There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
He was perfect, upright, and turned away from evil in every situation as far as it was humanly possible to do. But was he doing it because He feared the judgment of God upon him if he wasn’t all this? Was it because since he was doing everything right thought that God would be pleased with him? The whole message of the Book of Job is showing us that even though we do everything right and nothing wrong we still fall horribly short of God’s image and righteousness.
The adversary (Satan) appeared before God with the angels and God said to him, “Have you considered my servant Job?” Satan didn’t bring up Job’s name to God, God suggested Job to Satan because He had a purpose for the suffering which Satan would bring to Job.
Satan then asked God a question. “Does Job fear you for nothing?” In other words, Satan was asking if Job was doing all these righteous things in order to gain something from God, in order to become blessed by God, in order to escape punishment from God. This is a good question for us all to ask ourselves.
Satan was given instruction from God on what he could do and could not do to Job. To make the long story short, Satan took everything Job had including his sons and daughters. Also, Job suffered terribly with illnesses, yet, Job remained firm through this as is shown in the following verses.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
During this time of suffering, he had friends (one was his real friend) that came and stayed with him for an extended period of time. They came with the intention of comforting him during his sufferings but they could not comfort Job.
The first friends came with the idea which many in Christianity have today. The idea that if one is suffering or has bad things happen to them they must be doing something wrong and God is punishing them for it. They self-righteously think there must be sin in the life of the sufferer somewhere or they do not have enough faith and that is the reason they are suffering. And, at times, this is true and evidenced in their grumblings and complainings in their sufferings.
During this whole time of his friends counsel, Job defends himself and his righteousness. We have 35 chapters in the book where this conversation goes on between Job and his friends. Elihu, the last friend and only true friend, actually gives several speeches which contain truths about God in which wisdom is found. However, Elihu is impotent to reveal God to Job for only God can give eyes to see.
Then God finally speaks and puts Job in his place.
( KJV) Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, {2} Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? {3} Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. {4} Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. {5} Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? {6} Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; {7} When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? {8} Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? {9} When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, {10} And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, {11} And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? {12} Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; {13} That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? {14} It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
God’s message to Job about how insignificant he and his own righteousness continues from chapter 38 through chapter 41.
In chapter 40, God says to Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it” (v. 2). Now, Job’s response is not one of defiant demand for answers to his misery. Rather he says, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further” (vv. 4–5). And again God picks up the interrogation and goes even more deeply into Job’s soul that shows the overwhelming contrast between the power and righteousness of God and the contrasting impotence of the righteousness of Job. This is the beginning of humility in Job.
In Chapter 42 Job finally sees God in all His glory, grace, and mercy. Finally, Job confesses the impotence of his own righteousness compared to Gods. He says, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (42:5–6).
The Book of Job is not about suffering, it is about our righteousnesses falling short of God’s Holiness. God doesn’t answer the question of suffering but instead reveals His Holiness and Greatness. He reveals Himself to Job which brings true humility and the completion of wisdom.
All of Job’s righteousness was based upon only what he had heard of God’s Law and demands. He lived his life in obedience to those demands but now he sees with his eyes that no matter how righteous he is that righteousness falls short.
This message of God is for all of us who think that because we are believers that we somehow become righteous (which includes ALL of us). It is for us who think God uses us because we are somehow transformed into His likeness and become Godly. It is for us who think we are such great disciples and pat ourselves on the back when engaging in discipleship for the cause of Christ. It is for us who are arrogant enough to think we can become like God and somehow become good. For those of us who think this way have only heard of God and are attempting to fill the shoes of God by our own impotent power. May we contemplate the message of the Book of Job and God’s holiness and repent of our righteousness lest God also suggest our names to Satan for the destruction of the flesh. May the book of Job accomplish in our lives the fullness of wisdom and humility.
Somehow we have bought into the lie that all we have to repent of is our sins and depravity where the truth lies in repenting mainly of our own righteousness. We have bought into the lie that we have the power within ourselves to be transformed into the image of God (Christ) by what we do or don’t do. Being transformed into the image of Christ is centered on His cross where we die to ourselves and our own power to do anything to forgive our sins or become righteous and instead live through dying with Him on the cross and living in the faith of Christ.
( KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
( KJV) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! {34} For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? {35} Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? {36} For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
( KJV) For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. {18} For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. {19} For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. {20} Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? {21} For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
( KJV) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
( KJV) There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
