Finished Job again today. Chapter 1 describes what happened in heaven before God allowed Satan to make Job's life a living hell. Job had no knowledge of the conversation between God and Satan before he lost his kids, his livelihood, his health and status. Then he wonders why God is out to get him.
This book in part addresses what is known in philosophy and theology as Theodicy, or the problem of evil; "If God is real, why is there so much pain and suffering?" Here are a few verses that stand out to me this time around with the name of the one making the statement:
4:17 (Eliphaz) - "Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
Can a man be more pure than his Maker?"
It's a rhetorical question and the answer is NO. I hear many question God's goodness. Once read an atheist reply "Yes" to this, but we all do it at one point or another. Judgement, justice, chastening and refining aren't evil, as the likes of Richard Dawkins want to paint it as they attempt to indict God.
38:2 (God) - "Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?"
We don't have the whole picture, of which we are a tiny part. The Bible says God does. Any complaint we might have against Him is based in ignorance and pride. God doesn't owe us an answer. He didn't explain Himself to Job, but we can find clues, and promises, to God's purposes throughout scripture if we're willing to seek them out.
40:2 (God) - "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it."
40:4-5 (Job) - "Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."
Wise response. I think we will hear that many times at the judgement when all of humanity stands before God.
40:8 (God) - "Would you indeed annul My judgement?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?"
Instead of admitting fault and recognizing our place before God, we all have a tendency to accuse Him at one point or another. Adam did it with the statement "The woman whom You gave to be with me..." No one is innocent but God, who is the very definition of righteousness.
42:2-3 (Job) - "I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?'
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."
42:5-6 (Job) - "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes."
Most of Job records the words of a few men as they try to fit God, and His purposes, into little man-sized boxes of their own imagining. It demonstrates God is too big for that and during this life we will never get our minds around what He does.
Romans 8:28, without attempting to go into detail, says "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." This was written by an apostle that spent many years in prison before being tried by the infamous Roman Caesar Nero. Paul knew it to be true from Biblical history, logic, revelation and personal experience.
Proverbs 3:34 says in the NLT:
"The Lord mocks the mockers
but is gracious to the humble."
James, in 4:6, and Peter, in 1 Peter 5:5, express that verse:
"God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble."
Job in his pride, like everyone else, demanded an explanation from God. A justification. God didn't owe Job an explanation and didn't give one, but basically said "Who the hell are you?" and "What do you know?" He doesn't owe us an explanation either. Job did the right thing, recognized his place and humbled himself. We will all stand before God one day as Job did. We will all be in awe and ready to cover our mouths like Job and like Isaiah who said
"It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.". (6:5 NLT)
Job had the opportunity to repent and so do we at the present time, but one day we won't.
This is all, of course, from a Christian perspective. It assumes there is a creator of the universe and makes complete sense in that context. Romans 1 says it's obvious that God exists, based on what we observe in the world around us, but that's for another post.
Great article. One line I have a problem with,"Job had the opportunity to repent and so do we at the present time, but one day we won't." That line seems very out of place. Is there anything in the book of Job that limits Job's opportunity? He receives a revelation of God and cannot but repent. So, what is the "day" limit for our opportunity to repent? I am very familiar with the traditional theology of human death as the cutoff, but I have come to see that it is short sighted, and very much based on our sense of time this side of death. There are many events in the timeline of our experience before and after human death, but I don't see an absolute *time* limit for our choice to repent. All events after death are in "eternity." Time is very different there. God's revelation of himself doesn't seem to be limited by our present human sense of time. In fact, it could be that this redemption story of Job--where he receives his goods and family back multiplied--is a picture of life after death. God reveals himself, Job repents, and God displays his goodness and generosity to one who didn't deserve it at all.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being the first to comment on my blog and thank you. My apologies for taking so long to reply. I hope to see you here again.
Delete"That line seems very out of place. Is there anything in the book of Job that limits Job's opportunity?"
I was referring to God's coming judgement. From what I understand, when Jesus returns to earth, there is no more opportunity to repent for those living in that day that are found in a state of rebellion. They're slaughtered and judged. Given the many signs that appear to be happening at this point in history, it may be soon. Matthew 24:
"36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."
Revelation goes on to describe their fate. But within Job's lifetime, as you say, there is nothing to limit his opportunity to change.
"God displays his goodness and generosity to one who didn't deserve it at all."
True, but Job did humble himself instead of continuing in pride and self-righteousness. There was no Mosaic law during his lifetime. Job exhibited the faith of Abraham and I believe it was counted to him as righteousness.
That God appeared to Job at all was out of mercy for Job. But not just him, for the rest of humanity. All can benefit from the lesson recorded in this book for the nearly 4,000 years.
To add an addendum: The argument that God limits his grace to people in *this* life is based on the scarcity sales model: there is a limited amount available, so buy it now. But that is contrary to the concept of an unlimited God--that we are quite able to stop, limit, or thwart God!
ReplyDelete"The argument that God limits his grace to people in *this* life is based on the scarcity sales model: there is a limited amount available, so buy it now."
DeleteI don't see a problem with it because the principle is found throughout the old and new testament. Noah preached while he was building the ark until he was done and God said it was time to bring judgement. Jeremiah warned of the coming judgement to be delivered by a Babylonian invasion at an indeterminate time. The message was the same. Jesus referred to the same in the parable of the wicked tenants in Luke 20. Peter does likewise in his 2nd epistle.
The message time and again is "Repent while there is still time." No one knows when he will die and no one knows exactly when Jesus will return. Either can happen at any moment.