The Book of Job is easy to misunderstand and misuse. You just can't grab any verse out of the book and say that it's a clear statement of truth as God sees it. Many of the characters' statements are truth as they see it, but they happen to be seeing and saying it wrong. At first blush, many of their statements may look and sound like truth but are actually skewed versions of truth. At the end of the story, it's clear that God wasn't at all happy with those skewed versions of truth. After all, skewed truth is untruth and is even more dangerous because of its subtle resemblance to the real deal.
So, here's my non-theological, high-level view of what REALLY happened in the Book of Job. The Holy Spirit took me through this book during a very tough time in my life, through things not of my choosing nor of my doing. I was deeply changed through that season, changed for the better.
Job's story opens with a behind the curtains look at a conversation between God and Satan. I'm not going to begin to guess all that was going on at that point in heaven. I do know this: Job wasn't just a pawn in God's interaction with Satan. Since God is never careless or arbitrary, what He subsequently allowed in Job's life somehow fit into God's plan for Job (and his family). All of it. I don't understand what all that means, but I know enough about God's heart to believe that is true. I also believe that the Book of Job was written for us to learn from.
Back to the story. Job's friends sit with him, discussing his plight and what might be behind it. They start from the wrong premise, pushing the idea that God must be punishing Job for something Job has done wrong: a wrong attitude, pride, greed, dishonesty, whatever. Job takes the bait and increasingly defends himself as the story progresses. As the blame and arguments go on, Job's attitude becomes hardened. He feels like he's done what's right, so why is God punishing him? Job has done what he's supposed to do, it's God who has messed things up.
If I may put it in my own words, Job is saying to God, "Hey, I've done my part, I've even confessed my sins and asked for Your forgiveness. I've done what's right. Why aren't You doing what's right?"
This is summarized in Job 32:2 where it tells us that Elihu's wrath was aroused because Job justified himself rather than God. Many other verses in the Book of Job say essentially the same thing.
A couple of chapters later, God speaks to Job rather strongly.
Job goes on to repent for his attitude (e.g., justifying himself by implying "I've done my part, where were you, God?") and God forgives him. The story ends on a high note as Job spends his final years highly blessed. I don't happen to think, however, that it was necessary for it to end on a happy note. God always gets to do what He wants when He wants and never owes anyone an explanation. The main truth of Job's story is the same with or without the final, up-beat ending.
What does this say to me? It says that God is the Potter and I am just clay. I am clay that He loves, but nonetheless, He gets to do anything He wants, anytime He wants, and He never owes me an explanation. He cares a great deal about my present situation, but He is more interested in His long-term plans for His creation than in my immediate comfort, and that's a good thing. The result, of course, will be to my immeasurable long-term benefit.
He is always right. Always. He knows what He's doing and I only know a little part of it. I don't trust in my own understanding as the be-all end-all, I trust in His. His view of our lives and our deaths goes far beyond our brief time in this present life.
I must conclude that He has His own methods and reasons;I have no choice but to trust Him whether I understand things or not. With an act of my will, I set my heart to trust in the goodness of His heart, no matter how it looks or feels here and now.
Whatever happens, however it happens, I trust that He loves me and is working all things together for my good, which the Bible says is to be conformed to the image of His Son. In that knowledge, I give thanks, not for everything, but in everything. He has eternity to make it all come together, but I don't think it will take eternity; I believe it will only take a moment in His presence, gazing into His eyes, to make it all worth it.
He doesn't condone everything that happens here, far from it. In fact, a great deal of it turns His stomach. But, for His childrens sake, He won't let any of it go to waste, either. He doesn't ask for do-overs. He takes it all, good, bad, and indifferent, and He is determined to use it to conform me to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-30)
He knows what He's doing. And because I don't, it gets very uncomfortable at times, but I've decided that's okay. Out of all the things I want, Him fulfilling His dreams is first and foremost. For that, I must trust Him.
Amen and amen.
So, here's my non-theological, high-level view of what REALLY happened in the Book of Job. The Holy Spirit took me through this book during a very tough time in my life, through things not of my choosing nor of my doing. I was deeply changed through that season, changed for the better.
Job's story opens with a behind the curtains look at a conversation between God and Satan. I'm not going to begin to guess all that was going on at that point in heaven. I do know this: Job wasn't just a pawn in God's interaction with Satan. Since God is never careless or arbitrary, what He subsequently allowed in Job's life somehow fit into God's plan for Job (and his family). All of it. I don't understand what all that means, but I know enough about God's heart to believe that is true. I also believe that the Book of Job was written for us to learn from.
Back to the story. Job's friends sit with him, discussing his plight and what might be behind it. They start from the wrong premise, pushing the idea that God must be punishing Job for something Job has done wrong: a wrong attitude, pride, greed, dishonesty, whatever. Job takes the bait and increasingly defends himself as the story progresses. As the blame and arguments go on, Job's attitude becomes hardened. He feels like he's done what's right, so why is God punishing him? Job has done what he's supposed to do, it's God who has messed things up.
If I may put it in my own words, Job is saying to God, "Hey, I've done my part, I've even confessed my sins and asked for Your forgiveness. I've done what's right. Why aren't You doing what's right?"
This is summarized in Job 32:2 where it tells us that Elihu's wrath was aroused because Job justified himself rather than God. Many other verses in the Book of Job say essentially the same thing.
A couple of chapters later, God speaks to Job rather strongly.
Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”
“Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?" (Job 40:1-2, 8)
Job goes on to repent for his attitude (e.g., justifying himself by implying "I've done my part, where were you, God?") and God forgives him. The story ends on a high note as Job spends his final years highly blessed. I don't happen to think, however, that it was necessary for it to end on a happy note. God always gets to do what He wants when He wants and never owes anyone an explanation. The main truth of Job's story is the same with or without the final, up-beat ending.
What does this say to me? It says that God is the Potter and I am just clay. I am clay that He loves, but nonetheless, He gets to do anything He wants, anytime He wants, and He never owes me an explanation. He cares a great deal about my present situation, but He is more interested in His long-term plans for His creation than in my immediate comfort, and that's a good thing. The result, of course, will be to my immeasurable long-term benefit.
He is always right. Always. He knows what He's doing and I only know a little part of it. I don't trust in my own understanding as the be-all end-all, I trust in His. His view of our lives and our deaths goes far beyond our brief time in this present life.
I must conclude that He has His own methods and reasons;I have no choice but to trust Him whether I understand things or not. With an act of my will, I set my heart to trust in the goodness of His heart, no matter how it looks or feels here and now.
Whatever happens, however it happens, I trust that He loves me and is working all things together for my good, which the Bible says is to be conformed to the image of His Son. In that knowledge, I give thanks, not for everything, but in everything. He has eternity to make it all come together, but I don't think it will take eternity; I believe it will only take a moment in His presence, gazing into His eyes, to make it all worth it.
He doesn't condone everything that happens here, far from it. In fact, a great deal of it turns His stomach. But, for His childrens sake, He won't let any of it go to waste, either. He doesn't ask for do-overs. He takes it all, good, bad, and indifferent, and He is determined to use it to conform me to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-30)
He knows what He's doing. And because I don't, it gets very uncomfortable at times, but I've decided that's okay. Out of all the things I want, Him fulfilling His dreams is first and foremost. For that, I must trust Him.
Amen and amen.
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