JOB 40:1-42:17
2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-21
PSALM 45:1-17
PROVERBS 22:14
Job42:1 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.
There's a difference in Job's statement of not understanding than Elihu's from Job 36:26 (August 30th). Elihu was speaking empty words of praise. He didn't believe it or he wouldn't have felt a need to speak on God's behalf. Job is speaking in humble repentance. The podcast I shared in the comments yesterday as about wrestling with doubt, struggles and difficult ideas. To wrestle with difficulties we need to be honest with God which Job was when he poured out his pain and questions. In Psalms David was also honest with God in his wrestling but he was also willing to also look to God for truth of who He is and trust in Him. The book of Job beautifully shows that played out in conversation. This poetic writing is like an expanded external representation of what it like for us to struggle with God internally. We have something difficult to deal with something we are struggling with and we are questioning why just as Job did. Our friends and other things of this world will respond to our suffering according to their own thoughts and ideas. But we must seek God's truth and be willing to trust Him and His word. When God speaks to Job it's the same as when God speaks to us through His word. When we have doubts, we need to seek out the word of God. We need to move closer to Him and further away from the opinions of the world. When we do, God will speak to us. We might not like what He is saying. He might call us out on our own stuff and teach us about who He is. If we hear it and respond as Job does with humility and repentance giving God the honor He deserves we will move from knowing about God to knowing God and seeing God.
Job 42:4 “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.”
If we respond to our doubts and struggles by moving closer to God, we will see who He really is because we come into His presence. In his presence we are blessed.
Job 42:12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.
For Job he was blessed with a double portion of everything that he had lost. His children will be doubled at home in heaven. Our blessing may not be in material things as it was for him. It may be in a double blessing of strength, peace or support so that we might endure. But when we walk in the presence of God so that our eyes truly see Him, we will be blessed.
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