I was talking to some ladies at church the other day who are reading through the Bible in chronological order. They’re in Job and find it hard to read, especially since Job’s friends insist he brought the trouble upon himself because of some hidden sin. I agree that it can be hard to read, but Job is still one of my favorite books in the Bible. Here’s why.
First, it shows that sometimes, the bad and difficult things that happen to us are not our fault. (Sometimes they are, but not always.) Also, it’s wrong to assume someone’s troubles in life are a result of sin. (Sometimes it is, but not always.)
Second, it shows that it’s OK to express our deepest, painful emotions to God, including our anger, frustration, and confusion. The key is that we turn to God, not away from Him.
Third, it reminds us that we don’t know everything. We don’t have it all figured out. We can’t assume we know why certain things happen or who’s to blame, especially when it’s not obvious. (See chapters 1-2.)
Finally, I love God’s answer and Job’s response (chapters 38-42). Did you ever notice that God never answers any of Job’s and his friends’ questions, especially not the “why” question? Instead, the Lord gives example after example of His greatness. He basically says, “I’m God. You’re not.” Look at the first few verses of chapter 38 (NIV):
38 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
2 “Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
6 On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
7 while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels shouted for joy?8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
when it burst forth from the womb,
9 when I made the clouds its garment
and wrapped it in thick darkness,
10 when I fixed limits for it
and set its doors and bars in place,
11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
here is where your proud waves halt’?
Following this four-chapter firehose (fast, heavy stream of information), look at Job’s response (42:1-6 NIV):
42 Then Job replied to the Lord:
2 “I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Read that again.
Isaiah had a similar response when he came face to face with God Almighty (Isa. 6:1-8 NIV):
6 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Repentance and awe are the natural responses when we encounter the Lord God Almighty. They drive away every other concern and worry because we know, down to the core of our being, how small and insignificant we are next to such a great, powerful, and awe-full God.
Yet, here’s the amazing part. This almighty, all-powerful, holy, righteous God cares deeply for you and for me. Look at this (Ps. 139:1-18 NIV):
1 You have searched me, Lord,
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
See also John 3:16-17 (NV):
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
And Hebrews 4:16 (NIV):
Therefore [because of Jesus] let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
Lord, You are amazing! You are so great and powerful and mighty, yet You know me inside out and care for me. You paid the ultimate price by sending Your Son to die in my place. I know I am not worthy. I am nothing, yet You love me. You gave me eternal value when You made me Your child through faith in Jesus Christ. Thank You for Your loving care. I am so glad You have everything under control, and nothing surprises You. Show me what I need to do and tune my heart to eternally sing Your praise. I love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Have you ever just sat and soaked in the greatness of God? What is your favorite passage about it?
Related Posts
