After all the vain talking about God; God spoke, and all the men were silent. Job had commanded that God come down and make right his injustice toward him. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar spoke incessantly about God, as though they had all the answers. These three spoke lofty words, declaring that God was judging Job for blatant sin; as though they knew the mind of God. Finally, God spoke. He did not explain to Job the reasons He allowed Job to endure such trials. Instead, He presented to Job a series of questions that forced Job to see God as the Sovereign, Just, and Gracious King of the Universe. At the final end of all the questioning, Job’s response was: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).
In other words, “Everything I knew of God before today, were words within my mind; but, today I see God in all His Glory and Majesty with the eyes of my heart. Therefore, I humbly bow; recognizing my own foolish pride.” Until God spoke through the whirlwind and the suffering; Job believed in his own righteous acts and his own virtue. When confronted by the truth; Job now could see the threads of pride and arrogance which lay deeply in his own heart. Only when pressed by the pains of sorrow, did Job recognize fully God’s Sovereign Grace and Kingship over everything. What suffering is too great to endure to be able to see God?
Eyes Opened Wide to See God
God spoke to Job in the Whirlwind. He pressed Job with questions; beginning with, “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding” (Job 38:2-4). You, Job speak so much about me and the Universe surrounding you as though you could provide a better justice. Where were you when I created the heavens and earth? Did you Job, separate the seas from the land? Do you control the rain or the lightening by your voice? God presses on throughout chapters 38 to 39 with questions of this kind: “Do you Job, hold the stars in place?”
God then turns to question Job about animals and birds. Who created them and provides for them? He presents a picture of the ostrich who has no real love nor wisdom to provide for their chicks; yet, they continue to live and multiply. So, who cares for and provides for the ostrich who has no wisdom to provide safety for its chicks; yet, can run faster than other creatures. Do you Job? Did you create such a creature? Then, God; asks Job to answer. Suddenly, a man who spoke so much in his own defense before his friends replies: “I must put my hand over my mouth in silence.”
JOB 40: 1-5
“Moreover, the Lord answered Job, and said, ‘Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.’ Then Job answered the Lord, and said, ‘Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.’
Then, God proceeds to tell Job of the grandeur of the hippopotamus and the crocodile; and once more asks Job to answer if he could have designed such creatures. Through all the questions, Job had no answer; because, he suddenly realized the magnitude of God’s wisdom and power.
Suddenly, the eyes of Job’s heart were opened to realize his own ignorance of God. As Roy Zuck points out: “having gained insight into God’s ways and character-His creative power and genius, His sovereign control, and His providential care and love, Job confessed His own unworthiness and repented.” [1]
See God as God
Now Job; because of all he had suffered, could really see God; whereas before he only knew of him. Now Job could say as Paul,
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (Philippians 3).
Until we see God as our greatest treasure, we cannot experience fullness of joy in Him. He knows that. We tend to become “comfortable” in our limited knowledge of Him; but, we cannot know the fullness of joy in Him, until we recognize our own utter dependence on Him.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
If suffering reveals to me the truth of God; then, shouldn’t I bow to it and seek Him? Instead of fighting so hard to have God do it my way, shouldn’t I trust Him? Christ willingly suffered and died on a cruel cross, that I might be saved. Shouldn’t I be willing to suffer that I might know Him? This I know: whatever trial, sorrow, or pain lies before me, I can trust Him. If it is pain that opens my eyes to see God clearer; then, I will rest in Him. My joy depends on my seeing Him as my greatest treasure and He will accomplish all that He has planned in me.
CONCLUDING TWEETS
[tweetthis]Until we see God as our greatest treasure, we cannot experience fullness of joy in Him[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]Christ willingly suffered and died on a cruel cross, that I might be saved.[/tweetthis]
[tweetthis]If it is pain that opens my eyes to see God clearer then I will rest in Him[/tweetthis]
[bctt tweet=”This I know: whatever trial, sorrow, or pain lies before me, I can trust in God’s Sovereign Grace and Love” username=”effiedarlene”]
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Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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Credits and Footnotes
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[1] Roy Zuck, “Job”, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: John Walvoord and Roy Zuck, eds., (Colorado Springs: CO: Victor, 2004), 774