understand our human and

fleshly weaknesses. At the same time, however, we will be amazed and

overwhelmed by His grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

Job’s suffering was such that he cried out to God in agony. He felt that God

was been bringing his forces like waves against him (verse 17). It seemed

that he had no relief from his pain. In verse 18 he asked God why He had

allowed him to be born. Had he died in his mother’s womb, he would never

have had to face such depth of pain and suffering.

Job pleaded with God to turn away from him so that he could get some rest

from his pain before he had to go the land of no return (a reference to the

grave). Job described death as a land of disorder and shadow, of deepest

night where there is no light (verse 22).

At this time in Job’s life, he was confused. God was not speaking. He could

not understand from a human point of view the purpose of such suffering

and pain. He spoke from the confusion of his heart. He felt despair as he

thought about the holiness of God and the impossibility of mere mortals

pleasing a holy and eternal God. There were no answers for him at that

time. The silence of God was devastating.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about how dependant we are on the compassion and

forgiveness of God?

Have you ever felt the agony of God’s silence? Why is this silence so

difficult for us as believers?

Why does God take the time to examine our sins? What is His purpose in

revealing and purging us of those sins?

Can we ever stand before a holy and perfect God without feeling shame?

Explain.

What comfort does the reality of heaven give to you in your time of

trouble?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is a God of wonderful compassion and forgiveness.

Ask the Lord to give you grace and patience to wait on Him when He

chooses to be silent.

Thank the Lord that despite our many imperfections and weaknesses, He

still is willing to take the time to perfect us and shape us into His image.

Thank the Lord for the wonderful hope and promise He has given to us of

an eternal home in His presence. Thank Him for how this hope gives us

courage to face our struggles here below.

10 - ZOPHAR: GOD'S

WISDOM AND HUMAN

WISDOM

Read Job 11

ob has many unanswered questions. These questions came from a

mind confused with pain and emotional anguish. Job also

experienced the painful silence of God. He could not understand why

God had allowed such suffering to fall on him. He did not know what he

had done to deserve such judgment. Nothing made sense to him. As he

searched his heart, he could not find any sin that would deserve this severe

judgment of God. Job cried out in anguish, searching for answers but

finding none.

As Zophar listened to Job, he felt compelled to speak. In verse 2 he said:

“Are all these words to go unanswered? Is this talker to be vindicated?”

Zophar felt that someone needed to say something to Job. We should see

two things in this verse. First, Zophar felt that there was an answer to Job’s

questions, and he felt quite convinced that he knew the answer. He believed

Job needed to know why he was going through this pain and suffering.

Second, Zophar felt that Job needed to be corrected. “Is this talker to be

vindicated?” he asked. In other words, will Job get away with all these

things he is saying? Should he not be corrected and reprimanded for the

things he is saying about God and about his innocence? Notice also that

Zophar did not call Job by name. He referred to Job as a “talker.” This may

be an indication of his frustration with Job and his many words.

In verse 3 Zophar voiced some of his frustration with what Job had been

saying. “Will your idle talk reduce men to silence? Will no one rebuke you

when you mock?” Job’s talk was “idle talk,” according to Zophar. In other

words, his words were of no value. They were not based on an

understanding of true theology; Job was looking at things from a human

perspective and not from a divine perspective.

Human wisdom, as wonderful as it is, cannot be compared to the wisdom of

God. His purposes far surpass human wisdom and make it look foolish. Job

had examined himself with human wisdom and believed that he was

justified in complaining to God. He believed that he had done nothing

wrong and did not deserve the pain he was experiencing. What Zophar was

telling Job was that his wisdom was not divine. Human wisdom told Job

that he was correct in complaining because he was sinless. God, in His

greater wisdom, saw what Job could not see.

Zophar told Job that God, in His compassion and mercy, had even forgotten

some of Job’s sin (verse 6). Zophar went on to explain what he meant. “Can

you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the

Almighty?” he asked in verse 7. Did Job think that he could understand the

purposes of God in his human wisdom? The ways of God are higher than

the heavens and deeper than the deepest grave (verse 8). God’s wisdom is

longer than the earth and wider than the sea. How can a mere human claim

to understand God? Who would dare to challenge divine ways? For Zophar,

it was the height of arrogance and pride for Job to assume that he could

challenge God in regard to what He was doing in his life. If God chose to

punish Job, who could oppose Him or question His purpose (verse 10)? The

wisdom of God is so vast that no one can argue against Him and His

purposes.

“Surely He recognizes deceitful men; and when He sees evil, does He not

take note?” said Zophar in verse 11. Did Job think that a God of infinite

wisdom wouldn’t recognize deceit and evil when He saw it? Did Job think

that such a God would ever be mistaken or need to be corrected by a mere

mortal?

In verse 12 Zophar reminded Job that a witless man could no more become

wise than a donkey could give birth to a man (verse 12). There is an infinite

distance between the wisdom of mortals and the wisdom of God. This

distance is so great that humans cannot possibly understand the ways and

purposes of God in this universe.

Some time ago, I met a man at a print shop. Our conversation turned to the

doctrine of the Trinity. He told me that he could not possibly believe this

doctrine because it did not make any sense. “How can one person be three,”

he asked. He was making the mistake of trying to fit an infinite and eternal

God into his finite and mortal mind. Of course, there are things we do not

understand about God. The fact that our human wisdom cannot fathom the

depths of God and His purposes is encouraging to me. It means that He is a

big God. He is bigger than my ability to understand Him. I can trust Him

because He is greater than me and my mind.

The ways of God are beyond our ways. Just because we cannot understand

what He is doing does not mean that He is wrong. Only when we

understand that God’s wisdom is greater than ours can we step out in faith

and confidence. We may never understand His purposes, but we can trust

His wisdom.

Zophar felt that Job did not understand this principle. He felt that Job was

trying to reason things through by human wisdom instead of trusting the

purpose and plan of God, whose wisdom was far greater than his. Zophar

believed Job was mocking God and acting in pride. He felt that Job needed

to repent and make things right with God in this matter.

In verse 13 Zophar reminded Job that if he devoted his heart to God and

stretched out his hands in surrender and repentance to him, God would still

forgive him. Zophar told Job that he needed to put away his sin and evil. If

he did this, he could again lift up his head without shame and stand without

fear of his enemies or God’s judgment. Only when Job repented could he be

set free from his trouble.

Zophar believed that through repentance and confession of sin, Job would

experience life that was brighter than the noonday (verse 17). All suffering

and pain would flee from him as the darkness flees before the rising sun of

the morning. Zophar promised Job that he would be secure because he

would have hope in the Lord his God. Their relationship would be mended

and restored through repentance. Job would be able to lie down in safety

with no fear of enemies. If he repented of his sin, not only would he be

restored, but also many would seek his favour. God would restore his

reputation, and again he would have the respect of the people in the land.

Zophar concluded with a warning to Job. In verse 20 he told Job that the

eyes of the wicked would fail. That is to say, their eyes would close in

death. They would not be able to escape the judgment of God. All hope

would be lost. They would perish at the hand of God.

Zohar’s argument was simple. He believed that Job was trying to accuse

God of evil. He believed that Job needed to understand that God was wiser

than he was. Job needed to accept the fact that there were simply things that

he did not understand about God and His ways. Zophar, like his friends, felt

quite sure that Job was in the wrong. He challenged him to repent of the sin

of accusing God of evil. Zophar promised Job that the moment he repented,

he would experience the wonderful blessing of the Lord and be restored.

For Consideration:

Have you ever tried to figure out the ways and purposes of God? What does

Zophar tell us here about the foolishness of trying to do this?

Are there things about God and the Scriptures that you do not understand?

Why should you be encouraged by this?

Are you facing a difficulty right now in your life that you cannot

understand? Is it necessary that you understand what God is doing? What

role does faith play in getting through this struggle?

For Prayer:

Are you facing a trial in your life? Take a moment to thank the Lord that He

knows what He is doing. Surrender to Him in this trial, and let Him

accomplish His wonderful purpose in you.

Thank the Lord that He is bigger than your ability to understand Him.

Thank Him for the hope and confidence it gives you to know that He is so

much wiser than you are.

11 - JOB'S RESPONSE: CAN

WE UNDERSTAND GOD?

Read Job 12:1-13:19

his is the second response of Job to his friends. There is a sense of

frustration in the words of Job here. His friends had been trying to

solve the problem of why Job was suffering. They had been

offering him their suggestions. None of these suggestions seemed to strike

Job as the answer to his suffering. Here in this section, Job speaks some

harsh words to his friends.

Job began with a mocking statement to those who had been offering him

their advice. He said: “Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die

with you!” (12:2). Job’s friends thought they knew what God was doing in

Job’s life. For them, God was very predictable. They felt they were offering

great wisdom to Job in his time of need. Job felt that they were acting in

pride. Did they think that they were the only wise people on the earth?

Would there be no more wisdom when they died?

Job reminded his friends that he too was able to think and reason (12:3).

Despite his problems, Job did not see himself as being inferior to his

friends. From this statement we might be able to assume that his friends had

been looking down on him because of his suffering. They felt that they were

better than he was because God had not afflicted them in the same way.

Job felt that he had become a laughingstock to his friends. Even though he

suffered tremendously, Job still held on to his innocence. He made it clear

to his friends that he was blameless (12:4). He could not find any sin in his

heart.

Job told his friends that those who lived at ease did not respect those who

suffered (12:5). For Job, those who never experienced a problem were too

quick to look down on those who suffered under the hand of the Lord’s

discipline and training.

Often we are simply not able to identify with people in their struggles until

we ourselves have to face trials. The book of Hebrews speaks of this when

about it states concerning Jesus:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize

with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in

every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews

4:15).

The Lord Jesus is fully able to identify with us because He himself was

tempted as we are. If we have never walked where our friends have walked,

it is very difficult for us to understand them and what they are going

through. It was quite easy for Job’s friends to sit with him and condemn him

as a sinner. They had never been in his situation. Job painfully searched his

heart to find any area of sin and darkness. He pleaded with God for

revelation of sin, but there was no such revelation. Yet beside him were his

friends accusing him of sin but unable to tell him the nature of that sin.

I remember in my own personal life wrestling often with God because I was

not able to feel joy and peace in my life. I would look at myself in the

mirror and was not pleased with what I saw. I saw someone who looked

stressed and burned out. I could not see the radiance of the joy of the Lord

shining through me as I felt I needed to. Not long after this, I was diagnosed

with clinical depression. I began to realize that this depression was keeping

me from experiencing what I needed to feel in my walk with God. Now I

should say here that even though I was depressed, my walk with God had

been stronger than it had ever been. I found myself often crying out to God

for help and guidance. I would go to meetings to preach, crying out to God

in emotional emptiness before I went. As soon as I would open my mouth,

the Lord would fill me and speak through me. A friend of mine was in one

of those meetings. He told me that when he saw me arrive at such a

meeting, I looked warn out and empty. Then he said, “As soon as you

started to speak, I saw a tremendous difference in you. It was as if you were

being filled with the Lord.” Some of the most powerful times I had in my

walk with God were in times of emptiness and depression.

I remember wrestling with this depression. I would ask the Lord to show

me any hidden sin, but he did not reveal any sin to me. I have now come to

realize that sometimes God will put us through tests like Job, not to punish

us but to teach us to depend solely on Him. I have learned much in this

struggle with depression. God has opened my heart to the reality of His

presence, even when I do not feel it. I am learning to move forward in

ministry when I do not feel worthy. I am learning to minister even when I

feel like I have nothing to give. I am seeing the power of God at work. I

also have a deeper compassion and understanding for those who are going

through a similar struggle. It would have been easy for those around me to

accuse me of not trusting the Lord or not being filled with the Spirit. In fact,

I was being trained and equipped in a deeper way for a greater ministry.

Job’s frustration here was with those who looked down on him because God

was training him for a greater work. Some people think that God would

never stretch them or allow them to pass through the fire. They believe that

God’s ways will always be easy and comfortable. This is simply not true.

Job reminded his friends that marauders and those who provoked God still

lived in security (12:6). Here, on the other hand, was Job, a child of God

who lived to the best of his knowledge in the path of righteousness. Yet Job

struggled while sinners around him lived at ease. If only Job’s friends

would open their eyes, they would see that things were not as simple as they

believed they were.

“Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they

will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the

sea inform you,” said Job to his friends (12:7-8). Life in nature gives

witness that the violent prosper and that God sends calamities to the

innocent. The life of every creature is in the hand of the Lord. The Lord

does what He pleases with all of His creation. Sometimes the Lord gives

breath and sometimes the Lord takes breath away. Life is not always

predictable.

God also controls wisdom and gives it to some and not others. Wisdom and

power belong to God alone. God gives wisdom but can take that wisdom

away in an instant. We have seen great men and women of wisdom lose

their reason with age or illness.

Job reminded his friends that when God tears something down, it cannot be

rebuilt. God does not just build things, He also tears them down. When God

imprisons a person, that person cannot be released by anyone else. God sets

people free, but He also imprisons. Everything is in the hand of the Lord.

When He holds back the waters of heaven, the earth dries up; but if He lets

them loose, the resulting floods can destroy the earth (12:15).

Strength and victory all belong to the Lord (12:16). No one can ever claim

to be strong in themselves. God gives strength, and He takes strength away.

God gives victory, and He takes victory away. Job would go on to say that

both the person being deceived and the deceiver belong to God. He strips

counsellors and elects fools as judges. This may be hard for us to

understand, but it is important that we realize that nothing can happen

unless God permits it to happen. Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-2:

“Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for

there is no authority except that which God has established.

The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling

against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring

judgment on themselves.”

Not all authorities are good. Some seem to be very evil. Paul is telling us,

however, that God allows these leaders to take their places to accomplish

His purposes in the earth.

God takes of the shackles that are put on by kings (12:18). That is to say, he

reverses the decisions of kings. He can also take those kings and put loin

clothes around their waists, reducing them to slaves. God leads priest away

stripped of all their authority and brings down men and women of authority

who have long been established in their positions. God raises up leaders,

and He takes them down as well.

God silences the lips of advisors and strips the elders of the society of their

discernment (12:20). God pours contempt on nobles and disarms the

mighty. They have no power but what He gives. All their power can be

taken from them in an instant. Ultimately, divine power is in control of

earthly power.

Job reminded his friends that God exposes those things that have been

hidden by darkness (12:22). He also hides what is in the light in deep

shadows so that they can never be seen again. God knows all things, and He

can hide from the wise what He chooses not to reveal to them.

God makes nations great, but He also destroys them and brings them down.

He stretches their boundaries or sends them into exile as He pleases (12:23).

He strips leaders of wisdom and sends them groping in the darkness,

staggering like drunkards.

Job seems to be telling his friends that God is not as predictable as they

believed. God does what He wants to do. His ways are far beyond earthly

ways. How can anyone possibly understand the purposes of God? Job’s

friends felt they could speak for God and explain His ways. However, Job’s

God was far beyond explanation. He could not be explained. Job was not

fooled by the so called wisdom of his friends. He understood that as mere

humans, they were unable to understand the purpose of God and so had no

wisdom for Job.

Job told his friends that he wanted to speak with God about these matters

(13:3). What his friends told him really meant little to him, as they were

certainly no experts in the matter of the mind of God. God alone could

answer the questions on Job’s heart.

All Job’s friends were doing was smearing him with lies. They were telling

Job that he was suffering justly for his sin. They were speaking as if they

knew God’s heart and His purposes for Job. In reality, they were like

worthless physicians who had no idea of the reality of the situation or the

conversation between God and Satan described in chapters 1 and 2. They

did not know how to heal Job’s hurt. He pleaded with them to stop talking

to him. He had no confidence in their words and arguments because he

knew they were wrong about him and wrong about God. In fact, Job

accused his friends of speaking wickedly on God’s behalf (13:7). In saying

this, Job was accepting what God was doing in his life. He did not enjoy the

pain, but he recognized it as being from God; he would not fight against it.

Then Job turned the tables on his friends (13:9). He asked them to consider

how they would do if the Lord were to examine them. He reassured them

that God would surely rebuke them as well (13:10). If God were to reveal

His splendour to them, they would be terrified. They spoke with such

boldness of God, His person, and His plans; but if God were ever to show

up, they would be condemned and terrified in His presence. All their

sayings and pat answers were like proverbs of ashes. They would amount to

nothing in the end.

Job asked his friends to be silent and let him speak out in his pain and

agony. Job knew that he was taking his life in his own hands as he spoke

out and sought God (13:13-14). Job waited on God in this time, knowing

that he could die at any moment under His heavy hand. Job held on to his

innocence. He would not seek a way out. Instead, he would keep looking to

God and putting his hope in Him. He told his friends that he would defend

his ways to God’s face (13:15). There is boldness here. He believed that

God was a God of justice. Even if God destroyed him, he would still trust in

Him and bring his cause to Him.

Job was ready to take his case to God. He sincerely believed that he would

be vindicated in the end. At the same time, however, it is important that we

note that he was more than willing to hear any accusation that might be

brought before him to consider (13:19). Job sought the truth. If he had

sinned, he was willing to face that sin and deal with its consequences. If, on

the other hand, he had not sinned, he demanded justice.

Job persevered in this matter because he believed that God was a just God.

No one had yet shown him his sin. He believed himself to be innocent and

demanded that a holy and just God be true to His character and expose the

truth. Satan longed for Job to give up. He wanted to separate Job from his

God. Satan wanted Job to curse God and walk away from Him. Job refused

to do this. The more pain Job experienced, the more he came to God and

desired to speak with Him. In all this, Satan’s efforts were being frustrated.

For Consideration:

Have you ever looked down on a brother or sister who suffered, feeling that

somehow you were better because you did not have to go through such

suffering?

How easy is it for us to give simplistic answers to people going through

pain and agony? What are some of those answers we give to people who are

suffering today?

How do personal problems help us to identify better with others? What

have you learned though pain and suffering in your life?

Is it possible for us to completely understand God and His ways?

What does this passage teach us about the danger of trying to speak for

God?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you to respect the feelings of those around you who are

suffering.

Ask God to forgive you for giving simplistic answers to individuals in their

time of need.

Thank God that He and His ways are beyond our ability to understand. Ask

Him to forgive you for believing that we can understand His ways and

purposes.

Take a moment to surrender yourself to God in your present struggle.

Submit to Him and His training. Thank Him that He is in control, even

though we cannot understand His ways.

12 - JOB'S CRY TO GOD: IS

THERE ANY HOPE?

Read Job 13:20-14:22

n the last meditation, Job responded to his friends, challenging them in

their belief that they could somehow understand the ways of God. He

told them that they were of no comfort to him in his suffering and that

their understanding was very limited. Only God could give him the answers

he needed.

Job’s attention shifted to God. As he began to pray, he asked God for two

things (13:20). He told God that if He granted him these two requests he

would not hide from Him. There is some question about what Job meant.

Job saw God as the source of his pain and suffering. At the very least, God

had allowed Satan to buffet and oppress him. While it is not possible to hide

from God, it is possible to withdraw from the intimacy of relationship with

Him. Could it be that Job was wondering how he could continue in a

personal relationship with God when God was not speaking to him and

afflicting him all day long?

Job’s first request of God is found in verse 21. He pleaded with God to

withdraw His hand from him and stop frightening him with His terrors. This

is an understandable request in light of the pain and agony he was facing

every day. The second request was that God would stop being silent. Job

begged God to speak to Him and answer his requests. We have already

spoken about the silence of God. For Job, the silence of God was as terrible

as the physical pain he faced each day.

There have been times in my life when God was silent. I did not hear from

Him in terms of the direction He wanted me to take. The Word of God

seemed to be lifeless and my walk unfruitful. When we hear from God, the

pain we endure is more bearable. To hear from God and know His presence

in our trials gives us strength and courage to carry on. In the silence, all

hope seems to vanish.

Having brought his two requests to God, Job focused on the second request.

He had two questions to ask God regarding His silence. Job asked God how

many wrongs he had committed and begged Him to show him his offenses

(13:23). This seemed to trouble Job greatly at this time. He was quite

willing to admit that he could have done wrong, but he just could not

honestly see what he had done to deserve this wrath of God. He pleaded

with God to search him and reveal those sins. He wanted to know why God

was punishing him.

The second question Job had for God was: “Why do you hide your face and

consider me your enemy?” (13:24). This grieved Job who had always

sought to honour God and live in communion with Him. The God who had

always been his friend seemed to have become his enemy, and Job did not

know why.

As his “enemy,” God seemed to torment him. Job compared himself to a

windblown leaf (13:25). His life was almost gone, and he was being tossed

helplessly about at the mercy of a God who seemed to torment him. “Will

you chase after dry chaff?” he asked God. Job could not understand why a

holy and almighty God would ever take the time to chase after a withering

leaf like him.

Job went back in time and wondered if maybe God was punishing him for

the sins of his youth (13:26). Job seems quite desperate to find some reason

to understand what he had done that deserved the wrath of God. Job felt

helpless. He felt as if God had fastened his feet with shackles to keep him

from running away. He felt like a prisoner who could not escape his

punishment. God was constantly watching him like a guard watching over a

prisoner. Job went as far as to accuse God of putting marks on the soles of

his feet (13:27). This may have been for clearly identifying his tracks in the

event that he should attempt an escape.

Job compared his life to the life of something rotten that was wasting away.

Job was rotting away in his pain and agony (13:28). His life was worth

nothing to him. He was sinking in deep despair

As Job reflected on life in general, he found that the life of a human being is

only a few years (14:1). The few years that we have in this life are filled

with trouble. We have our moment of glory, but that moment is taken from

us by age and death. Job compared life to a fading flower and a fleeting

shadow that grows up in an instant and then disappears very quickly, never

to be seen again.

What Job found so hard to understand was why God would fix His eyes on

something so fragile (14:3). God is so much greater than humans. What did

God find in them that would attract His attention? Why would God waste

His time to be concerned with Job? Why did it even concern Him how Job

lived his life?

Some time ago I was doing some work on my house. As I was working, I

noticed a small bug. Thinking nothing of it, I simply squished it and went

on with my work. Not until I was writing this did I even give the fate of that

bug a second thought. This seems to be, in essence, what Job was arguing

before God. Job saw his life like that ugly bug. Job wondered why God

didn’t simply squash him and move on? Why did God even care about Job?

This question is very important. The fact of the matter is that the Lord God

does care. He cares enough to discipline and train us. He cares enough to

deal with anything that will keep us from Himself. He is jealous for our

attention. Though we are filled with sin, He reaches out to us in love and

devotion. He cares deeply enough to do something. We will never fully

understand why He cares, but we must be forever thankful that He does.

Then Job asked the question: “Who can bring what is pure from the

impure?” (14:4). Job recognized his condition before God. He also

recognized that he could not attain God’s standard of perfection. He was

sinful and nothing could change his nature. The prophet Jeremiah spoke of

this in Jeremiah 13:23:

Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots?

Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil.

The Lord Jesus came to offer a solution to this problem. He came to bring

forgiveness and cleansing. He came to bring new life. Through His death on

the cross, we can be renewed and changed from the inside. Job struggled

with the problem of sin. Christ came to bring the solution.

Job knew how limited he was. God had determined the length of his days

(14:5). There was nothing he could do to change the number of days he

would live on this earth. The day of his death would come as it was

determined. For this reason Job asked God to turn His attention from him so

that he could live out his years of service in peace. Job spoke here from his

experience of pain and agony. While he knew that he needed God to give

him life and breath, he was afraid of God continuing to focus attention on

him.

Many people are afraid of an intimate relationship with God. They are

afraid of what God might ask them to do or what he might take them

through. God’s ways may at times be difficult. Sometimes the Lord must do

something radical to separate us from our fleshly nature. We have the

benefit here of seeing what Job did not see. We have the benefit of seeing

what God would accomplish through the pain and suffering that Job

experienced that day. While the ways of God may be difficult, they are

perfect. No one who perseveres to the end and allows God to accomplish

His purposes will regret God’s discipline.

Job sought to understand if there was any hope for him (14:7-12). He used

the illustration of a tree that is cut down. There are times when a tree is cut

down that a shoot will grow from the stump, and another tree will grow in

its place. Humans, on the other hand, are not like this, according to Job.

When they die they never return to the earth. Job compared human life to a

sea or a river that ran dry. When that water is gone, it cannot be recovered.

Those who died would not be roused from their sleep until the heavens

were no more.

Job wished that the Lord would somehow hide him in the grave until His

anger was past, and then remember him (14:13). Job wondered, however, if

a man could ever live again. Job did not have a true understanding of the

resurrection here. Would it be possible for God to hide a person in the grave

for a time and, when his anger subsided, raise them to life again? “If a man

dies would he live again?” Job asked (14:14). While this was possible for

the tree, Job was uncertain that God would do the same for humanity.

What hope we have in the New Testament? We have the benefit of

understanding the reality of the resurrection and life with Christ. This gives

us courage as we face the struggles of this life. We know that no matter

what happens to us here below, we have a hope of eternity with God.

While there are many questions in the mind of Job, he told the Lord that he

would wait for His renewal to come. He believed still that the day would

come when he would call on God, and God would answer. He knew that

God would eventually long for His creature again (14:15).

Job believed that the day was coming when the Lord would watch over

him, count his steps, but would no longer keep track of his sin (14:16).

Those sins would be forgiven and sealed up in a bag. Job’s confidence was

in the justice and forgiveness of God. Though he did not know how or

when, he continued to believe in the forgiveness of sin and the justice of

God.

Then Job spoke of his dwindling hope (14:18-20). He compared his hope to

mountains that eroded over time. He also compared it to soil and rock that

was washed away. Job trusted the Lord, but he was feeling hope dwindle in

him. This was the effect of his pain and the silence of God.

Job felt like the Lord was overpowering him. What hope was there if the

Lord God stood against him? In an instant life could be taken away and all

hope of victory with it. In death, the individual was unaware of what

happened. A man who died may have sons that were honoured, but he

would not know it. These sons might be brought down, but again he would

not be aware of it in his grave. Thoughts of death and separation from

earthly life brought Job more pain and mourning (14:22).

When hope is gone, nothing seems to matter. Those without hope are

enclosed in prisons of self-pity and dark thoughts. All they can see is their

own pain and helplessness. There is no vision, no encouragement, and no

prospect of the future. Job understood what happens when hope is eroded.

We see here the nature of Job’s pain. He asked God to remove His hand

from him. He also asked the Lord to speak to him and let him hear His

voice. Job wanted to know what he had done wrong. He failed to grasp why

God would put so much effort into disciplining him when squashing him

would be so much easier. Despite his lack of understanding, he still trusted

in God. He believed that that day would come when God would restore

him. Even in his hope, however, Job saw his own weakness. He wondered

how long he could continue to trust in God. The agony of each day seemed

to erode his trust and hope. Job was stretched to the limit of his resources.

God took him further than he had ever gone in his faith and trust before.

For Consideration:

Have you ever feared to let God have His way with your life? What caused

you to fear?

What is Job’s reaction to the silence of God? Have you ever gone through a

time when God was silent?

What is it in men and women that God should take note of them?

What do we learn here about the fragile nature of humanity?

Have you ever felt your faith being eroded by what you are going through?

How can you protect our faith from being eroded?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He takes note of us and disciplines us to bring us

closer.

Ask God to protect you and your faith from being eroded.

Surrender yourself to the Lord Jesus today. Ask Him to give you courage to

face the fear of what He may do in and through you.

13 - ELIPHAZ: THE

GODLESS WILL BE

BARREN

Read Job 15

hapters 15-21 contain a second cycle of speeches from Job and his

three friends. Job’s friends were convinced that God, in His

perfection and justice, caused only evil people to suffer. Job

maintained that he had committed no sin that justified his severe suffering,

and he wanted to meet God to argue his case. Chapter 15 opens with

Eliphaz speaking first. Listening to Job had been frustrating for him. He

heard what Job said but wrestled with the conclusions he drew.

Eliphaz began by charging Job with speaking nonsense. Job claimed to be a

wise man, but, according to Eliphaz, he spoke empty notions and ideas.

What Job said had no value. Eliphaz compared Job’s words to the hot east

wind. This wind was a very stormy wind. The fact that it was hot made it

also very uncomfortable. In other words, Eliphaz told Job that his words

brought trouble. In verse 3 Eliphaz told Job that he was speaking useless

words and speeches that were of no value.

In verse 4 Eliphaz went as far as to say that Job undermined piety and

hindered devotion to God. Job’s friends had been speaking to him about the

reason for his pain and suffering. They told him that the reason the Lord

had been punishing him was because he had harboured sin in his heart. Job,

on the other hand, told his friends that he had done nothing wrong, but God

had still struck him. The idea that God would cause an innocent person to

suffer was beyond what Job’s friends were willing to accept. If God struck

the righteous person, what purpose would there be in living a godly life?

What benefit was there to godliness if it did not bring prosperity and

blessing? For Job’s friends, Job’s doctrine undermined piety. Why would

anyone serve God if in so doing it brought pain and suffering? Why would

people devote themselves to a God who allowed them to suffer?

We see evidence of this thinking in our day. We want to know the benefits

we will receive from a product before we purchase it. This has spilled over

into our faith. There are those who still want to know what they are going to

get if they accept the Lord and walk with Him. They feel somehow that

God owes them something for their commitment. What was the motivation

for Job’s friends in serving the Lord? Were they motivated by blessing and

prosperity? Did they serve the Lord for what they could get from Him?

Throughout the ministry of the Lord Jesus on this earth, countless people

followed Him for healing and blessing. These same individuals turned their

back on Him when things became difficult. Godliness will bring blessing

but it should never be our motivation. True godliness is seen when we are

willing to seek God whether there is blessing or not.

Eliphaz claimed that Job’s words were birthed out of sin and evil (verse 5).

According to Eliphaz, Job’s words were motivated by sin and would

ultimately condemn him. He would have to answer to God for his evil

words. He was discouraging people from serving the Lord.

In verse 7 Eliphaz reminded Job that he was not the first man ever born. He

was not there when God formed the hills. He did not sit with God and listen

to His great wisdom. Job was not the source of all wisdom. Eliphaz

believed that Job was being very proud and arrogant in his words.

Eliphaz did not hesitate to tell Job that they knew everything Job knew

(verse 9). Job had no insights that Eliphaz and his friends did not have. Job

had no right to set himself over them. Instead, he should listen to them.

Eliphaz told Job that the wise men were on their side (verse 10). The

ancestors would disagree with Job and his ideas. Eliphaz believed that he

and his friends were supported by the wisdom of the ages.

In verse 11 Eliphaz told Job that he should be content with the consolations

of God. According to Eliphaz, God was speaking these words of

consolation gently to Job. It is true that God often speaks gently to us in our

time of need and trouble. The problem however, is that we do not always

hear those gentle consolations. The pain and agony of hurt scream so loudly

that the gentle consoling words of God are not often heard. Eliphaz said that

this is how it was for Job—he was simply not able to hear anything from

God.

Eliphaz told Job plainly in verse 12 that he was being carried away by his

evil heart. Job’s eyes were flashing with anger and rage toward God.

Eliphaz said that Job had no right to speak to God in anger. To him, Job was

dishonouring God.

“What is man, that he could be pure, or one born of woman, that he could

be righteous?” Eliphaz asked Job (verse 14). Eliphaz believed that Job was

trying to communicate that he had done no wrong and was blameless.

Eliphaz could not accept this. He reminded Job that God did not even trust

His holy ones and that even the heavens were not pure in His eyes (verse

15). By “holy ones” it is possible that Eliphaz was speaking of holy men

and women who lived on this earth and who were called of God to minister

in various aspects of the kingdom of God. He may also be referring to His

angels in heaven. While God does call us and send us out into the ministry

of the kingdom, the fact of the matter is that even the holiest person on this

earth is less than perfect and subject to failure. The same could be said of

the angels. We know that some of the angels of heaven fell into sin and

were cast out of heaven. In 2 Peter 2:4 the apostle tells us:

God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to

hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for

judgment.

Eliphaz reminded Job that God alone was perfect. God could not place His

confidence in human beings or even the angels of heaven. Eliphaz reminded

Job also that even the heavens were not pure in the eyes of God. In

speaking of the heavens, Eliphaz was speaking of the sky. This sky is above

the earth and has no physical contact with the earth, but, compared to the

perfection of God, falls short. The term “heavens” here does not necessarily

refer to the dwelling place of God, where no evil or imperfection is

permitted.

From what Eliphaz understood (and according to him this was backed up by

the wisdom of the ages), wicked people spent their days in suffering and

turmoil. They lived a life of despair destined for the sword (verse 22).

These individuals would wander from one place to another and ultimately

end up being food for vultures. The evil person would always live with the

understanding that the day of dark judgment was coming.

Distress and anguish would fill those who were evil, overwhelming and

attacking them. They were always living one step from the wrath and

judgment of God. That judgment would come because they shook their fists

at God and lifted themselves above Him to fight His purposes.

Eliphaz admitted that there were some evil people whose faces were

covered with fat and their waists were bulged with flesh (verse 27). This

was a sign of temporary prosperity. The day was coming, however, when

these individuals would live in ruined towns and houses that were

crumbling and falling down (verse 28). The prosperity of the evil would not

last. Their wealth would not endure. It would one day be stripped from

them and be given to others.

Evil people would not escape darkness. The flame of God’s fury would

burn them and cause them to wither like a plant (verse 30). At the breath of

God’s mouth, these evil people would wither and perish. Just one word

from God and all they had would be gone.

Evil people were allowing themselves to be deceived into believing in the

security of their riches, but those riches would not save them in the end.

According to Eliphaz, all evil people would be paid back in full for their

evil before they died. They would be stripped like a vine or an olive tree of

his or her wealth. Those who lived in sin would be barren, and God would

consume them and their wealth. Their destiny was to conceive trouble and

give birth to evil (verse 35).

Eliphaz’s argument to Job here states that God blesses those who follow

Him and curses those who do not. Eliphaz was repulsed at Job’s insinuation

that God would allow anyone who followed Him to suffer. He believed that

this undermined the benefits of piety and would discourage people from

seeking God.

For Consideration:

Eliphaz accused Job of hindering devotion to God. What was the basis of

his argument?

What was the connection, in the mind of Eliphaz, between blessing and

prosperity?

Would you serve the Lord if in so doing you knew that you would lose your

possessions and suffer greatly?

Does God allow godly people to suffer in this life? Have you had to suffer

yourself? What did God accomplish through that suffering?

What is your motivation for serving the Lord?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the many blessings He has given you.

Thank the Lord for the blessings He has given you through trials and

suffering in life.

Ask the Lord to give you the right motivation for serving Him.

14 - JOB'S RESPONSE: MY

INTERCESSOR IS MY

FRIEND

Read Job 16

liphaz had made it clear that he believed that the godless would be

barren. They could not prosper. He believed that Job’s idea—that

he suffered even though he was blameless—hindered devotion to

God. If a blameless man could suffer like Job, then there would be no

reason for anyone to seek after God. In chapters 16 and 17, Job responded

to Eliphaz and his friends and pleaded with God to enable them to

understand the real issues.

Job began his response by telling his friends that they were miserable

comforters. They sat with him debating theology, because they were

determined to find an answer to the problem of suffering. Job had already

heard their arguments. They were not telling him anything new. The one

thing Job needed he was not getting from his friends. Job needed comfort,

and his friends offered only theology.

Job was getting tired of his friend’s speeches. It would have been hard

enough to listen to these long speeches if Job had been in full health, but he

was in severe pain. His friends were very insensitive to his agony. They

were more interested in proving Job’s theology faulty than they were in

being compassionate. It came to a point where Job began to wonder who

was more ill, he or his friends. “What ails you that you keep on arguing?”

he asked them in verse 3. They had to be sick to keep talking as they were.

In verse 4 Job told his friends that if he were in their place, he could also

have offered the same speeches. He knew the theology and could recite it

just like them. Job told his friends, however, that if he were in their place,

he would choose to encourage them instead of giving these long-winded

speeches. With his lips he would offer them relief instead of pat answers.

There is an important lesson we need to see here in the words of Job.

There is a time to offer answers, but there is also a time for us simply to

offer comfort and encouragement. We are too quick to offer theology to the

afflicted. Sometimes we simply have to realize that we do not have an

answer.

At this point, Job’s friends did not offer encouragement and comfort.

Instead, they spent their time boring him with long speeches about how he

was a sinner and deserved this wrath of God. They felt so compelled to

defend God that they had no time to comfort His servant.

Job could not find any relief from his suffering. There was no relief in

speaking about his suffering and no relief in silence (verse 6). He felt that

God was wearing him out. His household had been devastated. His family

was dead. All of his possessions had been taken from him. This was a

heavy burden to bear.

According to Job in verse 8, God had bound him up like a prisoner in his

pain. His own body had become a witness against him. Everyone who

looked at him and saw his condition believed he had done something wrong

(verse 8). How often we judge people based on their outward appearance.

God, on the other hand, looks at the heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7 we read these

words of the Lord to Samuel:

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have

rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks

at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks

at the heart.”

At this time in Job’s life, God seemed to be attacking him and tearing him

apart in anger. He seemed to gnash His teeth at Job and set His piercing

eyes on him (verse 9). While God was attacking him in this way, men and

women around Job jeered at him. They united against Job, and he felt as

though he had been turned over to evil men and thrown into the clutches of

the wicked. He was unable to find any comfort in God, his neighbours, or

his friends. He felt very much alone. Once again, we see that his heart

longed for someone to show compassion. How much it would have meant

for him at that time to have just one person minister to him and encourage

him, but there was no one. Even God seemed to be against him.

In verse 12 Job told his friends that God had shattered him. He had seized

him by the neck and crushed him. More than this, God had made Job his

target. God’s archers surrounded Job and pierced his kidneys and spilled his

gall on the ground. Repeatedly, God rushed at him like a warrior intent on

killing (verse 14). This wore Job out. He dressed in sackcloth as a sign of

mourning. His eyes were red with tears shed in grief and agony.

What disturbed Job was that he could not understand why this was

happening. He had not done violence to his neighbour. He had the

assurance that he had treated everyone with proper respect and dignity. He

also reminded his friends that his prayer was pure (verse 17). In other

words, Job was able to approach God in an attitude of sincerity. Nothing

stood in the way of his prayers to God. His conscience was clean and right

before God.

There is something wonderful about this assurance. Through all this time of

painful suffering, Job was assured that he was right before God. He knew

that he had walked with a pure heart and conscience before God all his

days. He had no regrets in life. As we look over our lives, could we say the

same?

In light of these facts, Job asked the earth not to cover his blood. He wanted

his blood to be seen by all. He wanted everyone to know that he suffered as

an innocent man. He also asked the earth to refuse to let his cry be laid to

rest. He wanted his cry of agony to echo forever or at least until justice had

been done.

Job had not given up. He continued to hold on to his integrity. In verse 19

he painted a picture of a court scene. Job had a witness who could attest to

his innocence. He had a lawyer who could plead on his behalf. He felt sure

that he would win this battle and be proven innocent in the end. There was

one who interceded for him in the heavens. The heavenly intercessor was

his friend. This friend believed in the innocence of Job. This friend felt

Job’s tears. He understood the pain and suffering he was going through as

he poured out his heart to God. This lawyer pleaded with God on Job’s

behalf would plead for his friend.

Today we know that the Lord Jesus is that friend and lawyer. He

understands our pain and pleads to His Father for us. What a comfort this is

for us today. The Lord is aware of our pain. He sees every trial we face. He

comes to minister to us in our need.

Job’s friends were of no comfort and encouragement to him. Job was aware,

however, that God had not abandoned him in his hour of need. Deep down

inside he knew that there was a Comforter and Defender who would come

to his aid, though he did not know when.

For Consideration:

Have you ever found yourself trying to prove a point rather than listen with

compassion? What was the result?

Job spoke here about individuals who judged him based on his outward

appearance. Why is this wrong? How does God judge?

Job lived through his trials with a deep assurance of righteousness. Do you

have a clean conscience before God today? If not, what do you need to do

to make things right?

Job told us here of his heavenly advocate, intercessor, and friend. What

comfort do you receive from the fact that your friend, the Lord Jesus, is

your advocate, and intercessor before the Father?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to give you more compassion for those who suffer.

Ask God to keep you from judging based on the outward appearance.

Thank the Lord that He is your advocate, intercessor, and friend.

Ask the Lord to help you to live each day with the assurance of a clear

conscience before God.

15 - JOB'S CRY TO GOD:

THE RIGHTEOUS WILL

HOLD ON

Read Job 17

n the last chapter, Job responded to the comments of Eliphaz. He told

his friends that they had not been helpful to him. They sat with him

and accused him of sin but did not encourage him in his suffering.

Here in this chapter, Job turned his attention to God. While he was not

hearing God at this time, he continued to pour out his heart to Him.

In verse 1 Job began by telling God that his spirit had been broken. The

weight of suffering had been too much for him to bear. He was broken

emotionally and physically. He believed that the day of his death was

rapidly approaching. Part of the emotional suffering he experienced had to

do with the responses of those around him. Job told God that mockers

surrounded him.

There is something about suffering and brokenness that brings out mockers.

These individuals have no compassion. They look down on those who have

been broken. There were mockers at the foot of the cross where Jesus was

crucified (Luke 23:35). The Psalmist also knew what it was like to suffer

the mocking insults of those who cried out: “Where is your God?” (Psalm

42:10). Jesus reminded us in Matthew 5:11 that people will insult us and

say all kinds of evil things against us. Job experienced the reality of these

insults. All Job could do was to watch these individuals unleash their

hostility at him.

In verse 3 Job asked God to give him a pledge because no one else could do

this for him. Job looked for an assurance from the Lord that he would be

fairly tried in a heavenly court. He asked for a pledge from God that justice

would be done. Without this pledge and assurance from God, Job would

have no hope. Scripture speaks often of pledges or guarantees. We read in

Hebrews 7:22 that the Lord Jesus Himself was a pledge or guarantee of a

better covenant to come.

Job needed some assurance from God in his time of need. He had nowhere

else to turn. His friends could not understand his situation. They had

abandoned him in his hour of need, and they would suffer the consequences

of their actions. While his body and emotions were broken, he still hung on

to God. His enemies would not triumph. He believed that God would give

him victory in the end.

Those who surrounded Job were not really his friends. They loved him

when he was rich and healthy; but now that he had lost everything, they

denounced him. Job stated that the children of those who denounce a friend

for reward would have eyes that failed. Job was saying that the curse of

God would fall on the families of those who did such evil. When parents

court evil, their children will be blinded to the truth. Whole generations can

be lost to the reality of sin. How can children distinguish between good and

evil when parents themselves do not demonstrate this to them at home?

Children learn from parents. Parents can blind the eyes of their children to

sin by making sin so common in the home that the children consider it

normal.

Job realized that what he suffered was ultimately from God: “God has made

me a byword to everyone, a man in whose face people spit,” (verse 6). It is

true that Satan had unleashed this flood of suffering and pain on Job.

However, Satan needed to get permission from God to do so. God could

have kept Satan from testing Job, but He did not. God allowed Job to be

tested and tried because he had a purpose in all this. Job accepted these

trials as being ultimately from God.

Because of the suffering, he was going through, Job’s eyes were growing

dim with grief (verse 7). His whole body was like a shadow, empty of

substance. The light of life seemed to be going out for Job.

Those who saw Job in his suffering were appalled. The upright were

appalled because they had respected Job as a righteous man. If such a thing

could happen to Job, it could happen to them as well. This caused a certain

fear for the upright. The innocent were given cause to be aroused against

the ungodly. They saw the ungodly prospering and felt frustrated. These

ungodly profited off the backs of the innocent. They took advantage of

them and grew rich for it. Job wrestled with why this was allowed to

happen.

Though he did not have an answer for this question, Job chose to hold onto

his ways. He would persevere in doing what God required. He believed

somehow that those who kept their hands free from sin and evil would

ultimately grow stronger and stronger (verse 9).

Repeatedly, in this book we see hints of Job’s faith. He complained to God

and could not understand what He was doing, but still he believed that

justice and righteousness would prevail in the end. He refused to give up on

God, but his confidence in humanity and its pat answers was shattered. In

this time of suffering, Job found no one who was wise. There was no one

who could come alongside of him and explain the purpose of God. God’s

ways were mysterious and hidden. They could not be understood by human

minds.

In his suffering Job had experienced a shattering of his life plans and a

death of all the desires of his heart (verse 11). His friends offered very little

counsel and encouragement to him at this time. In verse 12 Job stated that

these individuals turned night into day, and, in the face of darkness, they

said that light was near. They tried to bring comfort, but they were not

realistic. They spoke nice words, but those words were of no help. They had

pat answers, but those answers were of no comfort. While they spoke those

words, things just kept getting worse for Job. He did not see the day. The

night just seemed to be getting darker. Nice words did not bring comfort for

the agony he felt.

Verse 13 might lead us to believe that Job’s friends were telling him that

soon he would go to the grave and all his suffering would end. While it is

true that death ends earthly suffering, Job reminded his friends that if the

only hope he had was to one day die and be released from his suffering,

then he really had no hope. Death itself did not offer the victory Job wanted.

Job believed that there was something more for him. He believed that God

would give him true victory. His suffering was not without reason. He

would hold on despite the suffering because he believed there was

something more than the grave in store for him. God had seen his suffering

and his righteous life. Justice would prevail. The righteous would be

honoured by God in the end. There was purpose in this suffering and pain.

For Consideration:

Have you ever been mocked or ridiculed for your faith? What gave you

courage to keep going?

In this chapter we see how Job came to the end of his confidence and trust

in human beings. This forced him to turn to God alone. Have you come to

this place in your own relationship with God?

What do we learn here about how parents influence their children?

Job tells us that the righteous will persevere even when things get difficult.

Is this your desire in the struggles you face today?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you keep your focus on Him.

If you are a parent, take a moment to thank the Lord for the children He has

given you. Ask God to help you to be a good example for them in their

walk with God.

Ask God to give you the grace to persevere when things get difficult in your

spiritual journey.

Job experienced a shattering of his life plans and goals. Commit your life

plans and goals into the Lord’s hand. Surrender them all to Him.

16 - BILDAD: THE

WICKED ARE SNUFFED

OUT

Read Job 18

his is the second recorded speech of Bildad in this book. He heard

how Job held on to his integrity and his claim to be blameless.

Bildad also felt the insult of Job’s comments to him and his

friends. Job told them that they were useless counsellors and false friends.

Bildad was offended by these comments and did not hesitate to share this

freely with Job.

In verse 2 Bildad asked Job when he was going to stop all his speeches. He

accused Job of not being sensible. He felt that what Job was saying was

complete nonsense. He seemed to have a sense that Job’s mind was closed

to anything they had to say. He clearly told Job that unless he stopped

speaking nonsense, there was no way they could help him.

According to Bildad, Job saw them being as senseless as animals, and,

therefore, Job was unwilling to listen to what they had to say. Bildad had

the distinct impression that Job would just as soon listen to the cows in the

field as he would listen to his own friends.

Bildad felt that God was not tearing Job apart (as Job claimed) but that Job

was tearing himself to pieces in his anger. In other words, Job’s anger was

having a negative impact on his life. Anger and bitterness have a tendency

to destroy those they possess. Maybe you have met individuals who have

held on to anger and bitterness for years. These individuals hurt themselves.

They destroy all chances of happiness and contentment in life. They are

often unpleasant people to be around. Bildad challenged Job in regard to his

anger. He pointed out to Job the effect that anger was having on him. Job

was being ripped apart because he could not let it go.

According to Bildad, Job was angry because things were not going his way.

“Is the earth to be abandoned for your sake,” he asked (verse 4). “Must the

rocks be moved from their place?” When Bildad looked at Job, he saw a

man who was angry with God because God had not given him what he

wanted in life.

Bildad reassured Job that the lamp of the wicked would be snuffed out

(verse 5). There was no hope for proud men like Job. God would snuff out

his life as quickly and as effortlessly as a person blowing out a candle. Job’s

steps would become increasingly weaker. His own evil schemes would be

his downfall (verse 7).

Bildad believed that the path Job was taking was leading him straight into a

trap. A trap would seize him by the heel and a snare would hold him fast

(verse 9). A noose was hidden on the ground, and Job was going to step in

it.

If Job continued on this path, terrors would await him on every side and dog

his every step. Calamity would seek him out like a hungry enemy. Disaster

was just waiting for him to fall (verse 12). Like a vulture, it would swoop

down on him and eat away his skin. Death’s firstborn would then devour his

limbs (verse 13). It is uncertain what Bildad meant here by “death’s

firstborn.” Death gives birth to corruption, rottenness, and decay. It may be

that this is what Bildad was referring to here. He was telling Job that

disaster, rottenness and corruption would devour his limbs.

A wicked man, according to Bildad would be torn from his tent and handed

over to the king of terrors. Bildad was speaking poetically here. Terror

awaited those who lived wicked lives. The tent of the wicked would be

filled with fire and burning sulphur. That fire and sulphur would destroy all

the wicked possessed.

Like a plant whose roots have dried up below the surface, wicked people

would wither and perish. All memory of them would be removed from the

land and no one would remember their accomplishments or presence on this

earth. They would be driven from light into complete darkness. The wicked

would be banished forever from this world.

According to Bildad in verse 19, God would not leave the wicked any

offspring to carry on their name. People from the west and the east would

see their fate and be horrified at the intensity of God’s wrath against them.

This, Bildad told Job, was the fate of everyone who did not know God.

These words were quite harsh to a man who had just lost all his children.

Bildad’s words were strong and to the point. He was offended by Job’s

comments and clearly communicated this to Job. He saw Job as being a

proud man who complained when things did not go his way. He made it

quite clear that Job was walking down a path that would lead to his ultimate

destruction.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the effect of anger and bitterness in our lives?

Have you ever been angry because things did not go your way? What

should your response have been?

What does this chapter have to tell us about the destiny of the wicked?

Bildad seems to infer here that Job was guilty of great wickedness. Have

you ever falsely judged a brother or sister?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to any anger or bitterness in your life.

Confess this to Him and ask Him to cleanse you.

Thank the Lord that He has given you the assurance of victory through the

Lord Jesus over your sin.

Ask the Lord to keep you from falsely judging a brother or sister in Christ.

Ask God to help you surrender your goals and ambitions in life to Him. Ask

Him to give you grace to accept His plan is for your life.

17 - JOB'S RESPONSE: HE

HAS STRIPPED ME

Read Job 19

ildad had finished speaking for the second time. He had made it

clear that he believed Job was being punished for sins he had

committed. It was to this statement Job responded in chapter 19.

Job began by expressing his disappointment with his friends and their

attitude toward him in his trial. In verse 2 he told them that they had been

tormenting him and crushing him with their words. His friends had not been

a comfort to Job. Instead of coming to his side, they had accused him of sin

and rebellion against God. Their words cut Job. It was as if they were

stoning him with each word they spoke, adding to the terrible pain he

already suffered.

“Ten times now you have reproached me,” Job told his friends. Most

commentators agree that we should not attempt to find ten times where

Job’s friends had spoken evil of him. Job was not counting the insults of his

friends. The use of the expression “ten times” is simply to indicate that his

friends had many times insulted him. They had attacked him without

shame. They had attacked him with no consideration of the years they had

known him as a man of absolute integrity and honesty who walked in

righteousness before God. Now that he was suffering, they kicked him,

crushed him, and accused him of sin.

It is often in times of trial that we discover who our true friends are. The

true friend will stick with us even when things are difficult. Job was

discovering who his true friends were.

In verse 4 Job told his friends that if he had unconsciously gone astray, then

he alone would bear the consequences. This is not to say that we are not to

warn people when they are going down the wrong path. While we must

indeed warn people of their sins, we cannot confess these sins for them, nor

can we make things right for them. If Job had sinned, then he alone would

suffer the consequences. He alone could make things right with God and

others. There comes a point when after warning our brother or sister, we

simply have to leave things in their hands to work through, or not.

We get the impression that Job felt that his friends were taking advantage of

his humiliation to accuse him (verse 5). Job wanted them to know that he

believed God had wronged him (verse 6). Though he cried out to God, God

would not answer Job or give him justice (verse 7). God had blocked Job’s

way so he could not pass and covered him in darkness so he could not see

his way.

In verse 9 Job told his friends that it was God who had stripped him of his

honour and removed the crown from his head. God had given, and now God

had taken away from him (1:21). From the beginning, Job accepted this trial

as coming from the hand of a sovereign God. This did not make the trial

any easier for him, but it did offer him some hope in the midst of darkness.

He knew that God could also take his suffering away.

Job did not hide how he felt toward God, who had torn him down on every

side. The Lord had uprooted him like a tree that was pulled up by its roots

and left to die. God’s anger burned against him. God was treating Job like

an enemy. He sent His troops to advance in force against Job (verse 12). In

obedience God’s troops built a siege ramp against Job. They camped around

him, blocking off all blessing. This resulted in Job being alienated from his

brothers and acquaintances. Job’s relatives abandoned him. Those he

thought were his friends forgot about him. Those who had been his guests

and benefited from his kind hospitality now treated him like a stranger.

Job’s servants no longer respected him and refused to obey his commands,

even though he begged and pleaded with them (verse 16). Job’s brothers

treated him as someone who was nauseating and offensive (possibly due to

the open sores that riddled his body). Job’s wife found his breath offensive,

and she too kept her distance. The little boys playing around him mocked

and ridiculed him. His closest friends detested him, and those he loved had

turned against him. Job was abandoned in his time of need. He was filled

with grief and pain, and there was no one to comfort him or listen to him.

He was all alone in the world.

Physically, Job was nothing but skin and bones (verse 20). His skin was as

fragile and thin as the skin on his teeth. “Have pity on me, my friends, have

pity, for the hand of God has struck me,” Job cried to his friends (verse 21).

He longed for someone to understand what he is going through. He could

not understand why his acquaintances added to the torment that God had

already laid on him (verse 22).

Job’s cries can also be heard today from the lips of men and women around

us. Some have been locked up in prisons. Some have locked themselves up

in prisons of drugs, sex, or alcohol. There are others in mansions, living in

the lap of luxury, but deep inside they cry out for someone to stand with

them and ease their suffering. Ultimately, the Lord Jesus is the only one

who can truly answer the questions they have, but God is calling you and

me to be His representatives to these tormented people around us.

In verse 23 Job told his friends that he wished that his complaint could be

recorded in a scroll or inscribed with an iron tool on lead. He wished that it

could be engraved on rock so that it would be remembered forever. Job had

a sense that what God was doing in him would be of benefit for others. He

wanted justice to prevail. He wanted future generations to know his

suffering and how the Lord vindicated him in the end. There was truth that

God wanted to communicate to the world through Job. Job did not want that

truth to be lost for all eternity. He did not want his suffering to be in vain.

He did not understand that God would do just that and preserve his

complaint for us to study today.

Deep down inside, even below all his great despair, Job was confident that

God had not completely abandoned him. He believed that his Redeemer

lived and would stand on the earth. A redeemer is one who buys something

back. Job had been sold to evil. He was confident, however, that his God

would not leave him in his pain and suffering. God would come to his aid

and release him from the hand of evil and oppression. Job knew that when

his skin and bones were destroyed and God had accomplished everything he

wanted, then he would see God (verse 26).

Job longed for that moment when he would see God with his own eyes

(verse 27). Then he would receive justice. No one, who is not right with

God, can long to see God as Job did. Job remained confident in his

relationship with the Almighty.

Job turned the arguments of his friends against them. They had been

hounding him and accusing him of sin. Job told them that they needed to

fear the sword of God’s judgment because of all the evil they had spoken

against him. God would deal with them because of their arrogant attitudes,

words, and actions.

God allowed Job to go through this time of severe suffering, and Job’s

experiences were recorded for our benefit. The truths of this book should be

mastered by every pastor and Christian counsellor. How easy it is for us to

offer our cheap answers to the deep questions of suffering and pain. God’s

purposes and plans are beyond us. Job knew God had stripped him of

everything, but he was confident that God would one day set him free.

For Consideration:

Have you ever found yourself trying to give easy answers to those who

were suffering?

Job felt abandoned in his suffering and pain. Are there people in your

community who are feeling abandoned? What would God have you to do?

Why was it important for Job that his suffering be recorded for future

generations? What lessons do we learn from this book?

What lessons has God taught you through suffering? How has this helped

you to more effectively minister to others?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to be slow to offer easy answers to those who are

suffering.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to those who are feeling abandoned around

you today. Ask Him to show you what you should do for them.

Thank the Lord that our trials are not in vain. Thank Him that He teaches us

life’s most valuable lessons through these trials.

Thank the Lord that we can have every confidence that when we have been

tested, we too will see God.

18 - ZOPHAR: THE JOY OF

THE WICKED IS BRIEF

Read Job 20

ob had not been very complementary to his friends. In his last

response to his friends, he told them that they had been tormenting

and crushing him with their words. He accused them of abandoning

him in his moment of grief and pain. Zophar was quite troubled by what he

heard Job saying.

Disturbed in his thoughts, Zophar felt compelled to speak out. In verse 3 he

stated that what Job had said dishonoured him as a person, a friend, and

man of wisdom. Zophar began by calling Job to consider the lessons of

history from the time that people began to walk on the earth. According to

Zophar, the lesson history taught was that the joy of the wicked was only

brief (verse 5). Zophar’s words were aimed at Job.

According to Zophar, a wicked person’s pride could reach to the heavens.

These proud people walked around with their heads in the clouds. They

accumulated wealth and power, but none of this would last. Though these

individuals lifted themselves up, they would fall to the ground like

worthless dung and perish forever (verse 7). Their influence and

possessions would perish with them (verses 8-9). They would no longer be

remembered on the earth. Their lives would be like a dream that quickly

flew away or like a vision in the night that was soon forgotten. They would

be seen no more and be forgotten even by the land in which he lived. For

Zophar, the destiny of the wicked person was very clear.

In their pride the wicked lifted themselves above the poor. They abused

their position and took from them. Their children would have to pay back

what they took from the poor. Their ill-gotten wealth would last only for a

brief time before it was taken from them and restored to its rightful owners.

If this did not take place in their lifetime, then their children would be

forced to pay back what their parents had accumulated by deceit and evil.

God would not overlook the plight of the poor forever.

The youthful vigour that filled the bones of the proud would lie with them

in the grave (verse 11). Their vigour would not last. This too would be

stripped from them.

Zophar compared the proud person to a man who took evil into his mouth.

That evil was sweet to his taste, and so he kept it under his tongue,

savouring it like a tasty candy. Unwilling to let it go, it quickly became sour

in his stomach and poisoned his system like the venomous poison of a

snake (verse 14). In the end, he would be sickened by the riches he had

unjustly accumulated. He would vomit them out, losing everything he had

lusted after in his life.

For Zophar, the proud, who accumulated evil riches, were like people

sucking the poison of a serpent. The fangs of an adder would kill them. The

poison of materialism would destroy them (verse 16).

In the end, evil people would not enjoy the streams and rivers flowing with

honey and cream (verse 17). All blessings would be removed from them.

What they toiled so hard to obtain would be return uneaten. They would not

be permitted to enjoy the profits of their dishonest business.

Because the proud had oppressed the poor, seizing their homes and leaving

them destitute, they would have no relief from their own cravings (verse

20). They would be unable to save themselves in the time of judgment.

Their prosperity would not last. In the end, there would be nothing left for

them to enjoy (verse 21). Distress would overtake them in the midst of

plenty (verse 22).When they were in full force, misery would suddenly

come. While the belly of an evil man was full, God would fall on him in

burning anger (verse 23). Zophar was implying that this is what had

happened to Job.

An evil man would not be able to escape the justice of God. If he fled the

iron weapon, a bronze tipped arrow would pierce him. As he pulled that

arrow out of his back and liver, other terrors would overwhelm him (verse

25).

According to Zophar, total darkness awaited the wicked. Their treasures

would perish and be of no more benefit to them (verse 26). God would

expose the guilt of the proud and arrogant. The earth itself would fight

against them (verse 27). Their houses would be carried off by a flood in the

day of God’s anger and wrath (verse 28). God would punish the wicked. At

best, all they had was temporary. They would perish, and all they had

accumulated would perish with them.

Zophar reminded Job of the temporary nature of wealth and prosperity. In

the end, all we have accumulated in this life will perish. Jesus taught his

disciples about the temporary nature of wealth when He said in Matthew

16:26:

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet

forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his

soul?

Many people live for this world with no concern for spiritual matters. These

individuals need to hear what Zophar was saying here. All people will one

day stand before a holy God to give an account of their lives. Riches and

possessions can have a powerful attraction and have led many to turn from

God and His purposes.

God will judge sin in the lives of the wicked, but this judgment does not

always take place in their lives on earth. Zophar assumed that God had

severely judged Job because of his wickedness. God had not stripped Job of

his possessions because he had accumulated them by unjust means. He had

not stripped them from him because Job had made them his god. In the

opening chapters of this book, Job graciously accepted the removal of his

possessions and worshipped God saying:

“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” (Job 1:21-22).

While Zophar’s words are true enough in certain contexts, they wrongly

applied to Job. Not only do we need to know the truth, we also need the

wisdom and discernment of God to know when and where to apply that

truth.

For Consideration:

Can the wicked prosper on this earth? What is the danger of wealth and

possessions?

Zophar compared those who accumulated riches to someone sucking the

poison of an adder. What did he mean by this? How can riches and

possessions be a curse to us?

Are all riches a curse? What is the difference between the person that

Zophar spoke of here and Job?

What can we learn about the importance of correctly applying the truth of

Scripture to each situation in life?

What is the difference between knowing truth and correctly applying that

truth?

Could you, like Job, allow God to strip you of everything and still praise

Him?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to keep you from the love of money and possessions.

If you know someone who is trapped in the love of money and possessions,

take a moment to pray for them, asking God to show them their need of

Him.

Ask God to help you not only to know the truth of the Word but also to

correctly apply that truth to each situation He brings your way.

19 - JOB'S RESPONSE:

WHY DO THE WICKED

LIVE ON?

Read Job 21

n chapter 20 Zophar told Job that the joy of the wicked was brief.

While there was certainly an element of truth in what he was saying,

the reality of the matter was that this did not always work itself out in

everyday life. It is very easy to make general statements and believe that

they will apply to every situation in life. This is simply not the case. It is

impossible to put God in a box and discern what He will do in any given

situation. His ways and purposes are beyond us.

Here in chapter 21, Job challenged Zophar in regard to his comments. Job

began in verse 2 by asking Zophar to listen carefully to what he was going

to tell him. It would provide Job some comfort if his friends would just

listen to him. Zophar could mock Job all he wanted, but for the moment Job

wanted his undivided attention (verse 3).

“Is my complaint directed to man?” Job asked in verse 4. The idea here

seems to be that if Job were directing his complaint to a human, his

complaint would be in vain. No man or woman could relieve him of the

pain he was suffering. Only God could remove the load he bore. If God

could relieve the pain, then why should he not cry out to God for relief?

The apostle James told us that we do not have things because we do not ask

God for them (James 4:2). This seems to be the general idea of Job here. He

believed that he could approach God for mercy, and so he did.

“Look at me and be astonished; clap your hand over your mouth,” Job said

in verse 5. Look at what I am going through. Let the full reality of what you

see fill you with astonishment so that you have to cover your mouth to

silence your cry of terror. Cover your mouth to keep it from giving quick

and easy answers.

When Job thought about what he was going through and the intensity of his

suffering, he was terrified and shook all over (verse 6). What made matters

worse, however, was the fact that when he looked at the wicked who lived

around him, they did not seem to suffer the same trials. This idea is the

focus of chapter 21.

Zophar had told Job that the joy of the wicked is always short-lived. This

was not what Job saw in his experience. Theologically, Zophar sounded

good, but his mind was blinded by a desire to make life simple and

predictable. His eyes were not open to the reality of the things that were

happening around him.

As Job looked around, he saw how the wicked lived to old age and

increased in power (verse 7). They had children who grew up and settle

nearby. The wicked lived to enjoy their offspring and the blessing of God in

their families.

The wicked lived in nice homes and were free from fear (verse 9). God did

not seem to set His face against them or even punish them. Their cattle

prospered. Their bulls did not fail to breed, and their cows never seemed to

miscarry. Their flocks were numerous and content. Their children were well

cared for and danced in a carefree manner in the fields (verse 11). The

homes of the wicked seemed to be joyous homes filled with music and

merriment (verse 12).

Job rightly observed that many wicked people lived in prosperity and died

in peace (verse 13). These thoughts seemed to terrify Job. He saw the agony

of his own life and the prosperity of the wicked around him. He felt

confused.

Though the wicked prospered and lived in peace, they told God to leave

them alone. They had no desire to know the ways of God or to walk in His

path (verse 14). They arrogantly said: “Who is the Almighty that we should

serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?” (verse 15). Their only

concern was how to prosper and gain more for themselves. If God was not

going to serve their greed, they wanted nothing to do with Him. They

despised God but still prospered.

As Job considered the prosperity of the wicked and his own suffering, he

came to an important conclusion. In verse 16 he realized that the prosperity

of the wicked was not ultimately from their own hands, but from the

generosity of God. They would, however, one day answer to God for their

actions. By turning from the God who had so richly blessed them, their

judgment would be very great. Job chose to suffer under the hand of God

and live in faithfulness to Him rather than live a life of peace and prosperity

in unfaithfulness. For Job, it was much better to worship God and get

nothing in this world than to live in rebellion. For this reason, Job refused

the way and counsel of the wicked.

“How often is the light of the wicked snuffed out,” Job asked in verse 17.

“How often does calamity come upon them?” As we look around us even in

our day, do we not see wicked men and women prospering? Do they not

live in rich mansions with servants and more than they can enjoy in a

lifetime? Their light does not seem to be snuffed out. They live and die in

prosperity.

Job went on in verse 18 to ask Zophar to consider the reality of what he saw

around him. “How often are they like straw before the wind, like chaff

swept away by a gale?” he asked. Have we not all met unbelievers who are

well established and prosperous? Not all unbelievers are homeless drifters.

Many have their roots firmly established. Zophar’s comments about the

prosperity of the wicked being short-lived did not seem to bear itself out in

real life where the wicked seemed to prosper all their lives.

Job moved on in verse 19 to address a common notion in his day that

though the wicked may not be punished, their descendants would have to

pay the price of their parents’ sins. Job reacted against this idea. He told

Zophar and his friends that it would be much better to punish the wicked

themselves. The wicked, according to Job, should see the judgment of God.

They should be forced to drink the cup of God’s wrath themselves. Why

should a wicked man care what happened to his family when he was gone?

What lesson could he learn in the grave (verse 21)?

Zophar’s theology sounded pious and wonderful, but it did not work itself

out in everyday life. God’s ways are higher than our ways. Who can ever

teach God (verse 22)? One person dies in full strength, having lived a life of

complete ease and security. This person was well fed and in full health.

Another person dies with a grieving soul. His or her life was joyless, never

having enjoyed the good things of life. In the end, both these individuals are

laid side by side in the dust of the grave. Worms cover them both (verse

26). How can we explain this mystery? Why are all people not treated the

same? Why does one live in luxury and another in poverty? Why does one

person experience the fullness of life and all its pleasures, while another

experiences only misery and failure? How can we understand the purposes

and plans of God in these matters?

Job knew the way his friends were thinking. They too had their illustrations

of how the wicked lived and were judged. Job admitted that there were

examples of evil men and women who were judged in this life for sin and

evil. He told his friends to question those who had travelled in larger circles

than they did. These individuals would tell them that they had seen evil men

spared from the day of calamity (verse 30). The King James Version

translates verse 30 slightly differently. “The wicked is reserved to the day of

destruction? They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath” (Job 21:30,

KJV) John Gill commenting on this verse says this:

That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? That is,

that they are spared, withheld, restrained, as the word signifies,

or kept and preserved from many calamities and distresses,

which others are exposed unto; and so are reserved, either unto

a time of greater destruction in this life or rather to eternal

destruction in the world to come. (Gill, John “Exposition of the

Entire Bible” Public Domain, Extracted from freegrace.net.

Formatted for Bible + version 3.1.11)

The idea here is that same as the New International Version. Job is trying to

communicate to his friends that there are times when the punishment of

wicked individuals may be withheld for a time. They may live in this life

without ever seeing the wrath of God for their sin.

No one dared approach these individuals to denounce their evil conduct to

their faces (verse 31). These people, though they never cared for God, died

and were richly buried, having servants to watch over their tombs (verse

32).

These wicked men lived in fertile valleys. They gained the support and

approval of many people in their communities. They had many followers

and servants. The reality of the matter was that while there were some

examples of the wicked being punished in this life for sins, there were also

examples of many wicked who prospered. Job concluded by telling Zophar

that his argument made no sense. His theology had no basis in reality.

For Consideration:

What evidence did Job give that showed Zophar’s theology that the

prosperity of the evil was only short-lived on this earth was not based in the

reality of daily life?

Do the wicked prosper in this life? Is there an easy answer as to why this is

the case?

Job concluded that it was better to die in faithful obedience than to live in

rebellion. Is this truth reflected in your own life?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to show you the truth and to give you grace to admit that

sometimes your idea of God is based more on your desire to predict or

understand God that in the reality of who He really is.

Thank the Lord that while we do not understand His ways and purposes, He

always does what is right.

Ask the Lord to give you the grace to live in obedience to Him even when

He calls you to go through suffering and trial.

20 - ELIPHAZ: SUBMIT TO

GOD AND BE AT PEACE

Read Job 22

hapter 22 contains the beginning of the third cycle of speeches

given by Job and his friends. This was the third time that Eliphaz

spoke to Job. His idea of why Job was suffering was firmly

entrenched in his mind. Eliphaz believed Job was wicked and his guilt was

the cause of his calamities. Eliphaz believed that God was too lofty to be

very concerned with the lives of individual people, unless they needed to be

punished for wickedness.

When Eliphaz told Job that human beings could not be of any benefit to

God, he was not saying that God could not use them (verse 2). God had

often used men and women to advance His kingdom. Eliphaz seems to refer

to the fact that humans owe everything they have to God. Without God,

people can do nothing. There is nothing humans can offer God that does not

first come from Him. Eliphaz went on in verse 2 to remind Job that even a

wise person could not benefit God. In other words, a person could not tell

God anything He did not already know. All wisdom comes first from Him.

In verse 3 Eliphaz asked Job what pleasure he felt God would get if he was

righteous. Again, we should not see him saying here that God is not pleased

when we honour Him and live in obedience to His commands. While a

servant who does his master’s will does receive the approval of the master,

the fact is that the servant is only doing what is expected of him.

Eliphaz seems to be saying that if as servants of God we are living

righteous lives, we are merely doing what God expects. We are not giving

Him any more than we are obligated to give Him as servants. The Lord

Jesus communicated the same thought in Luke 17:10:

So you also, when you have done everything you were told to

do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done

our duty.

Eliphaz continued his thought in the second half of verse 3. “What would

He gain if your ways were blameless?” he asked Job. Would God become a

better person because Job lived a perfect life? Would the Lord be hindered

because Job did not live according to His purpose? God chooses to use

humans but is not hindered by their limitations.

Having challenged Job with this thought, Eliphaz moved on to accuse Job

of serious offenses before God. He spoke very strongly to Job. Perhaps the

reason for the strength of his language had to do with the fact that Job had

told his friends that he was blameless. His friends were frustrated with Job’s

insistence that he was blameless because they believed that Job’s sufferings

proved his guilt.

Eliphaz asked Job if it was for his goodness that God rebuked him (verse 4).

Eliphaz did not believe God ever allowed good people to suffer. This led

Eliphaz to the conclusion that Job was a wicked person (verse 5). His sins

had no end. Eliphaz proceeded to give a list of those sins he supposed Job

had committed.

He accused Job of demanding security from his brothers for no reason

(verse 6). In other words, he did not trust his brothers and demanded a

guarantee for even the smallest loan. Eliphaz believed that Job was so

concerned about getting his money back that he refused loans to those in

need who could not guarantee repayment of the loan.

Eliphaz also accused Job of stripping men of their clothing and leaving

them naked (verse 6). It may possibly be that Eliphaz was referring to a

defaulted loan. When the loan was not paid, Job supposedly took the

clothes off the backs of the poor, leaving them cold and naked rather than

suffer loss himself. In verse 7 Eliphaz accused Job of not giving water to

the weary and withholding food from the hungry. He told Job that though

he had been a rich and powerful man, owning land and possessions, he still

turned widows and orphans away empty-handed (verse 9). Job had the

power and ability to help, but he refused. According to Eliphaz, this was

why God was punishing Job (verse 10).

From the perspective of Eliphaz, Job was blind to spiritual matters. It was

as if he was covered in darkness or by floodwaters so that any spark of

intelligence or wisdom had been snuffed out (verse 11).

Next Eliphaz condemned Job for evil motives. Eliphaz assumed Job

believed that God was so high in the heavens that he could not see Job’s

wickedness, and so Job had sinned greatly, thinking he would not get

caught (verses 12-14). Eliphaz warned that this false belief about God was

an old path walked by many evil people whom God had seen and punished

(verses 15-16).

These wicked people had told God to leave them alone (verse 17). They

wanted nothing to do with God and His ways. Yet God had filled their

houses with good things, even though they did not recognize it. Eliphaz was

implying that Job was one of these evil people who had prospered for a

brief season. Eliphaz stated that he wanted nothing to do with this sort of

wicked thinking.

In the end, the righteous person would see the fall and ruin of the wicked

and rejoice. The innocent victims of the wicked would mock them in their

time of trouble. God would destroy the wicked and the fire of His judgment

would devour their wealth (verse 20). According to Eliphaz, this was what

had happened to Job because he had practiced much evil.

Eliphaz does not seem to have any proof for these statements about Job. It

may be that Eliphaz accused Job of these things not because he had seen

Job do any of them but because he believed he had to be guilty of such

crimes because of the punishment he was receiving from God.

Believing that Job had sinned, Eliphaz pleaded with him to submit to God

and make peace with Him (verse 21). Eliphaz promised that if Job would do

this, he would become prosperous again. Eliphaz believed that obedience to

God equalled wealth and prosperity. If Job would repent and return to the

Lord, he would be restored to his former position of wealth and comfort

(verses 22-23).

Eliphaz told Job that if he was willing to assign his nuggets to the dust and

his gold to the rock in the ravine, then the Lord would be his gold and silver

(verses 24- 25). In saying this, he accused Job of greed and materialism. He

told Job that he needed to put aside his wealth if he was going to have a

relationship with God. Only then would he find delight in the Lord God and

be able to lift up his head without shame (verse 26). Only then would the

Lord God hear his prayers and honour him (verse 27). Only then would

God give him success in everything he decided to do. Job would become a

light to many on his path and God would lift up the downcast and guilty for

whom Job prayed (verses 28-30).

Eliphaz had some strong accusations against Job. To him, Job was caught

up in the love of money and would do anything to have more. God was

punishing him because of his great evil. Only by repenting of his lust for

riches and by using those riches instead for the good of others could Job

experience success and blessing in his own life. But Eliphaz was wrong

about Job and about God. We will see Job’s response to these beliefs in the

next chapter.

For Consideration:

Does God really need us? Is there anything that we can give Him that does

not first come from Him?

Have you ever found yourself boasting because you did your duty? What

can we learn here about there being no room for pride in this matter?

Eliphaz seemed to jump to conclusions about Job and what he had done.

Have you ever found yourself doing this?

What does this passage teach us about the danger of materialism?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that while He is fully capable of expanding His kingdom by

Himself, He chooses to use us.

Ask the Lord to help you to be faithful to Him even when you are falsely

accused.

Ask God to set you free from the love of money and possessions.

21 - JOB'S RESPONSE: I

WISH I COULD FIND GOD

Read Job 23-24

n frustration Eliphaz had accused Job of serious sins. He told Job that

he deserved the trials he had received from the hand of God. He

challenged Job to turned from his sin and seek the Lord God so he

could be at peace. The accusations of Eliphaz, however, were not based in

fact. He accused Job of sins he could never prove. In the next two chapters,

Job offered his response to Eliphaz.

Job began by reminding his friends that his complaint was bitter because

the hand of God was heavy on him despite his groaning (23:2). It was as if

the Lord did not care about the pain He was inflicting on Job at that time.

Eliphaz had told Job to repent and seek God so that he could live. These

words were easily spoken but not so easily practiced. Job told Eliphaz that

if he knew where God was, he would go to Him immediately and state his

case before Him. The fact of the matter was that Job could not find God at

this point in his life. God had hidden His face from him. Although Job

searched, God was nowhere to be found. Job cried out constantly to the

Lord, but the Lord was not answering him.

There are times when the Lord seems to withdraw His presence for a time

to test us (see 2 Chronicles 32:31). In those moments, it seems that God is

very distant and nothing we can do can bring Him any closer. This was the

case with Job. God was simply not revealing Himself to Job at this time.

There was nothing Job could do but wait on the Lord and be faithful to

Him. Most of us have experience times like these.

Job wanted, more than anything, to hear from God. He was not afraid to

hear what God would say (23:5). He was not running from God but seeking

Him with all his heart. Job had nothing to fear from God. He believed that

he was innocent and would not be accused by God. Job knew that Eliphaz

had falsely accused him. He knew that God would give him a fair hearing.

Job considered himself to be an upright man (23:6-7). He did not fear

approaching God because he knew where he stood with Him. If only he

could find God, he knew that he would be set free from any condemnation.

Job had full assurance of his position before God.

Job’s greatest complaint was that he could not find God (23:8-9). However,

Job reminded his friends that when God had finished testing him, he would

be refined like gold (23:10). Job understood that even when he could not

see God in his trials and pain, God could see him and had not abandoned

him. Job believed that God was doing a powerful work in his life that would

draw him even closer. This was evidence of Job’s tremendous faith. Earlier

Job had wanted God to leave him alone (7:17-19), but Job was coming to

trust God’s ways, even if he could not understand them.

Job was confident that he had followed in God’s steps (23:11-12). He knew

that he had been faithful to God and had not turned aside. Job walked in the

commands of the Lord. He told his friends that those commands had been

more important to him than his daily food.

Eliphaz could not understand how Job could suffer so much and still be

innocent. For him, there had to be a connection between Job’s suffering and

some hidden sin in his life. Job’s concept of God was much larger than this.

He did not see God as being so easy to understand. God’s purposes were

beyond human ability to comprehend. God stood alone in His plans and

purposes (23:13). No one could tell God what to do or predict what He

would do.

God was carrying out His strange purpose for Job. Job understood this and

it terrified him. He knew God was holy and did as He pleased. God could

not be reduced to a simple set of rules, as Job’s friends had tried to do. Job

knew God’s ways to be beyond the understanding of mere humans.

Though Job had been plunged into darkness, he would not be silenced

(23:17). He was terrified and God had overcome him, but Job would still

approach Him with his complaint because he believed that God was full of

justice and mercy.

The thing that Job failed to understand in this trial was why God did not set

a time for judgment (24:1). Job’s trial had lingered. It did not seem to have

an end. God seemed no closer now than He was in the beginning of Job’s

trial. The question on the mind of Job was how long this trial was going to

last.

Another concern of Job was why the wicked seemed to get away with

terrible evil while he suffered so much even though he lived a life of

obedience and faithfulness (24:2-12). He reminded his friends how wicked

people moved boundary stones and pastured their sheep in stolen pastures.

They drove away the orphan’s donkey and took a widow’s ox in pledge,

even though these animals were all these victims had to earn a living. They

pushed the poor and needy aside when they found them on the road. They

forced the poor into hiding because of their evil dealings with them. The

poor were left foraging for food like wild donkeys in the desert. The evil

had no concern for the poor. They took their land and left them to fend for

themselves with no means of support.

This forced the poor to gather from fields that were not their own (24:6).

They lacked clothes and spent nights naked in the cold night air. They

would be drenched by the mountain rains and had to hide among the rocks

for shelter. They had no homes.

Fatherless children were snatched from their mother’s breasts and the infant

was seized to pay off a debt owed to the wicked (24:9). There was no

concern for the pain this would cause. These poor lacked clothes and went

about naked. They carried the food of the rich but still went hungry. The

sheaves they gathered in the fields were not their own. They were gathered

for their masters. The poor were forced to crush olives and tread

winepresses but still suffered thirst because they were not permitted to

enjoy the fruit of their labours. Throughout the city the groans of the dying

could be heard. Wounded souls were crying out for help as they were

oppressed by the wicked (24:12). Despite this, God did not seem to charge

the wicked with wrongdoing. He remained quiet while the wicked abused

the land and devoured the innocent. What was Job to understand from these

things? How could he explain why God allowed the wicked to flourish on

their evil path while doing nothing to stop the suffering of the righteous

man?

There were many who rebelled against the light of truth (24:13-17). They

had no desire to walk in the way of the Lord. They murdered, killed the

poor and needy, and stole like thieves. The adulterer lived as if no one could

see what he was doing. Men broke into houses at night and hid away in the

daylight. These individuals lived for the darkness. They slept in the day and

rose at night to engage in their night terrors.

While the wicked did not see the wrath of God in this world, they would be

like the foam on the surface of the water (24:18). They would fade away,

and everything they had would be cursed. Just as the heat of the day melts

the snow, so these evil beings would be consumed by death and the grave.

There in the grave, they would be forgotten and the worms would feast on

their bodies.

Though the wicked preyed on needy widows, the day would come when

God would drag them away by His power (24:22). As strong as they were,

they would be no match for God who would bring them to justice in the

end. For a time these individuals might rest in a feeling of false security, but

God was not blind to their ways. Wicked people might live exalted lives

here below for a time, but the day was coming when they would be brought

low. They would be like grain that prospered for a time but would

eventually be cut down.

As Job concluded his argument, he defied his friends to contradict what he

told them. If Job’s friends would simply open their eyes, they would see

that God was not so easily defined and predicted. God would determine in

His wisdom when wrongs would be made right. This, however, would not

always be in our time.

For Consideration:

Have you ever experienced a time when the Lord seemed distant? Did this

mean that you had done something wrong?

Why does God sometimes distance Himself from us? According to Job,

what is the result of being tested by God in this way?

Can we be faithful when we do not understand the ways of God?

Can the wicked prosper? What will happen to them in the end?

What does Job teach us here about trying to predict the ways and purposes

of God?

For Prayer:

Ask God to help you to trust Him fully even when you cannot understand

His ways.

Ask God to keep you from judging others by outward circumstances.

Thank the Lord that He is able to keep you through any trial and make you

into the person He wants you to be.

Thank God that He is bigger than our ability to understand Him.

22 - THE OUTER FRINGE

OF GOD'S WORD

Read Job 25-26

n chapter 25 Bildad spoke for the third time. He spoke briefly but

clearly expressed his opinion that God is majestic and humans are

sinful, especially Job. In the last meditation, we saw how Job told his

friends that he had been seeking God but could not find Him. He told them

clearly that if he could find God, God would not condemn Him (23:6). Job’s

friends had been condemning him, but Job sincerely believed that God

would press no charges and find him innocent.

Job’s words troubled Bildad, and he responded. Bildad began by reminding

Job that dominion and awe belong to the Lord God. That is to say, God is

Lord over all the earth and rules in glory and majesty. God established the

heavens and set them in order. That order can be seen, according to Bildad,

in how God rules the forces of heaven (25:2). This may refer to the

innumerable host of angels in heaven who are under God’s command and

live to obey His every word. It may also refer to the way in which the stars,

moon, and sun are set in place and rise day by day in obedience to the

Lord’s holy command. Anyone looking at the stars, planets, and the sun has

to be amazed at the power and order of this awesome God. The heavens

testify to how big and awesome God really is. Who could ever piece

together such a world? For centuries these lights have burned in the sky,

giving light to the earth below.

“How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of

woman be pure?” Bildad asked (25:4). How could anyone born on this earth

ever consider themselves pure enough to stand before such an awesome

God? Compared to God, even the moon is not bright, and the light of the

stars is not pure. Everything in the heavens is so inferior to God that in His

eyes the heavenly bodies are like darkness. Men and women on this earth

are so much smaller than these powerful lights of the sky. Bildad reminded

Job that compared to God, human beings are like maggots (25:6).

While there is an element of truth in what Bildad said here, I often meet

people who emphasize this thinking. They live in a sense of total

unworthiness. They speak of themselves as “worms.” While it is true that

we are in ourselves unworthy, the Lord Jesus came to forgive us. He has

placed his Holy Spirit in us and made us His children. Those who have

accepted the forgiveness of the Lord Jesus are now precious in His sight.

Even in the Old Testament before the coming of the Lord Jesus, God

considered His people very precious in his sight. A favourite verse of mine

is Zephaniah 3:17:

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will

take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will

rejoice over you with singing.

In the prophecy of Zechariah, God called His people the apple of his eye.

“For this is what the Lord Almighty says:

Whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye”’ (Zechariah

2:8).

Far from being worms, we are the “apple of his eye.” He rejoices over us

with singing. Yes, are certainly unworthy of this attention and love, but in

mercy God delights in us and has made us to be kings and priests. The

apostle Peter put it this way:

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,

a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of

him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1

Peter 2:9).

Bildad believed that Job was deceiving himself into believing that he could

be holy and righteous before God. How terrible it would be to live our lives

with this theology. The fact of the matter is that God love us. He accepts us,

and we can have the assurance of His delight in us. We can live under the

umbrella of His mercy, compassion, and acceptance. Far from being worms,

we can become children in whom God takes great delight. This is not

because we deserve this status but because in His mercy God has accepted

us and changed us into His image through the work of His Son.

Job responded to Bildad in chapters 26-31. In chapter 26 Job began in a

sarcastic or mocking tone. “How you have helped the powerless! How you

have saved the arm that is feeble!” he told Bildad (26:2). Job expressed his

humour in this statement. What does one say to a man or woman suffering

the pain of separation from God? Bildad told Job that he was a maggot!

What advice you have given me, said Job mockingly. You have displayed

tremendous insight in dealing with those who are feeling the reality of their

feebleness and powerlessness. You call them “maggots.” Bildad obviously

was not in tune with the pain and agony of Job. To tell a suffering servant of

God that he or she is a maggot would not refresh and encourage that

individual. Instead, it would only add to their already unbearable misery.

Job asked Bildad who it was that helped him to speak these words (26:4).

Job wanted to know where those words came from. Clearly, they did not

come from a spirit of compassion and mercy. Very likely, these words did

not even come from the Spirit of God. They were spoken out of anger and

frustration. When we remember that Satan was behind this suffering of Job,

we can assume that these words were being used by Satan to add to the

suffering of Job.

Satan has often delighted in keeping Christians under a sense of absolute

unworthiness. He loves to make them think that they are so sinful and

unworthy that God could never accept them or use them. Satan is an

accuser (Revelation 12:10). He loves to find fault and point out our

weakness and failures; whereas, God reveals sin so that we can be drawn to

the Lord Jesus to be forgiven. Satan emphasizes sin so that we will be

discouraged and frustrated in our attempt to walk with God. Bildad’s words

were discouraging and suggested that God was so far removed that Job

could never approach Him.

In verse 5 Job told his friends that the dead and those who lived beneath the

waters were in deep anguish (26:5). What was Job trying to say here? It

may be that he spoke of the souls of those who waited for judgment. They

were in agony and trembling. Death is not an escape from judgment. The

day would come when the Lord would bring everyone to judgment. All

people will have to give an account of their lives. He pictures the dead

trembling as they await their final judgment.

Job continued to describe the awesome God he trusted, who alone

controlled the universe (26:7-11). This God spreads out the sky and

suspended the earth over nothing. He wrapped water in clouds, and yet the

clouds do not burst under the weight. He hid the light of the moon with

clouds. He marked out the boundary between light and dark. The earth

quaked when He was angry. His power churned up the sea.

Job told his friends that God cut Rahab to pieces (26:12). The King James

Version translates this verse: “He smiteth through the proud.” “Rahab” has

different meanings in the Hebrew language. It can mean “proud,” or it can

also refer to the name of a mythical sea monster that caused great chaos in

the sea. It is hard to say which translation is the best. God does smite the

proud, and He conquers all opposing forces.

Verse 13 is best understood in the context of verse 12, in which Job stated

that God churned up the sea and cut Rahab to pieces. In verse 13 the breath

of the Lord stopped the churning of the seas by a single word from His

mouth. That word destroyed the sea monster and restored order in the sea.

This awesome Lord God controls all forces of nature.

All these things are just “the outer fringe of his works” (26:14). These

powerful deeds are just a small portion of what the Lord God can do. We

can only hear a whisper of God’s power and ability. If we fail to understand

the whisper, how could we ever understand the thunder? If the outer fringe

of His power is beyond our ability to understand, how could we ever

understand the greater things of God and His ways?

What was Job telling Bildad here? Bildad and his friends have been

explaining to Job how they believed God related to humans. Somehow, they

felt that they knew the ways of God and could speak on His behalf. Job

reminded them that God is so great and awesome that they could not

understand His ways. God cannot be placed under a microscope and

examined. He cannot be examined through a telescope and understood. His

ways are so much greater than our ways. This being the case, how could

Bildad speak on God’s behalf? How could he understand what God was

doing? Bildad spoke of an awesome God who was so much higher than he

was but then proceeded to speak on His behalf, as if he knew exactly how

God worked.

Because God is a big God, we have to settle in our minds that we will not

always understand His ways. God will work in ways that do not make sense

to us. We will not understand, but we can trust Him to do what is right.

For Consideration:

Bildad spoke of people being “maggots” and “worms” before God. How

does God see us? How should we see ourselves?

What does Job teach us about dealing with those who are suffering? How

did Bildad fail as a counsellor?

Why does Satan emphasize our sin? Why does God emphasize our sin?

What is the difference? How can we distinguish one from the other?

Can we ever understand the ways of God? What is the role of faith in times

when we simply do not understand what God is doing?

Bildad spoke of a big God but seemed to limit Him practically by His

theology. In what ways do we limit God?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to praise the Lord for the fact that He delights in you as His

child. Thank Him that He is a God of tremendous mercy and compassion.

Praise the Lord that He is a big God whose ways are beyond our ability to

understand.

Ask God for faith to keep you in those times when you do not understand

what He is doing.

Thank God that because He loves you, you can have full confidence in Him

and what He is doing in you and your society.

23 - I WILL MAINTAIN MY

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Read Job 27

ildad had challenged Job concerning his statements about being

right before God. He felt that Job was speaking in pride when he

said that he had done nothing wrong. In chapter 25 Bildad

reminded Job that before such a holy and awesome God, human beings

could be, at best, mere maggots. Job had begun his response to Bildad in

chapter 26, and chapter 27 is a continuation of that response.

Job spoke honestly from his heart. He believed that God had denied him

justice (verse 2). He felt he was suffering unjustly. God had made him taste

bitterness. Job was confused in his trial. He could not understand the ways

of God or the divine plan for his life. His human understanding was

insufficient to grasp the purposes of the Almighty God.

Though Job could not understand what the Lord was doing in his life, he

told his friends that as long as God gave him life and breath, he would

never speak evil or wickedness (verse 4). Nor would he ever admit that his

friends were right. He would never deny his integrity (verse 5).

Job had a clear conscience before God (verse 6). We need to understand that

there is a difference between being blind to our sin and being confident in

our walk with God. Many people believe that they are right with God. Even

when confronted by clear sin, they will not accept it. Job was not blind to

sin. He searched his heart and sought God about any hidden sin in his life

(7:20; 10:14; 13:23). His friends accused him of many different sins, but

Job knew in his heart that none of these accusations were based in truth.

Job’s friends were under the assumption that because he was suffering

terribly, he had done something seriously wrong. This was not the case.

Even good people suffer. The Lord Jesus is a clear example of this. He was

persecuted and felt all the temptations and trials that we face, even though

He was without sin (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15). Job honestly wanted to know if

there was any sin in his life that caused the Lord to discipline him with such

force.

Job wanted to find any hidden sin. He wanted, more than anything, to be in

fellowship with God. He was willing to deal with any sin that God revealed

to him. His attitude was right. There was trouble in his life, and God was

distant. Job was not hearing from God nor was he seeing His blessings. He

was not experiencing joy, nor was there any song in his heart. One thing he

did know, however, was that he still sought after and loved God. In verse 6

Job told his friends that he would maintain his righteousness and never let

go of it. He had a clear conscience before God.

Job understood that there was no hope for the ungodly. For him to turn his

back on God at this time would be very foolish indeed. His only hope was

in God. For this reason, Job was going to cling to God and His ways until

he died. Job’s friends were doing everything in their power to convince him

that he had abandoned the Lord God. They were, in reality, instruments of

Satan to shake his faith in God.

Satan was doing all he could to turn Job away from the Lord. He was trying

to cause Job to doubt his faith and believe that God had abandoned him. Job

refused to fall into this trap. He knew where he stood before God, and

neither Satan nor man could take that assurance from him.

Job spoke in verse 9 of the fate of those who turned from God. He asked the

question: “Does God listen to his cry when distress comes upon him?” Job

meant that God is under no obligation to answer the cry of the wicked. In

saying this, Job would no doubt have thought of his own situation. He had

not heard from God concerning his trouble. Job had every reason to believe,

however, that though God delayed in answering his prayer, He had not

forsaken him. Job had every reason to believe that God would answer in his

time. This was not the case for the wicked.

The wicked, according to Job, found no joy or delight in calling out to the

Lord (verse 10). Day after day Job cried out to the Lord. Day after day he

sought God’s face. He longed to see God and hear from Him. Even though

God did not respond, Job continued to seek Him.

Job had a few things to teach his own friends regarding the ways of the

Almighty (verse 11). Especially in regards to their false idea that all

suffering is the result of personal sin and all blessing is the result of

personal righteousness (verse 12).

In verses 13-23 Job told his friends that he too believed that in general the

wicked suffer in this life. The heritage of the ruthless person is the sword

(verse 14). Though the wicked person may have many children and seem to

prosper on this earth, the day would come when God would judge. In the

end, the wicked and their offspring would perish, and no one would mourn

their passing (verse 15). Job was confident in the justice of God, even if it

was not immediate.

The wicked person may heap up silver like the dust of the ground and

clothes like piles of clay (verse 16). That is to say, the wicked may prosper

and be wealthy in this life, but in the end, the righteous will inherit these

riches. In time, all that the wicked have worked so hard to obtain would be

stripped from them. The wicked are fighting a battle they cannot win. Yes,

they may prosper in this life. They may have great wealth and live at ease,

but the Day of Judgment is coming. On that day, terrors will overtake them

like a great flood (verse 20). Their possessions will be snatched away in the

night.

The wind of God’s fury will sweep down on the wicked (verse 21). That

wind will hurl itself on them without mercy, sending them fleeing from its

power (verse 22). That wind of God’s judgment would mock them and

“hiss” them out of their place.

Job seems to have been telling his friends that to renounce his righteousness

would be to seal his fate. There was no hope for the unrighteous. The only

hope there is could be found in God alone. Job clung to the Lord God. He

would not turn from His ways. Though nothing seemed to make sense, he

placed his full confidence in the Lord God. He would not abandon hope. He

would not turn from righteousness. When nothing makes sense to you in

this life and everything seems to be falling apart, trust the Lord and walk in

His ways.

For Consideration:

Can we have assurance of a right relationship with God? How does Job

demonstrate this assurance in this chapter?

Have you ever had a time when God seemed far away? Is it possible for a

righteous person to feel that God is far away?

Why does Job choose to maintain his walk with God? Where else could he

have turned?

Can the wicked prosper in this life? Can they prosper in the life to come?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He has given you the assurance of your salvation.

Thank God that even though He may appear distant at times, we can still

place our confidence in Him.

Thank the Lord that there is more to life than what we see around us in this

world. Thank Him for the promise of eternal life through the Lord Jesus.

Ask the Lord to give you the assurance that you are walking in his truth.

Thank the Lord that Satan could not shake the faith of Job. Ask God to give

you a faith that Satan cannot shake.

24 - IN SEARCH OF

WISDOM

Read Job 28

ob continued to speak to the comments of his friends. In the last

chapter, he agreed that the wicked suffer. But this did not explain his

suffering because he was righteous. He would not turn from the Lord.

He knew that outside of the Lord God there was no hope of justice. In

chapter 28 Job spoke of wisdom and how difficult it is to find.

The reality of the matter was that Job’s friends had not spoken wisely. They

had tried to explain the purposes of God for Job but fell short. Job was

seeking to understand the plan of God for his life. Job cried out for wisdom.

He wished he could have some sense of what God was doing.

Job began by speaking of mining for earthly treasures. He told his friends

that silver, gold, iron, and copper were taken from the earth (verses 1-2). In

order to find these precious metals, people dug deep into the earth. They

would cut a deep shaft into the ground, letting the light into a place where

light had never shone before (verse 4). They would search unexplored

recesses of the earth for these metals. The miners would dangle from ropes

in absolute darkness, swaying dangerously back and forth to obtain what

they longed to find.

As the miners’ torches lit these deep recesses, gems would reflect the light,

revealing their presence and transforming the darkness into a glittering fire-

like light (verse 5). There below the surface of the earth, sapphires and gold

were discovered (verse 6). By digging into the depth of the earth, humanity

was discovering what no animal or bird of prey had ever seen. People were

seeking treasure where no other creature had ever gone (verses 7-8).

Miners assaulted the flint rocks and exposed the roots of the mountains

(verse 9). Tunnelling through the rock, they saw the vast treasures below

the surface of the earth (verse 10). There under the earth, miners traced the

sources of the rivers and brought to light what had been hidden from the

human eye (verse 11).

Job marvelled at the ability of these miners to expose what was hidden. As

difficult as these precious metals and gems were to obtain, there was

something that was even more difficult to find. Wisdom, according to Job,

is an even greater treasure, more difficult to find than the most precious of

gems (verse 12).

Humanity has not understood the worth of true wisdom, and it cannot be

found on the earth (verse 13). The depth of the earth says: “It is not in me,”

and the sea says the same thing (verse 14). True wisdom cannot be mined

from the earth or harvested from the depth of the sea.

The wisdom that Job spoke of here cannot be purchased with gold, silver, or

precious gems (verse 15). It is not something that riches can obtain. Its

value is far superior to that of precious metals and gems. The wealth of the

entire earth cannot be compared to the value of wisdom (verses 16-19).

In verse 20 Job asked: “Where then does wisdom come from? Where does

understanding dwell?” This wisdom is hidden from the eyes of the living.

The birds of the air have never seen it as they fly above the earth (verse 21).

Death and Destruction have only heard a rumour of such wisdom (verse

22). That is to say, neither the living nor the dead are the source of wisdom.

God alone understands the way to wisdom and knows where it is (verse 23).

The wisdom Job sought concerning his suffering could not be found on

earth. It is a heavenly wisdom, and God alone could reveal it. In fact, God is

the creator and source of this wisdom.

The wisdom of God is demonstrated clearly in how He established the force

of the wind and measured out the waters on the earth (verse 25). It was by

this wisdom that God established an agreement with the rain and set out a

path by which the thunder was to travel (verse 26). All of creation was

established by this wisdom.

It is a wisdom that the greatest scientists of our day have never been able to

understand. Human minds have long sought to understand the wisdom of

God. Scientists and medical experts have never been able to see the extent

of this wisdom. Our telescopes have probed the depths of space but have

never seen where it ends. We have marvelled at the complexity and

harmony of the human body. What parent has not stood in awe at the

miracle of birth? These are just a few small examples of the infinite wisdom

of God.

Job concluded his reflection on this wisdom by telling his friends what true

wisdom really is. He told them that true wisdom is to fear the Lord and to

shun evil. True wisdom sees who God is and what He has done. God is the

creator of the universe. It is He who holds it together. He gives life and

takes it away. This wisdom can be found in no one else. He knows all about

us and what is best for us. He is an awesome and majestic God whose

purposes and plans are perfect. He is a powerful God who, by His word

alone, shaped the earth. In the hands of this God is the power of life and

death.

How foolish it would be for us to turn our backs on this wise God. How

foolish it would be for us to think that we know more than He. The wise

person will understand, see this wisdom in God, and surrender to His

purposes and plans. True wisdom is to turn from anything that is contrary to

God and His nature and surrender completely and reverently to Him.

Job did not understand what God was doing in his suffering. Job did not

need to understand all the mysteries of God. He knew that God’s ways are

perfect. Job simply needed to trust God’s revealed wisdom. ‘‘The fear of the

Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (verse 28). The

wisest thing Job could do was to surrender to God whose ways were higher

than His and trust what He was doing for He was an infinitely wise and

perfect God. To fear God and reverently walk in obedience to Him was true

wisdom. Everything else was pure folly.

For Consideration:

What does this chapter teach us about the value of wisdom? Have we

appreciated the value of godly wisdom in our day?

Where does true wisdom come from?

What evidence do you see of the wisdom of God?

What did Job mean when he said that true wisdom is to fear God and to

shun evil? How easy is this to do when we are facing trials we cannot

explain?

Can we ever truly understand the ways of God? Can you trust the Lord

when you do not understand His purpose?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to praise the Lord for His wisdom. Praise Him for particular

demonstrations of that wisdom in your life.

Thank the Lord that He has clearly demonstrated that He is worthy of our

confidence as a wise God.

Ask the Lord to help you to trust Him and His wisdom in those times when

you do not understand what He is doing.

25 - SHATTERED DREAMS

Read Job 29-30

ollowing the brief discussion about wisdom, Job moved on to speak

quite personally about his disappointments in life. The trials of the

last while had certainly taken their toll on him. While he trusted the

Lord and His divine purposes, Job still wrestled with what had happened to

him. In chapter 29 he looked back over time to the days when things were

very different for him.

Job longed for the days when the Lord watched over him, and divine light

shined on his head (29:2-3). He remembered the days when, even in his

darkest times, he still knew the reality of the light of God and His blessing.

This is not to say that the Lord no longer watched over Job, but Job’s

experience of God’s presence had radically changed. No longer did he

experience the fullness of God’s blessing. God seemed to be very distant.

At one time God had protected him, but now trials were very real. God

seemed to let them fall freely on him now.

No longer did Job experience the “intimate friendship” of God. This

grieved him greatly (29:4). At one time he could hear the voice of God and

knew His fellowship. Now all this seemed to be in the distant past. God

seemed very far away. It is interesting to note that Job’s experience of God

had been that of an intimate friend. He knew that God was his awesome

Creator, yet his experience of Him was that of a close friend. God was

someone with whom Job could share his heart, and God would share His

heart with Job. What a wonderful description of communion with the Lord.

How incredible it is to think that we can actually have this sort of

relationship with God.

In John 15:15 Jesus told his disciples:

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not

know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends,

for everything that I learned from my Father I have made

known to you.”

It is the desire of the Lord God that we experience this intimate friendship

with Him. He is our Lord and God, but He also wants to be our friend. Job

had experienced this close relationship with God. Now however, he grieved

over the distance between them.

In former days when Job had known the presence of God and His blessings,

his children were gathered around him (29:5). The path Job had walked was

drenched with cream and the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for him.

In other words, God’s luxurious blessing surrounded him. Everywhere he

went there was evidence of the wonderful abundance of God.

Job remembered being a respected man in the community. When he went to

the gate of the city and took his seat in the public square, the young men

stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet to honour him (29:7-10).

The leaders and important men in the city did not dare speak when Job

entered their presence. They stood silent out of respect and honour.

Everyone spoke well of Job.

There were many reasons why people spoke well of Job. He was a man of

incredible compassion and mercy. He rescued the poor and helpless (29:12-

13). He came to the aid of the fatherless who had no one else to help them

in their need. Job helped the man who was dying and provided for the

widow in her time of need.

Job was a righteous and just man. He wore righteousness and justice as he

would wear his clothing and a turban (29:14). This was demonstrated in

very practical ways. He was eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, and a father

to the needy. Though he was rich and blessed of the Lord, he willingly and

freely gave that wealth to all who had need. He even took up the case of

strangers and loved them as his own (29:16). When the wicked snatched

victims in their teeth and attempted to carry them off, Job broke their fangs

and rescued the helpless (29:17).

Job felt that everything would go well for him in life. He truly believed that

he would die in his own house as an old man full of blessing (29:18-20). He

believed that he would be like a deeply rooted tree planted near water. In

other words, he felt that his riches and blessings were assured him for life.

He believed that he would always live with the glory of the Lord fresh on

him every day. He told his friends that his bow was ever new in his hands.

The sense of this phrase seems to be that Job’s power, influence, and

physical strength seemed to be always increasing. All these things Job had

taken for granted. He would never have been able to imagine himself in his

current situation.

Everywhere Job went men listened to him and waited silently for his advice

(29:21-23). When he spoke, no one debated or questioned what he said.

They trusted him and clung to his wisdom. People longed to see and hear

from Job. They waited for him like the dry earth waited for the showers of

heaven and drank his words like the thirsty ground.

Job was held in such high regard that when he smiled at people, they could

hardly believe it. Just to know that such an important man had noticed them

was an incredible delight to their hearts. Job was a chief among his people.

He lived like a king but still had time to comfort those who mourned

(29:25).

Job remembered these former days with great fondness. He had no regrets

as he looked back on his life. It was for this reason that his present situation

seemed to be very confusing. Things had radically changed for Job. In

chapter 30 Job reflected on just how much his life had changed and

lamented.

All respect that people once had for him was gone. Job reflected on how

people mocked him in his present condition, even the younger men. Job

remembered that the fathers of these young men were unworthy people, not

even as useful as Job’s sheep dogs (30:1). Because of their bad character,

they had been banished from society. They were treated like thieves and

wandered through the land, gathering herbs and eating roots (30:3-5). These

men lived in dry steams among the rock and in holes in the ground. They

were nameless and wild men. Now the children of these despised

vagabonds lifted themselves up above Job and mocked him in his need

(30:6-10). The sons of these banished fathers now would not even come

near Job. They did not hesitate to spit in his face as the passed him by.

Now that Job’s bow was unstrung, these sons showed no restraint in his

presence (30:11-14). The unstringing of Job’s bow implied that God had

stripped Job of his strength and authority. These men attacked him from the

right. They laid snares at his feet. They built siege ramps against him. They

advanced against him like an army entering a breach in the wall.

Terrors overwhelmed Job. His dignity was driven away and his sense of

security vanished like a cloud in the sky (30:15). His life passed away from

him. Suffering now gripped his whole body. Gnawing pain never left him.

While it was others who were doing these things to Job, he knew that God

was involved in this process. He spoke of God blinding him, throwing him

in the mud, and reducing him to dust and ashes (30:18-19).

Job realized that his friendship with God was not what it had been in the

past. He cried out to God, but God would not answer him. Job accused God

of merely looking at him but doing nothing to help him in his time of need

(30:20). This silence of God caused Job his deepest suffering.

Instead of filling him with blessings, Job felt that God had turned on him

(30:21-23). He attacked Job ruthlessly, snatching him up in the wind of His

wrath and tossing him about as in a storm. Job felt that God sought to

destroy him. Job expected, at any time, to pass from the land of the living.

All these things perplexed Job: “Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man

when he cries for help in his distress,” (30:24). Job could not understand

why God would not open His heart to him as he cried out for help. As a

mere human, he had wept for those who were in trouble. His heart had

grieved for the poor. Now, however, when he hoped for good, he only found

evil. When he wanted to see the light, all he saw was darkness (30:25-26).

Inside, Job churned with the pain of his trials (30:27-28). Those trials never

seemed to stop. He seemed doomed to bear this horrible pain and suffering

all his life. Job told his friends that he went about blackened but not by the

sun. It is hard to say what Job meant. It might be that Job was dressed in

black as a sign of mourning. It may also be that Job was symbolically

comparing the heat of the sun to the heat of God’s wrath. Job’s skin was

being darkened by the wrath of God. It was shrivelling up because God had

set Himself against Job.

Though Job cried for help in the assembly of God’s people, there was no

help for him. He was like the lonely wild jackals and the owls with no

friends to help him. His skin grew dark and peeled off his body. His body

burned with fever (30:28-30).

In verse 31 Job told his friends that his harp had tuned to mourning and his

flute to the sound of wailing. This was his present reality. He felt alone and

abandoned by people and God. His dreams of living in prosperity and in

fellowship with God were shattered. The dream of dying as an old man in

the lap of luxury was now forgotten. In an instant, everything had changed.

Job came to realize that he dare not take his blessings and fellowship with

God for granted.

For Consideration:

Have you ever had your personal dreams shattered? What were those

dreams?

Did Job’s prosperity guarantee him a trouble free life?

Do we have a guarantee of health, prosperity, and blessings in this life?

What do we learn here about Job’s experience with God as an intimate

friend? Have you experienced this type of relationship with God?

What does this passage teach us about Job’s compassion for those who were

suffering around him? Do you have this same heart?

For Prayer:

Ask God to draw you closer to Him. Ask Him to teach you what it means to

be His intimate friend.

Thank the Lord for the reality of your present blessings. Surrender all you

have to Him. Ask Him to give you grace not to take those blessings for

granted.

Thank God that all you have is a result of His grace in your life.

Take a moment to pray for someone in your community who is suffering or

who is finding that God is distant in these days.

Surrender your dreams to God. Let Him do as He pleases in your life.

26 - IF...

Read Job 31

lthough Job’s friends had accused him of much evil, he did not

believe that he had done wrong in the sight of God. The fact that

God was distant from him at this time in his life was very

confusing for Job. Job wanted to find out if he had done anything. Here in

chapter 31, he spoke to both God and his friends about this issue.

Job reminded both his friends and the Lord in verse 1 of a covenant he had

made with his eyes not to look lustfully at a girl (verse 1). This verse shows

us something of the integrity of Job. In chapter 1 he had prayed for his

children lest they commit sin in their heart against God. Job’s faith was far

deeper than the externals. He sought to genuinely live in harmony with God

and His purposes from the heart. While many might make a covenant not to

act on their lust, Job’s covenant was not even to look on a woman with lust.

Job’s desire was to please God not only in his actions but also in his

thoughts. He committed his thought life to the Lord God and sought to

honour Him in this.

Notice in verses 2 and 3 the reason why Job refused to look on a woman

with lust. The punishment for the impure person was ruin and disaster. Job

knew that this sort of thought pattern would ultimately lead to separation

from God and His blessings.

Notice also in verse 4 that Job refused to look on a woman with lust

because God saw his ways and counted every step he took. Job knew that

one day he would have to give an account of his actions and thoughts

before God. Nothing was hidden from Him. Job wanted to do everything in

his power to please God.

In this chapter Job searched his heart and recognized before God that if he

was guilty, he deserved to be punished for his sin. He did not seek to justify

his actions. He did not seek to hide them:

If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit

—let God weigh me in honest scales and He will know that I am

blameless” (verses 5-6).

Job was quite confident that, in this matter of falsehood and deceit, he was

innocent.

If Job had allowed his steps to turn from the path of God or if he had

allowed his heart to be led by his eyes, then God could take all his crops

and give them to others to eat (verses 7-8). If his hands were defiled by

turning from the purpose of God, then Job would not feel worthy of the

blessings God had given him and he would willingly give up all he had

sinfully attained.

If Job’s heart had been attracted to his neighbour's wife so that he lurked at

her door, looking for an opportunity to entice her, then he deserved that

someone else take his wife and sleep with her (verses 9-10). He recognized

that this would be a shameful sin that needed to be judged seriously.

Job would not run from punishment if he had been found guilty of such an

evil. The sin of adultery would become a fire in his life that burned to

destruction. God would remove His blessing from an adulterous man so that

his harvest would be uprooted (verses 11-12).

If Job had denied justice to his servants when they had something against

him, what would he be able to say when God confronted him on this issue

(verse 13)? He knew that it was his obligation to treat his servants with

honour and respect. To refuse to do this would be to make himself guilty

before God. He would be without excuse before God if he mistreated His

servants. Job recognized that his Creator also created his servants. Job did

not see himself as more important than them. He understood that he needed

to respect them and honour them. To dishonour his servant was to

dishonour the Lord who created them.

If Job had denied the need of the poor or let the widow grow weary without

offering her bread, he deserved to be punished by God (verses 16-17). Job’s

conscience was pure in this area however. From his youth Job had been

compassionate toward the widow. His wealth was given freely to those in

need (verse 18).

If he had seen anyone perishing because they lacked clothing and not

warmed that person with the fleece of his sheep, he would willingly allow

his arm to fall from his shoulder (verses 19-22). If he had raised his hand

against the fatherless and used his influence in court to get his own way at

their expense, then he would willingly accept punishment.

Job’s fear of God and His majesty was such that he could not allow himself

to do anything of this nature (verse 23). Job respected those in need because

he respected their Creator. He knew that he had the means to make their

lives more comfortable, and so he felt obliged to do so.

If Job had put his trust in gold or found security in his money and

possessions, then he would be guilty before God (verses 24-25). If he had

engaged in the practice of sun or moon worship, this would have made him

guilty of unfaithfulness before God (verses 26-28). He would have deserved

punishment.

If he rejoiced at the misfortune of his enemies, Job knew that he would have

to answer to God for this (verse 29). He would be guilty before God if he

had allowed himself to curse his enemy (verse 30).

Job recognized that he would be guilty before God if the servants of his

household were not well provided for (verse 31). No stranger had to spend

the night on the street because Job’s home was always open to them (verse

32).

If ever Job had concealed his sin by hiding it in his heart because he feared

what the crowd would say or do, he pleaded with the Lord Almighty to put

this in writing and present it to him so that he could answer for his deeds

(verses 33-37). Job knew he had nothing to be ashamed of before God. He

told his friends that he would give God an account of his every step. He

would approach God like a prince, with dignity and honour.

Job concluded in verses 38-40 by telling his friends that if ever his land

cried out against him so that the furrows of his land were wet with the tears

of those he had oppressed or cheated of wages, then he deserved to have

God allow briers to come up from the ground instead of wheat, and weeds

instead of barley.

What is clear from this is that Job was declaring his personal purity. He

searched his life and heart in vain to discover any sin that would cause the

Lord to inflict him with the punishment as he was experiencing. Not all

trials are the result of sin in our life. Sometimes God allows difficult things

to happen to His chosen servants so that they will be drawn closer to him.

Job lived his life with a clean conscience. Not only were his actions pure

before God but so were his thoughts and attitudes.

For Consideration:

Are you willing to submit yourself to the Lord God for Him to search your

heart and life for anything that might be displeasing to Him?

Can you say, like Job, that you are living with a clean conscience before

God? Take a moment to consider the following areas of your life:

Your relationships with others

Your honesty and integrity

The use of your possessions and finances

Your compassion for others

Your attitude toward your enemies

What evidence do we see in this chapter that Job was not only concerned

with his outer actions but also with the inner thoughts and attitudes of his

heart?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to search your heart to reveal any hidden sin that keeps you

from drawing closer to Him.

Ask the Lord to open your eyes to how you can use what He has given you

to minister to others in need.

Ask God to give you thoughts and attitudes that are glorifying to His name.

27 - ELIHU:

INTRODUCTION

Read Job 32-33

ob’s three friends, seeing that they could not convince Job his

suffering was just, ceased to speak to him. They believed that Job was

self-righteous in denying his sin. They felt he was being punished for

some particular evil in his life. To his friends, Job was simply unwilling to

listen to reason. He was proud and would not admit his guilt (32:1).

With Job’s friends was a young man by the name of Elihu. He was the son

of Barakel the Buzite of the family of Ram. Genesis 22:20-21 gives us a

better understanding of this family.

“Some time later Abraham was told, ‘Milcah is also a mother;

she has borne sons to your brother Nahor: Uz the firstborn, Buz

his brother, Kemuel (the father of Aram).’”

The Buzites were the descendants of Buz, the nephew of Abraham born to

Abraham’s brother Nahor. Buz would become the father of Aram who

would, in turn, be the father of the Arameans. This was the genealogy of

Elihu who sat with Job and his three friends that day.

Elihu was very angry with Job, just like Job’s friends. He was angry

because Job had found himself just and God unjust. Two things set Elihu

apart from the other three men who had been speaking to Job. First, Elihu

was not only angry with Job but also with his three friends because they

condemned Job without proving his sin (32:3). The second thing we need to

notice about Elihu is that he was younger than the others. He had waited for

Job’s friends to speak out of respect for their age and supposed wisdom. But

when they were unable to convince Job of his error, Elihu felt he needed to

step in and do the convincing himself (32:4-7). He was filled with youthful

enthusiasm but did not have the experience that the other three friends had.

When Elihu saw that the three older men were unsuccessful in discovering

Job’s sin, he found his own spirit jumping inside him, clamouring to speak

and share his own mind. While he struggled with being younger and

inexperienced, he realized that age and experience are not the only sources

of knowledge and wisdom. The breath of God gives wisdom and

understanding. Even a younger person, if guided by the Spirit of God, could

be wise (32:8-9). It was on this basis that Elihu dared to approach Job and

his three friends, asking them to listen to him and what had been revealed to

him by the Spirit of God.

There is certain arrogance in the statements of Elihu. He claimed that while

he did not have the wisdom of age, he did have the voice of God. In verse

14 he made it clear that he would not answer Job with the same poor

arguments of his friends, which failed to have any persuasive power.

Elihu seems to mock Job’s friends in verses 15 and 16. He reminded them

that they had failed in their attempts. “Must I wait, now that they are silent,

now that they stand there with no reply?” he asked. He almost seemed to

say that because they had failed, he would have to show them how it was

done. This would have been insulting to these older men.

We need to remember that, while Elihu was arguing with Job’s friends, Job

continued to suffer. Elihu showed the same lack of compassion toward Job

as his three friends did. Elihu was using the suffering of Job to promote

himself and his ideas. He was more interested in showing his persuasive

abilities than he was in showing compassion and mercy to Job.

Elihu told the friends that he was full of words and that the spirit within him

was moving him to speak. He compared himself to bottled-up wine ready to

burst. He felt compelled to speak (32:19-20). He told them that he would

speak honestly and show partiality to no one. He would not flatter but speak

freely what his Maker had put on his heart (32:21-22).

In chapter 33 Elihu turned his attention to Job. He told him to listen to what

he had to say. He told him that he was about to speak, and so he had better

listen carefully to what he had to say.

Elihu reminded his listeners that he spoke from an upright heart and sincere

lips (33:3). It is somewhat ironic that he had been frustrated by Job

maintaining his righteousness yet Elihu made the same claim. He wanted

his listeners to know that he was right before God and that nothing stood

between him and his Maker.

Elihu continued to set himself up before he spoke. He reminded those

present that the Spirit of God had made him and the breath of God had

given him life. He was in tune with the Almighty and challenged his friends

to refute his wisdom if they could (33:4-5).

On the one hand, Elihu waited for the wisdom of age to speak but did not

put too much confidence in that wisdom. There is arrogance in Elihu’s

words: “Answer me if you can.” In other words, he doubted whether the

older men could answer him. He challenged his listeners to confront him.

Before God he was just like them. “No fear of me should alarm you, nor

should my hand be heavy upon you,” he told them (33:6-7). In other words,

Elihu would go easy on them. The respect he claimed he had for the more

aged friends of Job had disappeared.

Speaking more particularly to Job, Elihu reminded him that he claimed to

be pure and without sin, yet God still found fault with him and considered

him His enemy (33:8-10). He reminded Job how he had claimed that though

he was innocent, God had fastened his feet with shackles and kept watch

over his paths so that he could not escape.

Elihu did not hold anything back here. He told Job that he was wrong

(33:12). He challenged Job’s statement that God was not answering his

cries. Elihu again told Job he was wrong in this. God did speak in various

ways but humans simply did not always recognize His voice. Elihu was

telling Job that he was not hearing God because he just didn’t recognize

God’s voice.

Elihu presumed to teach Job a lesson on how God spoke to humans. He

reminded him that He spoke sometimes in a dream or in a vision (33:15). At

other times he spoke directly to an individual as a warning to turn from sin

and harm. Still at other times, God disciplined a person by pain and

suffering.

That discipline was sometimes very harsh (33:19-22). Elihu reminded Job

that there were times when God would discipline people so severely that

their flesh would waste away to nothing and their bones would stick out

from their sides. At other times God would allow a person to draw near to

death. God used various methods to speak to His servants.

Elihu told Job that even in times when the discipline of the Lord was very

heavy, a single angel acting as a mediator, could keep him from perishing in

the pit and renew his flesh like a child’s (33:23-25). In an instant the person

whom God disciplined could pray, find favour with God, and be restored to

his righteous state (33:26). After repenting, that individual would come to

realize that the punishment of the Lord on his life was not in proportion to

what he deserved. In other words, while God punishes, He does not always

use the full force of His discipline. Even in discipline He shows mercy. In

the end, those who have been disciplined would realize that God had

restored their life from the pit. Despite the agony of the discipline, the end

result would be for the good of the person being disciplined. Elihu told Job

that God was working in him to turn him back from the path he had chosen

(33:30).

Elihu challenged Job to listen carefully to what he was going to tell him. He

was going to teach Job what he needed to learn. He would teach Job

wisdom (33:31-33).

Elihu believed that he had an answer when no one else did. He was

frustrated by the failure of Job’s friends. He came with high hopes that he

could convince Job where age and experience failed. He believed that God

had given him all the wisdom he needed. The excitement of youth was

evident but tainted with pride. He assumed he could succeed where other

godly men had failed. We must realize that what he believed to be

confidence in God was in reality confidence in himself and his own ability.

Elihu would fall into the same error as Job’s friends and come short of his

expectations to find the reason for Job’s severe suffering.

For Consideration:

Have you ever met individuals who believed that they had the answer and

could do what no one else could do? What happened to these individuals?

What is the difference between being led of the Spirit and being confident

in our own abilities? Was Elihu relying on himself or on the Spirit of God?

Explain.

How easy is it to confuse what we feel God is saying with what we are

thinking in our own minds?

What does Elihu teach us here about how God speaks to us?

For Prayer:

Ask the Lord to help you to discern His voice from your own voice.

Ask the Lord to show you the difference between confidence in God and

pride.

Ask God to open your ears and eyes to understand how He speaks today.

Ask God to help you to put your full confidence in Him and His ability. Ask

Him to enable you to serve with humility and not with self-confidence.

28 - ELIHU: JOB RECEIVES

WHAT HE DESERVES

Read Job 34

n chapters 32 and 33, Elihu prepared Job and his friends for what he

was to say. He had listened to their words but was frustrated and angry

because they did not convinced Job of his sin. He claimed to speak not

so much from the experience of life but from the wisdom he had received

from God. In this chapter Elihu attempted to refute Job’s charge that God

seemed unjust.

In verses 2-4, Elihu challenged Job and his friends to listen to his words and

judge them. He was confident in what he was about to say. He did not

hesitate to submit it to them for their consideration. He challenged them to

test his words to see if they could find any fault with them. From what we

have seen of Elihu, he is not so much submitting himself to the wisdom of

Job and his friends as defying them to prove him wrong.

Elihu reminded them first that Job had claimed to be innocent and that God

had been denying him justice (verse 5). Elihu claimed that Job said that

even though he was right, God saw him as a liar. Job, according to Elihu,

claimed that even though he was guiltless God continued to inflict him with

His arrows (verse 6). From Elihu’s perspective, Job was setting himself up

against God, by saying he knew better than God. To Elihu, Job was

accusing God of being unjust and incapable of distinguishing truth from

error.

Was this really what Job had been saying to his friends? An examination of

the life of Job shows us that he was blameless in the eyes of God. By God’s

own confession, Job was blameless (1:8). This is not to say that Job was

sinless but rather that he was living in harmony with God. Obviously, he

was not being punished for rebellious sins against his God. Job was

legitimately confused about what was happening to him. He could not find

any deep-rooted sins in his life because there were none. Job was not so

much accusing God of injustice but legitimately trying to understand His

ways.

Elihu, like Job’s three friends, wrongly accused Job of evil (verses 7-9). He

accused Job of drinking scorn like water. In other words, he was showing

open discontent and distaste for the ways of God. He accused Job of

keeping company with evildoers. This was the same accusation the

Pharisees had against Jesus in Luke 7:34:

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here

is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and

“sinners.'"

Job associated with the common people or sinners of his day for the

purpose of ministering to them. We know that Job reached out to help the

poor and the afflicted in his community. Job spoke of this in chapter 31.

Elihu further accused Job of saying that it was of no profit to a person to try

to please God. Elihu may have come to this conclusion because Job claimed

to be righteous and yet still suffered. For Elihu, God blessed those who

loved Him. God would never, according to Elihu, make a godly person

suffer as Job did. Elihu and the three friends of Job believed that God’s

honour needed to be defended against the claim that He allowed the

righteous to suffer. Why would people be attracted to God if by coming to

Him they would only increase their suffering and pain in this world? Elihu

felt that this charge against God needed to be addressed. He believed Job

was accusing God of doing wrong. This was totally unacceptable to Elihu

(verse 10). His theology did not permit God to work in this way.

For Elihu, God repaid men and women for what they had done (verse 11).

He gave them what they deserved. It was unthinkable to Elihu that God

would do what was wrong or pervert justice (verse 12). While we all would

agree with Elihu in this statement, his interpretation of justice and wrong is

the problem. Elihu spoke from his limited human understanding.

Is it wrong for a surgeon to inflict pain in order to bring healing? Is it wrong

for a teacher to stretch students intellectually in order to teach them the

lessons they need in life? Is it wrong for an athletic couch to push his

players to limits they never thought they could reach in order to give them

that edge they need to win? Is it wrong for a parent to set standards for their

children in order to keep them from falling into situations they cannot

handle? The reality of the matter is that pain and struggle are normal parts

of growth. Struggle is never easy. Discipline seems to always hurt. Without

them, however, we will not become what we need to become.

The story is told of a young boy who watched a butterfly trying to get out of

its cocoon. As the young boy watched the butterfly struggle with the

cocoon, he felt pity in his heart. Feeling like he was helping the butterfly,

the young boy opened up the cocoon with his own hands to allow the

butterfly to escape. The butterfly eventually died, unable to fly. What the

little boy did not realize was that the butterfly’s long struggle to get out of

its cocoon was part of the process required to strengthen its wings enough

to fly.

Many people believe struggle and trial to be evil in nature. The reality of

the matter is that they are necessary for growth and maturity. Elihu saw

what Job was going through as being evil. He could not see it as part of the

divine process necessary for Job to be taken to the next level in his walk

with God.

Elihu continued his argument to remind Job and his friends that no one

appointed God to be over the earth or to take charge of the world (verse 13).

God did not need anyone to put Him in that position. No one can take that

position from Him. No one is worthy or capable of taking on such a task.

God is the source of all life. If ever He withdrew His spirit from the earth,

humanity would perish (verses 14-15). We are absolutely dependent on God

for everything. According to Elihu, no one who hated justice could govern.

A ruler needed to be just (verse 17). Again, it was unthinkable that Job

should accuse the Lord God, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, of being

unjust. To say this was to say that God was unworthy of ruling the universe.

The God of Israel spoke to the rulers of the earth and called them worthless

and wicked. God is the standard by which all rulers of the earth are to base

their own leadership (verse 18).

God does not show any favouritism in His judgment. He treats the prince

and the rich just as He treats the poor (verse 19). He does not judge people

according to their position. He does not look at how much money people

have. Everyone is judged equally in the eyes of God. He created them all

equally and would judge them fairly.

God could take away life in an instant (verse 20). In the middle of the night,

the Lord could remove His hand from us and we would perish. Humanity is

absolutely dependent on God for life and breath. How terrible it is to sin

against and offend the person who gives life.

As a sovereign ruler, the Lord is an all-seeing God. He knows every step

His people take (verse 21). Nothing is hidden from God. There is no dark

hiding place or shadow where His creation can flee from His all-seeing eye

(verse 22). Unlike human judges, God does not need to question those He

judges (verses 23, 24). Human judges need to gather information from

witnesses in order to make a proper decision. This is not the case with God.

He knows the hearts, attitudes, and actions of all of His creatures. No one

can teach Him anything new. Nothing is hidden from Him.

God’s sentence is always just. His punishment is always based on truth.

Nothing could ever be hidden from Him. No one could deceive Him. No

one would get away with a crime they committed. God exposes sin and evil

that is hidden from human eyes.

Job had been accusing God of being silent and not answering his prayers.

Elihu reminded Job that even if God remained silent and chose not to speak,

who could condemn Him or accuse Him of evil (verse 29). God revealed

Himself when He wanted or hid His face when He wanted but, in doing so,

could never be accused of wrong.

According to Elihu, God ruled over people and nations alike. God kept the

godless from ruling and setting snares for His people (verse 30). It was the

nature of God to protect and keep His people. He was a just God who

overthrew those who were unjust. Again, it would be impossible for a man

to accuse God of injustice as Elihu felt Job was doing.

In verses 31-33 Elihu reminded Job that God did not resort to judging by

human terms. He gave an example of a repentant man in verses 31-32:

“Suppose a man says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no

more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will

not do so again.’”

Elihu reasoned that a sinner should not be spared from punishment simply

because he or she promised not to sin again? Imagine a man who steals

from his neighbour trying to make this agreement with God. He tells God

that though he is guilty he would not steal from his neighbour again. Should

this man be free to go and not be punished for his crime just because he

made this promise never to do it again? Can we bargain with God? Does

God reward or punish us on our terms or His (verse 33)? A promise never

to sin again does not remove the guilt of past sin.

Elihu felt that Job was trying to bargain with God. He felt compelled to

remind Job that God was the judge and that Job had to meet God on God’s

terms. Job was saying that he was innocent, but Job did not set the

standards. God set the standards and also the punishment for breaking those

standards. He alone was able to judge what was sinful and worthy of

punishment.

Elihu believed that Job was speaking without wisdom, knowledge, and

insight (verse 35). He felt that Job needed to be tested and punished even

more than he had been because he was speaking like a wicked man (verse

36). According to Elihu, Job was rebelling against God and speaking evil

words about Him (verse 37).

Elihu accused Job of setting himself up against God. He believed that Job

suffered because he was receiving what he deserved from God. He believed

that Job was trying to bargain with God by setting up his own terms. Elihu

had a high regard for God but still felt he could explain God’s ways. Elihu

had very little compassion for Job in his time of suffering. He spent his time

accusing Job rather than trying to minister to him. He wanted to prove his

position and show his wisdom. Job was simply a means to that end.

For Consideration:

There are a number of right words and thoughts in the argument of Elihu. Is

it possible to use the right words and thoughts and still come to a wrong

conclusion? How did this happen in the case of Elihu?

What is the place of suffering and trials in the life of the believer? What did

Elihu believe about suffering and trials?

Does God show favouritism when judging? Is it possible for us to show

favouritism in the church today?

Can we hide anything from God? Have you ever found yourself trying to

hide things from God?

What does Elihu teach us here about meeting God on His terms? Can we set

our own terms with God?

Is all suffering the result of sin? Does God allow suffering for other reasons

than to judge us for sin? Explain.

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is in absolute control of the universe.

Thank the Lord that He judges with absolute justice and truth.

Thank the Lord that He cares enough for us to train us and discipline us.

Thank Him that He desires our maturity.

Ask the Lord to help you to meet Him on His terms. Ask Him to help you

to accept His standard and surrender to it willingly.

Ask God to give you more compassion for those who struggle around you.

29 - ELIHU: JUDGING

ACCORDING TO

CIRCUMSTANCES

Read Job 35-36

n chapters 35 and 36, Elihu continued his response to Job. He believed

that Job was in error, and he did not hesitate to tell him what he

thought. He held nothing back.

Elihu challenged Job, claiming that he had said he would be cleared of all

wrongdoing by God. He made this challenge in light of the fact that Job

supposedly questioned what profit there was to living a righteous life

(35:3). Job certainly had questioned why the wicked prospered while the

righteous suffered. For Elihu, the fact that Job would even question the

profitability of righteousness was an indication that he was not living in

tune with the Lord.

Elihu felt that he needed to speak to Job and his friends about this matter.

Job’s friends had not answered this question to his satisfaction. Elihu told

them to look to the heavens and to gaze at the clouds so high above them

(35:5). He wanted to show them how vast the universe really was. Behind

this vast universe is an even greater Creator. Compared to the vastness of

the universe, humanity and all their efforts are very small. Elihu asked Job

and his friends to consider what effect their sins really had on God (35:6).

God is so much bigger than human beings that what individuals do on earth

really does not have any impact on the overall purposes and plans of God in

heaven. Job’s sin would not hinder God from accomplishing His purposes

in the world. This is not to say that we can do what we want in this life.

God is grieved by our sin and rebellion against Him and this affects the

quality of our life here on this earth. Sin has caused tremendous damage in

this world. We dare not underestimate its power to destroy our society. At

the same time, however, God’s ultimate purposes for this world will not be

defeated by sin. He is greater than sin. His purposes will be accomplished

despite the sin that ravages our earth. My sin will have a tremendous impact

on my life and the lives of those around me but it will not defeat God.

Elihu went on to tell Job and his friends that even if they were righteous,

what would they be giving to God that he did not already have? (35:7).

What Elihu seemed to be telling Job and his friends is that God is not

dependent on people. God chooses to use us to accomplish great things for

His kingdom but all the tools and strength we have for that task already

belong to Him. He is fully able to advance the cause of His kingdom

without us.

Elihu continued by saying that there were many men and women who cried

out under a load of oppression, seeking relief (35:9). It is only natural for

people to seek relief from their pain and suffering. These same individuals,

however, were more concerned about being set free from their pain than

they were about being seeking God in their pain. They did not cry out to the

God who can give them songs in the night (35:10). They did not seek the

One who gives wisdom. Though they cried out to God for deliverance, they

did not receive that deliverance because they were arrogant and wicked

(35:12). They only wanted relief from their problems; they did not want

God. God would not listen to those who were too proud to seek Him. Elihu

was inferring that Job did not get his prayers answered because he was

proud and more concerned about relief from pain than a relationship with

God.

Another reason God had not answered Job, according to Elihu, was that Job

lacked patient trust (35:14). Job had been saying that God did not see him

or hear his case. For Elihu, this was a wicked thing to say. God created the

world and all there is in it. He is an all-knowing and all-seeing God.

Nothing escaped His eyes and ears. To Elihu, Job accused God of being

blind and deaf to the cries for help of His people.

Elihu accused Job further of saying that God never punished people for

their evil and that He did not even notice wickedness in the land (35:15).

Job did not actually say these things. It is true that Job questioned what God

was doing in his life. It is true that Job wondered why wicked people

around him were not suffering as he was. Elihu claimed that by questioning

these things, Job was actually saying that God was unjust. He felt that Job

was multiplying words but was not speaking with any wisdom.

In chapter 36 Elihu begins his concluding statements. He felt that he needed

to continue to speak on God’s behalf. Somehow he felt that God needed to

be defended. He claimed that what he spoke was not his own wisdom but

was the wisdom of God. He claimed that what he had to say was absolutely

true and trustworthy because it came from God who is perfect in knowledge

(36:4). Elihu claimed that God was the source of what he had to say.

Elihu reminded Job and his friends that God is a mighty God (36:5).

Although He is mighty, He does not despise those He created. He is,

however, a God who is firm in purpose. He judges the wicked and gives the

afflicted their rights (verse 6).

According to Elihu, God always watches over the righteous (verse 7). He

takes care of them and blesses them in their ways so that they live like kings

and queens. For Elihu, obedience and prosperity walked hand in hand. He

believed that if people were obedient to God, they would prosper and God

would keep them from all harm. This was not the experience of Job. He

suffered tremendously though he knew of no particular sin for which he

deserved to be punished.

Elihu went on to say that if people were being disciplined or punished, then

God would tell them what they had done wrong (36:8-10). He would show

them their pride and how they had offended Him. God would make these

individuals listen to His correction. He would discipline them and command

them to repent of their sins.

Elihu’s theology was simple. He believed that if God disciplined people, He

would tell them what He was disciplining them for. If these individuals then

obeyed the voice of the Lord, they would live the rest of their lives in

prosperity and contentment (36:11). Otherwise, they would perish and die

without ever learning what God intended for them to learn (36:12). For

Elihu, God’s purposes and plans were incredibly simple: obey and prosper,

or disobey and die.

Those who were ungodly would not cry out to God (36:13). They would not

turn to God in their time of discipline. Instead, they would die in their youth

like male prostitutes in their shrines, despised and rejected. This again did

not answer Job’s question about those who lived rebellious lives in the land

but still died full of blessings after a long and fruitful life.

Elihu reminded Job and his friends that God is also a God of compassion

and forgiveness (36:15). He is willing to deliver those who suffer. He would

speak to them in their affliction and pain. His whole purpose in disciplining

is to woo people from the jaws of distress into tremendous blessing. Again

we see the emphasis on prosperity in Elihu’s theology. Elihu judged Job

according to his circumstances. He saw how much Job was suffering and

determined that the only reason for this was that he had so greatly grieved

God with his sins that God had removed His blessing from Him.

It may be that Elihu believed that Job had allowed his former prosperity to

draw him away from the Lord. He challenged Job to be careful not to allow

riches to entice him or to let bribes turn him away from the Lord (36:18).

When the judgment of God had come, Job’s wealth had not protected him.

Wealth keeps no one from the day of God’s judgment.

Elihu exhorted Job not to long for the night when he could drag people

away from their homes (36:20). The idea here is that Job was to be careful

not to abuse people in order to profit from their affliction. The reference to

dragging people away from their homes seems to speak of wealthy land

owners forcibly removing tenants from their land because they were not

able to pay their rent. Their concern was not for the people but for the

money they could get out of them. Elihu stops short of accusing Job of this

terrible evil but assumes that he would be tempted to do such a thing. Elihu

does not have a very high regard for Job.

Elihu warned Job about turning to evil rather than bearing patiently the

affliction of God (36:21). He made it quite clear that he believed Job

preferred to practice evil rather than learn from the discipline of the Lord.

The accusation is quite serious. It shows that Elihu did not understand what

Job was facing or the thoughts of his heart.

Elihu reminded Job that God is exalted in power (36:22). There is no

greater teacher than the Lord God Himself. He is beyond instruction. No

one can teach God. He knows everything. He is perfect in all his ways.

Elihu exhorted Job and his friends to remember the wonderful work of God

and to praise Him for His deeds (36:24).

The works of God are awesome and majestic. Elihu reminded Job of how

God draws up water from the earth and returns it to the earth in the form of

rain (36:27). The clouds collect the moisture and when they break open,

they pour their showers on the earth (36:28). No one can understand how

God spreads out the clouds or how He forms the thunder (36:29). God

scatters lightening around Him. These are small tokens of His power and

wisdom.

This same God governs the nations. He provides all the nations need. He

gives food in abundance (36:31). Lightning strikes at the command of God.

Thunder is like a trumpet announcing a storm. Even the animals know of

the approaching storm when the thunder announces its presence (36:32-33).

Elihu believed Job to be living in sin. He judged Job on the basis of

outward circumstances. He saw Job suffering and wrongly assumed that the

reason for this was that he was living in sin. Elihu also assumed that God

was not answering Job because of his sin and rebellion. He believed that to

live a righteous life is to prosper—God would always bless the righteous.

To Elihu, that blessing was a physical blessing. He did not seem to see how

trials and suffering could actually be God’s means of bringing greater

spiritual blessing.

Elihu spoke of a holy, sovereign, and just God. He believed Job was guilty

of accusing God of sin and evil. Elihu, however, did not understand the

purpose of God for Job. Despite his wisdom, he fell short of understanding

God and His plan for Job.

For Consideration:

Elihu accused Job of believing that there was no profit in righteousness.

Does living a righteous life always mean that we will prosper in material

things?

Elihu reminds us of how big God is compared to humanity. What would

make such a great God place His attention on us and choose to love us?

We are reminded here that God sees and knows all things. How should this

affect how we live? What things has He seen in your life?

Why is it dangerous to judge according to outward circumstances? Do

sincere believers go through trials in life?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that though He knows everything about us, He still loves

us.

Thank the Lord that while we do not always prosper materially in this life,

we have a wonderful hope in the Lord Jesus.

Are you facing a time in your life when God is silent? Ask the Lord to

enable you to continue to trust in Him and His purposes until He reveals

Himself again to you.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for any time you have judged someone based

on their outward circumstances.

30 - ELIHU: CONSIDER

THE WONDERS OF GOD

Read Job 37

ike Job’s three friends, Elihu also accused him of many sins. In the

last meditation, we saw how he had reminded his listeners of the

vastness of God. As he reflected on how big God really is, Elihu

felt overwhelmed. His heart began to pound in his chest as he thought about

God (verse 1). We need to understand also here that God was going to break

the silence and speak to Job personally. Maybe there was an air of

anticipation and expectancy at this time. Perhaps the storm out of which

God was ready to speak was already gathering, and its thunder could be

heard.

In verse 2 Elihu called his friends to listen to the roar of the voice of God

and the rumble that came from His mouth. He spoke here of the thunder. He

compared the thunder to the voice of God. Have you ever listened to the

thunder as it roared across the sky? It is an indication of the power and

majesty of the awesome God we serve. God not only speaks in the thunder

but also unleashes lightening, sending it to the ends of the earth (verse 3).

The forces of nature are in His control. They obey His voice and respond.

Elihu reminded his friends that the Lord God of heaven is a great God

whose works are beyond their ability to understand.

This same God speaks to the snow and commands it to fall on the earth. He

also speaks to the rain and commands it to fall as a mighty downpour (verse

6). The fury of the cold and bitter snowstorm and the downpour of rain help

us to see the power and might of the Lord God who created them.

When we lived on the island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean, we sometimes

saw the fury of the downpour of rain as it came with cyclonic power over

the island. Those downpours can dig trenches in the side of the mountains

and flood everything below. In Canada where we now live, a big snowstorm

can literally close down an entire city, leaving people stranded and helpless.

Elihu reminded Job that God did these things so that people would know

His work (verse 7). What is humanity compared to such an awesome God?

If even the rain and the snow can shut down an entire city, we can only

imagine the force of the God behind that rain and snow.

Even the animals of the land take cover when the Lord God showers the

rain on the earth (verse 8). They stop their search for food and wait for the

fury of the storm to pass.

Along with the rain and the snow, the Lord also unleashes the fury of the

wind (verse 9). While visiting the island of Mauritius on one occasion, after

the passing of a cyclone, I witnessed the devastation of the wind. Concrete

telephone poles were snapped in two. Steel cranes used in the construction

of high-rise buildings were literally twisted and beyond repair. Roofs were

ripped off their buildings. Trees were uprooted. All this came from the hand

of the Lord, who had unleashed the wind as He saw fit.

The breath of God produces ice so that the waters of the lakes and pond are

frozen (verse 10). No boat can move through them. In Canada where I live

presently, we have seen the weight of the ice accumulate on trees and snap

branches and telephone lines, cutting off communication. A news report I

heard recently spoke of an “ice highway” across a lake. When the water on

this lake froze in the winter, cars and big transport trucks would simply

drive across the lake instead of taking the long way around it. Elihu

reminded his friends here that ice comes from the breath of God’s mouth.

God loads the clouds with moisture and lightning (verse 11). They follow

His direction and move across the face of the earth, doing whatever He

commands (verse 12). God can use those clouds either to punish people for

their evil or to bless them and show them His love. They can unleash a

deadly flood or a gentle and refreshing shower on the earth (verse 13).

Elihu paused in verse 14 for a moment to challenge Job to consider the

wonders of the Lord God. “Do you know how God controls the clouds and

makes His lightning flash?” he asked (verse 15).

Elihu was saying that the wonders of God are beyond our ability to

understand. Elihu asked his listeners if they knew how God hung the clouds

in place (verse 16). Who could help God to spread out the sky (verse 17)?

What could anyone tell God that He does not already know? What could

anyone add to His understanding? Who could ever enter into the presence

of such an awesome God? Who would dare to question His purposes and

plans (verses 19-20)? Human beings cannot even look at the sun because of

its brightness. How much less could people look at the face of God if He

stood before them in majesty (verses 21-22)?

According to Elihu, God is beyond our reach. He is exalted in power and

justice. What is most wonderful about God, however, is that He is a God of

great righteousness and does not oppress (verse 23). He is a God we can

trust. He will do what is right.

God is to be revered and respected because His wisdom and majesty are

beyond ours. He cannot be questioned nor can His ways be doubted.

As we reflect on the words of Elihu, we are struck with the reality of the

power of God. What a terrible thing it would be to fall into the hands of

such a God (see Hebrews 10:31). How dreadful it would be for us to anger

Him. On the other hand, however, all that power and wisdom is on the side

of those who love Him. Elihu reminds Job that God's ways are beyond his

understanding. God always did what was right and for the good of His

creation.

For Consideration:

What evidence is there of the power of God in nature?

What encouragement do you find in the fact that God has tremendous

power? What warning do you take from the fact that God has such power?

What would make such an awesome God of power reach out to us in

compassion and love?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to look around you. What evidences of God’s power do you

see? Thank the Lord specifically for these evidences.

Thank the Lord that even though He is so great, He still loves us.

Thank the Lord that He has placed His strength and wisdom at our disposal.

Ask the Lord to help you to live boldly with great confidence in His

strength.

31 - HAVE YOU? CAN

YOU? DO YOU?

Read Job 38

e are not told how long Job had to suffer without hearing from

God. As we examine the book of Job, we see that the greatest

cry of his heart was to hear from God. This long silence had

been a tremendous struggle for Job. Finally, the day came when God spoke.

Notice in verse 1 how the Lord answered. He answered out of the storm. It

is quite interesting that in chapter 37 Elihu reminded Job how God revealed

Himself in the thunder, lightning, and strong wind. Elihu’s words had a

prophetic nature and seemed to pave the way for God to speak.

There are a number of ways the Lord can speak to His people. In 1 Kings

19:1-13 God spoke to the prophet Elijah through a “gentle whisper.” To Job,

however, God chose to reveal His presence in the power of a storm.

God began by asking Job a powerful question: “Who is this that darkens my

counsel with words without knowledge?” (verse 2). God was saying that

Job was speaking about things he did not understand. To darken counsel is

to communicate untruth or to speak inaccurately about a subject. Job and

his friends had been speaking about God and His purpose, but they were not

experts in this field. There was much they could not understand.

Job did not profess to understand God and His plan, and throughout this

book he had asked many questions. Now, however, it was God’s turn to ask

some questions. This chapter is filled with questions from God to Job. In

verse 3 God challenged Job to brace himself for these questions that would

not be easy to answer. The Lord would cause Job to reflect deeply on the

nature of God and on his own ignorance.

In the first set of questions, God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid

the earth’s foundation?” (verse 4). God asked him if he knew who had

marked off the boundaries of the earth (verse 5). That is to say, who

determined how big the earth would be. God continued by asking Job if he

knew where the footings of the earth’s foundations were and who had laid

the cornerstone in place (verse 6). God used the illustration of a building to

speak of the creation of the earth. Had Job heard the stars singing together

and the angels shouting for joy at that time (verse 7)? The reference to the

singing stars may simply mean that the stars shone down on the work of the

Lord and shed light on it, bringing praise to His name.

In verse 8 God asked Job if he knew who set the limits for the sea. Who

decided how much of the earth the seas would cover and where their

boundaries would be? Where was Job when all these things had taken

place? The answer to this question is quite obvious. Job had not yet been

born. God was bringing Job to an even greater point of humility. Job did not

understand how God made the world or sustained His creation. God was

asking Job to consider this ancient wisdom that was beyond any knowledge

Job had ever heard or could comprehend. Job had presumptuously

demanded that God explain His actions regarding Job’s suffering (13:22;

31:35) but how could he understand the ways of God when he could not

even understand the basics about how God created this earth?

In verse 12 God began a series of questions beginning with the phrase

“have you ever?” He began by asking Job if he had ever given orders to the

morning or shown the dawn its place. The dawn is the first light of the

morning. God spoke of the dawn in verse 13 as taking hold of the earth by

its edges and shaking the wicked out of it. The idea here seems to be that at

night, under the cover of darkness, much evil takes place. Most wicked

people wait for the darkness to cover them before doing their evil deeds.

When the dawn sheds its first light, it sends the evil doers running into

hiding. When the dawn rises, it also reveals the beautiful features of the

earth (verse 14). The dawn denies the wicked the “light” they want and

thwarts their evil power (verse 15). The light of the wicked is really

darkness. It is in the light of darkness that the wicked do their evil deeds. In

the world of evil and sin, everything seems to be reversed. God asked Job

here if he ever commanded the dawn to break forth and send the wicked

scattering for cover. Only God could do this.

In verse 16 God asked another humbling question. “Have you journeyed to

the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?” In other

words, have you ever explored the depth of the ocean? While in our day we

have gone deep into the sea, the fact of the matter is that even with all our

underwater equipment, there is still much to explore. After thousands of

years, we have still not come to understand the complexity of the oceans

surrounding us. We have never discovered the source of all the water in the

ocean.

“Have the gates of death been shown to you?” God asked in verse 17. Do

you know where death takes its prey? Do you know where death is or what

it is? Do you understand why it claims its prey? Can you determine when

death is coming and how it will occur? Do you have any control at all over

death?

In verse 18 God asked: “Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the

earth?” God was asking Job if he had ever been able to wrap his mind

around the vastness of this world. Had he ever seen the limits of the earth?

This question led to further questions in which God asked Job if he

understood the marvels of the heavens (verses 19-38): “What is the way to

the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?” That is, where do

light and darkness live? Have you ever seen where they live? Do you know

the way to their homes? If Job were wise enough to question God’s ways,

then he would surely know these simple things (verse 21). The reality of the

matter was that Job was ignorant of God’s ways.

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of

the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle”

asked God in verses 22-23. Here God asked Job if he had first-hand

knowledge of the treasuries of snow and hail. Notice that God reserves the

snow and the hail for days of war and battle. These natural elements are

compared to God’s arsenal. In other words, the snow, hail, lightning, and

wind are stored and used by God in times of judgment against his enemies.

We should not see from this that every time the hail and wind is unleashed

on the earth that God is judging us. God simply painted a picture Job could

understand. Military leaders of his day would store their arms in preparation

for battle. God compared the wind, snow, hail, and lightning to the stores of

arms. God does use these natural elements to bring His judgment, or He can

use them as a blessing to the earth.

Job stood silent before God who asked him about the storehouses of the

wind, snow, hail, and lightning. He had never entered these far-off places in

the sky. Job had no knowledge of these marvels, and he had no answer

when God asked him who determined where it rains (verse 25). Does the

rain have a father (verse 28)? Where does the rain come from? How is it

formed? Where is ice formed (verse 29)? Why does water become frozen

(verse 30)?

In verse 31 God asked yet another series of questions to Job. “Can you bind

the beautiful Pleiades? Can you loose the cords of Orion?” Pleiades and

Orion are prominent constellations in the sky. God asked Job if he could

control Pleiades or Orion. Did he have the power to bring them out in the

evening and take them home in the morning? Could he lead out the Bear

constellation in the right season (verse 32)? The sky with all its stars is very

complex. Each constellation has its place in the sky controlled by God.

How foolish it would be for Job to assume that he could manage the stars.

In verse 33 God asked Job if he knew the laws of the heavens or if he could

set up God’s rule over the earth? Could he speak to the clouds so that they

obeyed (verse 34)? Did the lightning report to him and listen to his

command (verse 35)? Did he have the wisdom necessary to administer the

heavenly bodies? Where did wisdom come from? Was there anyone who

had enough wisdom to count the clouds (verse 37)? Was there anyone on

the earth who could tip the clouds over to shower their rain on the earth

when the ground was dry and hard (verse 38)?

In verses 39-40 God asked Job if he satisfied the hunger of the lion. Could

he provide the food necessary for the raven when its young cry out in

hunger (verse 41)? Could Job give these animals the instincts necessary to

find food for their young?

Any one of these efforts is absolutely amazing. What kind of power does it

take to turn a lake into ice? What kind of wisdom does it take to administer

the movement of the stars in the sky? Our God does all of these things. He

is the creator and sustainer of all. As we listen to these words of God, we

begin to feel how small we really are. Like Job, we listen in silence. We

have nothing to say.

For Consideration:

How great is God? What does this chapter teach us about His wonderful

works?

Who are we compared to God? Why should such a big God be concerned

for you and me?

Take a moment to consider the vastness and complexity of the universe God

has created. What is your response to this power and awesome wisdom?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord for how marvellous He is.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times when you questioned His

wisdom?

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you felt you needed to help Him

accomplish His purpose.

Surrender afresh to the Lord right now. Tell Him that you will submit to His

wisdom and direction for your life.

Ask God to give you grace to live in confident obedience to His leading,

knowing that His wisdom is perfect.

32 - GOD'S RESPONSE:

WILD ANIMALS AND

BIRDS

Read Job 39

his is the second part of God’s response to Job. In the last chapter,

God began asking Job a series of questions to humble him. Here in

this chapter, God spoke to Job about animals and birds. The

purpose of God was to continue to show Job the complexity of His creation

and the unfathomable wisdom of His ways.

Mountain Goats

God asked Job if he knew when the mountain goats give birth (verse 1).

The question is not so much about knowing the particular season for

birthing but rather whether he knew about particular mountain goats giving

birth. God’s care for the smallest details of His creatures is such that he

knows when each mountain goat gives birth. Nothing escapes the Lord’s

attention.

Doe

Again in verse 1, God asked Job if he watched when the doe bore her fawn.

While Job may have seen a doe giving birth, he did not watch over each doe

that gave birth. This again is the sense of the question here. We see the

wonderful care of the Lord God over all His creatures. He takes care of

each mother deer as she gives birth to her young.

God asked Job in verse 2 if he ever counted the months with anticipation

until the deer or the mountain goat gave birth to its young. God understands

all about even the smallest of all His creatures. He sees the young deer grow

up in the wilds where no one else sees them. He watches them leave their

families and move out on their own. He counts the months until they crouch

down and give birth (verse 3).

Wild Donkey

In verse 5 God spoke of the wild donkey. He asked Job if he knew who

gave this donkey its freedom, unhindered by cords. He asked Job who gave

the wild donkey its home in the wasteland (verse 6). That donkey had its

own mind and was not disturbed by the commotion in the towns. It did not

obey human voices but roamed freely in the hills, searching for its own

food (verses 7-8). God questioned Job about the nature of the wild donkey.

Who gave it a nature? Anyone who has had time to watch the animals God

has created cannot help but be amazed at the unique nature that each animal

has been given. All of this points to a Creator who made each one different.

Wild Ox

In verse 9 God turned His attention to the wild ox. He asked Job if the wild

ox would ever consent to serve him. There is a difference between the wild

ox and the domesticated ox used for thousands of years on farms to

cultivate the land. The wild ox spoken of here is quite different. This ox will

not listen to people or be content to be locked up in a barn with a manger

for food. It is the nature of the wild ox to wander. It will not submit to a

harness nor will it plough the land for the farmer (verses 10-11). The wild

ox cannot be used on a farm. It will not bring in grain for the farmer (verse

12).

Ostrich

The ostrich is quite an awesome creature. God spoke of it joyfully flapping

its wings. These ostrich wings are marvellous, but they cannot be compared

with the wings of the stork (verse 13). The ostrich lays her eggs on the

ground in the warm sand. She is not concerned about anyone stepping on

those eggs (verses 14-15). She seems to be harsh with her young, treating

them at times as if they were not hers at all (verse 16). God did not give the

ostrich the wisdom of a mother or teach her to care for her young (verse

17). Yet that same bird can spread out its feathers and run like no other bird.

It can run as fast as the horse (verse 18). Its personality and strengths are

unique.

Horse

The horse is a very strong animal. God asked Job where that strength came

from (verse 19). Who gave the horse its flowing main? Who gave it the

strength to leap like a locust (verse 20)? A war horse can paw the ground

fiercely and charge into the midst of danger with no fear of what is

happening around it (verses 21-22). In the midst of the battle, the horse is a

very dependable animal. Though swords swing all around it and spears

flash in the sun, the horse remains faithful to its rider. When the battle

trumpet sounds, the war horse is eager for battle and eats up the ground as it

runs (verses 24-25). This again is the work of a great Creator who formed

the horse’s unique personality.

Hawk And Eagle

Where did the hawk get the wisdom to take flight (verse 26)? It was the

hand of God that gave the hawk this knowledge. The same is true for the

eagle. Job could not command the eagle to fly. Could Job tell the eagle

where to build a nest? The eagle chose to live on a rocky cliff. From the

heights of that cliff it would search out prey (verses 28-29). Its eyes are so

good that it can detect prey at a great distance. Where did this eyesight

come from?

What was God communicating to Job in this chapter? He was pointing out

to Job the various personalities and differences among the animals on the

earth. These animals were the creation of a great God who gave to each a

unique set of abilities and personalities. Even among those of the same

species, we can find great diversity in personality. This is also true of

humans who experience life differently according to God’s wise plan. Job

and his friends had wrongly assumed that they could understand God’s

marvellous ways.

As we take a moment to look around us at the animal kingdom, we cannot

help but see the hand of an amazing God. He is a God of tremendous

artistry, power, and wisdom. This was the God who spoke to Job that day.

God’s creative wisdom was diverse and wonderful and beyond anything Job

had ever imagined. Again, Job stood silent before this wisdom.

For Consideration:

Take a moment to look around you today. Open your eyes to the animals

and birds you see. What unique personalities do they have? What does this

tell you about God?

Consider for a moment the wisdom it took to form this world with all its

diversity and vastness. Who is the Creator behind this? What ought to be

our response to this wonderful God?

For Prayer:

Take a moment to thank the Lord for the wonderful diversity you see all

around you in creation.

Thank the Lord that He is such a wonderful artist. Thank Him for the

beauty you see in His creation.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you have questioned His ability to

sustain what He has created. Ask Him to forgive you for the times you have

not trusted Him as you should.

33 - BEHEMOTH

Read Job 40

od has been speaking to Job using illustrations from everyday

life. He challenged Job to see His greatness and wisdom as

revealed in natural forces and the animal kingdom. God was

humbling Job because Job had been boldly questioning the wisdom of the

Almighty in allowing him to suffer unjustly (13:22; 31:37). Job questioned

the purposes of God and the divine plan for his life. But when God finally

spoke to Job, he did not explain why Job was suffering. Instead God

challenged Job to answer His questions. Job did not have answers for even

one of God’s questions.

Speaking to God that day, Job admitted that he was unworthy and

insignificant before Him (verses 2-4). Even the most basic questions of the

last few chapters were beyond the greatest wisdom of humanity to answer.

Job told God that he would put his hand over his mouth and not speak. He

no longer wanted to argue with God in a divine courtroom (see 13:3).

Having heard the response of Job, God continued His speech out of the

storm (verse 6). We are not told how that actually took place.

God challenged Job to prepare to answer the Almighty (verse 7). The

questions that followed were difficult ones. God asked Job, “Would you

discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” (verse

9).

This question seemed to strike home with Job. He had questioned what God

was doing and longed to have the opportunity to defend his cause. Now that

he stood before God and considered His wisdom and power, Job recognized

that God’s ways were beyond his ability to understand or question. God

accused Job of discrediting His justice and lifting up his own human

thinking above that of God.

God told Job that if he had enough understanding to question divine

wisdom, then he should adorn himself with all his glory, splendour, honour,

and majesty (verse 10). God challenged Job to unleash the power of his fury

so that proud humanity would be brought down (verse 11). He challenged

him to crush every wicked person (verse 12). He was then to bury these

individuals in the dust (verse 13). When he had accomplished this, then

God would admit that Job was powerful enough to deliver himself from his

own misery (verse 14). Until that time, Job would need God and have to

trust in His ways.

We need to understand the reality of what God was asking Job to do here.

God was asking him to conquer all wickedness and pride that would raise

itself up above God. In other words, Job was asked to deal with the problem

of sin in the world and to make the world a perfect place in which to life.

Only then would God admit that Job was right to question Him and what

He was doing. Unless Job could accomplish this, he was a mere man who

needed to submit to the greater wisdom of the great, all-knowing God.

God then turned Job’s attention to a creature called behemoth in verse 15.

The term behemoth is generally understood to refer to a large animal, either

the elephant or the hippopotamus. This is not without its difficulty as some

of the detailed descriptions of the animal does not clearly fit either of these

two animals. We are not quite sure as to the exact identity of behemoth.

God reminded Job that he made behemoth and had it feed on the grass like

an ox (verse 15). The strength and power of its muscles were very evident

in this massive creature. Its tail was like a cedar tree and the sinews of its

thighs were closely knit (verse 17). While some of these details could

describe either an elephant or a hippopotamus the tail on these animals is

not easily compared to a large swaying cedar tree. Some other animal may

be intended.

God continued in verse 18 to describe the power of behemoth. Its bones

were like tubes of bronze, and its limbs were like rods of irons. It ranked

first among the works of God (verse 19). That is not to say that it was the

greatest of all of God’s creation, nor the most important. It was first in

power and strength. It struck fear into the hearts of men and women.

Behemoth was, however, no match for God. In an instant God could bring it

down (verse 20).

Behemoth fed on the hills of the land (verse 20). Wild animals played

nearby as it lay under the lotus plant and among the reeds in the marsh land

(verse 21). There it would remain hidden from the hot sun’s rays (verse 22).

The river was no threat to behemoth. Even when the river flooded its banks,

behemoth was not afraid but remained secure (verse 23). Behemoth was a

creature that could not be easily captured. It would not submit to humans

(verse 24).

What was God telling Job in this passage? In the first part of the chapter,

God showed Job how powerless he was as a mere man to take care of sin in

the world. Behemoth, whose power and strength caused fear among

humans, also proved to Job how powerless he was compared to God who

could subdue this creature with a simple word.

The more Job was reminded of the complex wisdom and sovereign power

of God, the more silent he became. Job had wanted to speak with God and

defend himself, but the more he listened to God, the more he enclosed

himself in silence. God alone is able to create and govern the world. How

could Job respond to this kind of wisdom and power?

God really does know what He is doing. There are times when we are

tempted to complain and grumble, but God is absolutely trustworthy. Job

was beginning to see this in a new way. The God who created and

controlled behemoth is a God who cares for us.

For Consideration:

Have you ever found yourself questioning the purpose and plan of God?

What do we learn here about the futility of this exercise?

What is the role of faith in times of confusion?

Who alone can deal with the problem of sin in our society?

Is God big enough to handle the problems of this world? Can you relax and

trust Him to care for you?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is an all-powerful God.

Thank the Lord that He is able to deal with every problem you will ever

face in life.

Ask the Lord to forgive you for the times you have doubted His ability and

questioned His methods.

34 - LEVIATHAN

Read Job 41

n the last chapter, the Lord God spoke to Job about behemoth, the

large and wild creature of the land. Here in chapter 41 God pointed

Job to another powerful and feared creature of his day so that he could

catch a glimpse of the power of the Creator. If the creature is so powerful,

what must the Creator be like? If we dare not approach the creature, how

dare we approach and question the Creator as Job wanted to do?

God began in verse 1 by asking Job if he could pull in leviathan from the

river with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope. Leviathan is

generally considered to be a crocodile. We cannot catch a crocodile like a

fish. The crocodile will resist our effort to put a cord around its nose or a

hook in its jaw. It is not likely that you will see a crocodile begging for

mercy or pleading for its life (verse 3). It will not submit to becoming a

domesticated animal to serve human beings (verse 4).

Leviathan was not an animal to be taken lightly. People did not keep it as a

pet or let their young daughters walk it on a leash down the street (verse 5).

It was wild by nature and had to be respected for its deadly power.

Traders in the market do not barter for leviathan. It was not cut and sold in

the market for meat. Leviathan was difficult to catch, and its hide was so

thick that harpoons or fishing spears did not easily penetrate (verse 7). God

told Job that if ever he sought to overcome leviathan by the strength of his

own hands, it would not be an experience he would forget (verse 8). Very

likely he would never want to tackle it again. The mere sight of leviathan

was enough to send many running in the opposite direction (verse 9).

In verse 10 God made His point clear. If no one is strong enough to rouse

the great leviathan, who could ever hope to stand against its creator? Who

could stand before God and demand anything—even an explanation as Job

had wanted (verse 11)? Everything under the sun and in heaven belongs to

God. If we treat the crocodile with respect, how much more does the Lord

deserve that respect and more?

In verses 12-24 God spoke of the animal’s anatomy. In its arms and legs

there was powerful strength. In verse 13 God asked Job if he could strip off

the monster’s outer coat or approach it with a harnessing bridle. The ox has

been tamed and its strength put to the use of humanity, but leviathan could

not be so trained. It would remain a wild animal.

Leviathan’s mouth was a fearful thing to behold. Its teeth struck terror

(verse 14). Its back was covered with rows of tightly sealed, protective

“shields” (verses 15-17).

God described leviathan in a very poetic way in verses 18-21. It is

presented as a fire-breathing dragon. It snorted and threw out flashes of

light. Its eyes shone like the sun’s rays at dawn. Fire shot from its mouth

and smoke from it nostrils like a boiling pot sitting on a fire. Its breath set

coals on fire.

It is best to see these verses as poetry. Animals we know today do not

breathe fire. Fire, however, is a picture of destruction and devastation.

Leviathan left destruction and damage in its wake. There was deadly power

in its mouth to consume like a fire.

Leviathan’s strength was in its neck (verse 22). With the muscles in its

neck, shoulders, and mouth, leviathan could completely destroy all enemies.

The creature’s chest was as hard as rock (verse 24).

In verses 25-34 God emphasized the terror leviathan caused. When this

creature stood up, even the mightiest person took notice and was afraid.

People turned and retreated from its thrashing (verse 25). Though people

tried to kill it with the sword and the spear, the monster seemed only to

laugh at these feeble attempts. Leviathan could not be subdued with

weapons of iron and bronze (verse 27). Neither arrows nor slingshots would

make the creature flee, and using a club was a waste of time.

Leviathan’s stomach was jagged like broken pottery (verse 30). It dragged

its tail on land and made the deep sea churn like a boiling caldron, leaving a

wake of “white hair” as it swam (verse 32). The white hair is a reference to

the white water that is left behind a fast-moving boat on the water. This

monster’s white waving wake looked like waving hair in the water.

Leviathan was an animal to be feared. It had no equal on earth (verse 33).

This creature looked down on others, like a proud and powerful king (verse

34). It did as it pleased.

Again, the idea in this chapter is not for us to focus on leviathan and admire

its form or strength, but to focus on God its creator. All its power came

from God. If we stand amazed at the power and strength of a mere creature

of God, what kind of God do we serve? Is He not greater than His

creatures? Every creature that has ever lived on the earth has drawn its

strength from the Lord God its creator. His power is beyond all we could

ever imagine.

As a powerful God, how careful we need to be not to speak evil of Him.

How dangerous it is to question God’s purpose and His power to deal with

the issues we face on a daily basis. When we understand His great power

and might, we can only stand in awe of Him and His purposes. This was the

experience of Job that day.

For Consideration:

What is leviathan? How is it described in this chapter?

Who gave leviathan power? What does this tell us about the Creator?

What does the creation have to teach us about the Creator? What specific

things do you see in creation today that tells you something about God?

Why is it a serious matter to grumble and complain about the purpose of

God? Does God know what He is doing? When we grumble, complain, or

act in unbelief, what does this tell us about how we feel toward God?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that He is a powerful God for whom nothing is impossible.

Take a moment to look at the universe around you. What does this tell you

about your Creator? Take a moment to praise Him.

Bring a specific situation you struggle with today to the Lord. Commit this

matter to the Lord and confess Him as the all-powerful God.

Ask God to forgive you for the times you have doubted Him or complained

to Him about His purposes and plans.

35 - REPENTANCE AND

RESTORATION

Read Job 42

ob had longed for time to speak to God. He was convinced of his

innocence and wanted to defend his cause before Him (13:3, 15).

Then his moment came, and he stood before God. God displayed

some of his majesty in creation before Job and then waited for Job to

respond. God listened to what Job had to say. We have the record of the

words of Job in verses 1-6.

Job began by telling God that he knew Him to be a God who could do all

things and that nothing could hinder His purpose and plan (verse 2). While

Job knew this from the beginning, the words the Lord had spoken to him in

the last few chapters had driven this point home in a powerful way. There

was no one like God. He alone could govern the universe. His wisdom and

power was beyond imagination.

God had asked Job who it was that had obscured His cause without

knowledge (38:2). In other words, Job had been casting doubt on God’s

purposes in his suffering. He had questioned what God was doing. Job

didn’t see the whole picture. He was only seeing his own situation and the

pain he was feeling. God, on the other hand, understood what Job could

never understand. God knew exactly what He was doing. In verse 2 Job

confessed to God that he had spoken of things he did not understand. Job

understood what God had been telling him in his rebuke in chapters 38-41

(verse 3). Job recognized that he was out of line in questioning God’s

wisdom and justice in his own suffering. He had failed to recognize God’s

goodness and sovereignty in his trial. Now, however, he confessed that

God’s ways are too deep and wonderful to understand.

Many times in my own personal experience I have failed to see the

goodness and sovereignty of God. Human reason would not permit me to

see the goodness of God in my trial. There are times when the wisdom of

God defies human logic and reason. We simply cannot understand His

ways. In these times all we can do is trust what we know about God and rest

in His purpose. God will never fail. His purposes are always good. Human

reason will seek to convince us otherwise, but faith will keep us strong and

confident in His purpose.

When it was Job’s turn to speak, all his objections to God’s ways faded.

“My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you,” said Job to

God in verse 5. God had revealed Himself to Job. That day God made His

presence very real. The presence of God was the answer to all Job’s

questions. Job had heard of God and had learned about Him in the past, but

right then and there he was seeing a powerful manifestation of God. The

presence of God changed everything. It removed every doubt Job had

experienced over the past period of trial and suffering.

The presence of God that day was so wonderful that, instead of presenting

his case before God and demanding an explanation, Job fell before Him in

repentance and trust. He now understood what no words could ever

describe—how wonderful and awesome God is. Job’s questions were no

longer important; he had the answer in the presence of God.

It is important to note that at this point Job was still suffering in agony from

disease and the loss of his children, possessions, and community. In the

presence of God, however, all objections faded. In the presence of God, all

questions were unimportant. His presence is so wonderful and comforting

that all doubt and fear are gone. We are left with a sense that nothing else

matters but the presence of God. God’s presence completely satisfied Job.

Countless men and women in history have joyfully faced death and the loss

of everything they had because the presence of God was so wonderful to

them that nothing else seemed to matter.

That day as Job stood in the presence of God, he repented of the pride and

doubt his suffering had revealed. God wanted to bring him to a new level in

his relationship with Him. God had stripped Job of everything he had and

his attraction to the things of this world in order to introduce him to a

deeper and more intimate communion with Him. Job understood more

profoundly than ever the genius, majesty, and independence of the Creator.

Job had a fresh and more realistic vision of God that would transform his

faith. Job did not know why he suffered or why the wicked prosper, but

upon hearing from God he entered a deeper level of confidence in Him. In

that intimacy Job was content.

Having accepted the confession of Job, God turned his attention to Eliphaz.

It is unclear why God spoke directly to Eliphaz, perhaps because he was the

leader of the three friends and had spoken first. What God said to Eliphaz,

however, was not for him alone. Bildad and Zophar had committed the

same sin as Eliphaz in limiting God’s sovereignty in His dealings with

mankind. God spoke to Eliphaz, but his two companions were also in view.

God told Eliphaz that He was angry with him and his two friends (Bildad

and Zophar). He told him that he had not spoken truthfully about Him and

His purposes as Job had done. It is important to note here in verse 7 that

God recognized that Job had spoken truthfully about Him. It is true that Job

had questioned God in what He was doing, but His words reflected more

truth about God than that of his friends.

In verse 8 God commanded Eliphaz and his friends to take seven bulls and

seven rams, bring them to Job and offer a burnt sacrifice for their sin. Job

would pray for them and God would accept his prayer and forgive them for

their sin. The three friends did this, and the Lord accepted the prayer of Job

on their behalf.

There are two things we should mention in this context. Notice that God

told Eliphaz that he was to go to Job with this sacrifice. We are not told how

much time elapsed. Could it be that this command to go to see Job indicated

that he was no longer with Job? At any rate, Eliphaz needed to face his sin.

He needed to repent before God and before Job. It is clear from this that

Eliphaz could only be forgiven by going to Job and asking him to forgive

him and pray to God on his behalf. This would have been a humbling thing

for Eliphaz to do, but his forgiveness from God depended on his being

made right with Job.

This is still true for us today. There are times when we need to confess our

sin one to another if we want to be forgiven by God (see Matthew 6:14-15).

Sometimes we need to go to our brother or sister and make things right with

him or her before we can expect to be forgiven by God.

There is a second point we need to see here. The fact that Job prayed for his

friends is an indication that Job was considered by God to be a priest. As

Job likely lived prior to the days of the Levitical priesthood, he functioned

as a priest before God. In chapter 1 we see him offering sacrifices to the

Lord for his children. Here in this passage, he was asked to make a sacrifice

for Eliphaz and his friends and to pray to God on their behalf.

Notice that while there is a record of sacrifice required for Eliphaz and his

friends, no such sacrifice is mentioned for Job. This may also be an

indication of Job’s innocence. Job had not been punished for evil in his life.

He had been used by God as an example to Satan of faithfulness during

suffering. Satan had been defeated in his attempt to destroy Job’s faith. Job

was being stretched by God so that he could be drawn closer to the

Almighty. Job admitted that in that time of stretching he had failed to trust

God as he should have. While Job stumbled under the discipline of the

Lord, Eliphaz and his friends misrepresented God and spoke evil of God’s

servant.

Verse 10 tells us that after Job prayed for his friends, God made him

prosper. We have seen that the forgiveness of Eliphaz and his friends

depended on their willingness to be reconciled with Job. Here the prosperity

of Job and the restoring of his blessing depended on his willingness to

forgive and pray for his friends who had let him down. Our relationship

with God cannot be separated from our relationship with our brothers and

sisters. Eliphaz’s confession before Job restored him to a right relationship

with God. Job’s forgiveness of Eliphaz and his friends released the blessing

of God to Job’s life.

Notice that when God blessed Job in the end, he became twice as

prosperous as he had been in the beginning. His brothers and sisters and

those who had known him prior to this accepted him again (verse 11). They

ministered to him and consoled him in the tremendous loss he had suffered.

They each gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. This was, in part,

God’s way of restoring Job’s fortune. It may also have been God’s way of

making his friends pay back something of what that they had done to Job.

They had mocked him and in his time of trial. Now they realized that they

too were wrong and brought their tokens of friendship to him again.

The last part of Job’s life was more blessed than the first part of his life. His

trials were not without reason. He was a blessed man in the beginning of

this book, but God brought him to a new level. God gave Job a new family

(verses 13-15). He had seven sons and three daughters. His daughters were

the most beautiful women in the land, and they shared the inheritance with

their brothers, which was unusual in the East. Job lived 140 years after his

trial, and he saw his children’s children to the fourth generation (verse 16).

As I reflect on this final passage of Job, I cannot help but wonder how

much more God has for us in this life. Job could have died content with

what he had before all his trials and suffering. What he experience after,

however, was so much richer. He knew God in a much deeper way. His new

experience of God was transforming. The evidence of God’s blessing was

so much greater.

Could it be that the Lord God wants to move you closer to Him today?

Could it be that what you have experienced to this point is nothing

compared to what the Lord has in store for you? The path to that deeper

blessing and closer fellowship with God was a difficult one for Job. He had

to lay everything down. He had to be purged of his limited thoughts and

attitudes, but the end result was more than he could ever have imagined. He

moved from hearing about God to a personal and intimate knowledge of

God. It was worth it all—just to know and experience God and His

presence in this deeper way.

For Consideration:

What do we learn here about the purposes and plans of God? Do we always

understand those purposes and plans?

In what way can it be said that the presence of God was the answer to all of

Job’s questions?

What is the connection between confession and reconciliation with others

and the forgiveness of God?

How did forgiveness release the blessing of God in Job’s life? Can

forgiveness release God’s blessing for us as well?

What challenge does this chapter bring us in regard to seeking God for a

deeper and more intimate walk?

For Prayer:

Thank the Lord that you can trust Him and His purposes even though you

do not always understand them.

Ask the Lord to show you anyone you need to forgive. Ask Him to give you

grace to forgive that person.

Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you in a much deeper way, as He did for

Job. Commit yourself to letting God teach you what you need to learn from

Him.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Light To My Path Book Distribution

Light To My Path Book Distribution (LTMP) is a

book writing and distribution ministry reaching

out to needy Christian workers in Asia, Latin

America, and Africa. Many Christian workers in

developing countries do not have the resources

necessary to obtain Bible training or purchase

Bible study materials for their ministries and

personal encouragement.

F. Wayne Mac Leod is a member of Action

International Ministries and has been writing

these books with a goal to distribute them freely or at cost price to needy

pastors and Christian workers around the world. To date tens of thousands

of books are being used in preaching, teaching, evangelism and

encouragement of local believers in over sixty countries. Books are now

been translated into a variety of languages. The goal is to make them

available to as many believers as possible.

The ministry of LTMP is a faith based ministry and we trust the Lord for

the resources necessary to distribute the books for the encouragement and

strengthening of believers around the world. Would you pray that the Lord

would open doors for the translation and further distribution of these books?

For more information about Light To My Path visit our website at