“Then the Lord answered Job
out of the storm.”
Job 38:1 (NIV)
The book of Job honestly assesses the state of suffering and chronicles
the lasting legacy of a follower of God who was swiftly impacted with immense
casualties. Job, a great man of faith, encountered the loss of his children and
his livelihood. Nearly everything he held dear was gone in an instant. In time,
Job became consumed with understanding the purpose of his anguish. Three of
Job’s friends, who initially intended to provide comfort and encouragement to
Job, exasperated the situation. Ultimately, they criticized Job and accused him
of denying some unnamed sin. The three companions wrongly assumed Job’s past or
present transgressions were the cause of his sorrows. Job pleaded his
innocence, but to no avail. Tired and emotionally drained, Job called out to
God and begged the Lord to explain Himself. Eventually, in a most mighty and
moving message, the Lord answered Job (Genesis 38-41). It was a direct,
hard-hitting sermon, which revealed that God’s intellect, wisdom, and insight
make man’s musings sound like pure folly.
In essence, God asked Job, “Who are you to question me?” Of
course, Job had no decent reply. To query God about His rationale or His
activity is to doubt God and minimize the Lord’s role as mankind’s Sustainer.
God reminded Job that he had neither the strength nor the power to corral the
ocean or singularly control the beasts of the sea. Therefore, how could Job
pretend to be so intimately knowledgeable of God’s thoughts or ways? So often we
speak without understanding because we are vain and conceited. So often we lack
a dedicated, praiseful heart. What right does man have to judge the will of
God, His methodology, or His fairness? What makes us think that we can properly
evaluate His form of justice? We have no such authority to do so.
God’s mighty, moving message forced Job to humbly confess his
need to listen for divine counsel rather than disparage it. Job’s guilt was
evident in his short, humble response. He recognized that he should not have
quizzed the Lord about His motives or His capacity to rule over humanity’s
circumstances. Overwhelmed by the awesomeness of the Lord, Job admitted he was
unqualified to speak on God’s behalf. He momentarily second-guessed the Lord
and His intentions. After God revealed Himself, Job realized that he was out of
his element by assuming that he comprehended God’s heart and mindset on the
matter at hand.
The morale of this story is that God is always in control.
His eternal, Kingly reign demands our obedience, trust, and worship. Even when
it seems as though everything is collapsing around us, nothing escapes God’s
providential hand. His unbreakable rule continues, no matter if circumstances
indicate otherwise. Job temporarily overlooked this truth and received a strong
rebuke for it. But, God restored him and Job resumed a lifestyle of honorable
service to God. In the end of this account, we remember God’s wonderful sovereignty
and goodness, not Job’s momentary frustration and pain.
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