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What are the lessons of the book of Job? ’Iyyob (Job) needed to understand how to judge rightly and justly. Our focus should be on God’s wisdom and knowledge, not on the work God is doing in someone else.
Chapter 38
We have learned a few things about some of the most common ideas about God’s character but we also hear about what God thinks about Himself. Elihu had a fifth point of view about the character of God.
Compare ’Iyyob’s view about God vs. the three friends and then look at what Elihu said. Elihu is the only one not rebuked by God.
God is not soft-spoken but neither were ’Iyyob or his friends. Elihu also had a strong opinion about the issue, too.
How people view God is very important. When we look at the three friends and Elihu, they represent four different kinds of people, including ’Iyyob that would be five kinds of people. This book was not written for ’Iyyob’s sake but for ours.
We can see how human beings accuse each other and even God. God responds powerfully in this text, mostly against ’Iyyob’s accusations.
God speaks to ’Iyyob out of a whirlwind, akin to a tornado. It seems like this entire conversation occurred over the course of one day. One is not usually cool-headed when defending oneself in an argument and ’Iyyob was no different. God doesn’t speak gently with ’Iyyob at all.
At this point, ’Iyyob must have been quaking in his metaphorical boots. God asked ’Iyyob if he knows how the world was created. God asks ’Iyyob he could explain how the sun rose in the morning and sets in the evening.
God asked, “Have you entered into the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?” (Job 38:16). No one has ever been able to walk on the deepest ocean floor. Humans have sent machines to examine the depths of the ocean but if they were to leave the safety of the submarine, they would be crushed. God knows where it’s at and how deep it is.
God asked ’Iyyob, “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?” (Job 38:17). Yeshua said that “the gates of hell” will not prevail against His believers (Matt. 16:18). God asked ’Iyyob if he can resurrect the dead. We know that ’Iyyob didn’t have that power. God gave Messiah that power, and certain apostles and prophets were granted limited use of that power.
This whirlwind was not just audible to ’Iyyob but his companions as well. God retorts several times during his discourse, “Tell Me, if you know all this.”
The answer to us is very simple but God continues this line of questioning to make a point.
Modern day scientists presume that they know the answers to many of these questions but they are so arrogant they don’t realize that they only have knowledge because God has seen fit to allow them to find it.
God’s tone is quite cynical and sarcastic and it’s easy for him to make ’Iyyob and the rest of us look like fools. He is a bit irritated with ’Iyyob. It is a blessing that God makes us look like fools.
God created the hail for “distress, battle and war” (Job 38:22–23). Does God use the weather to intervene in battle? This text indicates that He does.
God went on to ask, “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being or given understanding to the mind?” (Job 38:36).
Chapter 39
God continues His rhetorical response to ’Iyyob in Chapter 39. He gives a list of all the animals and asks ’Iyyob if he knows when they give birth, if ’Iyyob can tame wild animals. The wild animals, such as the ox, only serve God.
God gives an example of an animal who has no wisdom at all, the ostrich. He tells her story in Job 39:13–16.
“Because God has made her forget wisdom, and has not given her a share of understanding.” (Job 39:17)
It is only because of God that human beings have more wisdom than the ostrich is because of God’s grace. God created the ostrich to teach us something about Himself. All of the animals were created to teach us about God.
God also uses the strength of the horse and the migration of the hawk to make a point to ’Iyyob. This book was preserved for our understanding. When we become intelligent, educated and accumulate our BAs, MAs, PhDs, etc., we can easily forget God.
Chapters 40–41
In Chapter 40, ’Iyyob responds to God carefully. There was one thing that ’Iyyob lacked and that was wisdom.
“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice, and I will add nothing more.” (Job 40:4–5)
God doesn’t let ’Iyyob off this easily and reiterates His request to ’Iyyob to gird himself and respond to God but ’Iyyob doesn’t speak up right away so God continues to teach ’Iyyob with more animal examples, such as the leviathan and the behemoth.
Chapter 42
’Iyyob finally speaks more fully:
“I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know…. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1–3, 5)
’Iyyob was awestruck, in the most honest meaning of that word. ’Iyyob now was listening and hearing God. He understands that whatever God does is right. God will justify how He wants, when He wants. It might not be on our timetable, but it’s on God’s timetable.
God corrects and chastises those He loves, which was bad news for ’Iyyob. He lost his seven sons and three daughters. He lost his army and his wealth. He lost all his servants, except for the survivors who told him about the catastrophes.
God told the three friends that they had to bring sacrifices to ’Iyyob and that he would pray for them. ’Iyyob’s prayer and the friend’s sacrifices were accepted.
“The LORD restored the fortunes of ’Iyyob when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that ’Iyyob had twofold.” (Job 42:10)
’Iyyob lived an extra 140 years after these events transpired. When ’Iyyob died, he was a very old man. He might have outlived Moses or Abraham.
What are the lessons of the book of Job? ’Iyyob needed to understand how to judge rightly and justly. We tend to see a group of people, a different sect, as being outside God’s love and mercy. What if God justifies them? What if God judges in their favor? Who are we to say that He judges us harshly or judged another person or group gently?
Was God’s bluntness mean or cruel? Maybe, but once ’Iyyob understood God’s purpose and God’s heart, ’Iyyob was blessed double what he had before.
Our focus should be on God’s wisdom and knowledge, not on the work God is doing in someone else.
Speaker: Richard Agee. Summary: Tammy.