In the beginning of the book there is a meeting of the heavenly council in which Satan challenges the faithfulness and righteousness of God's servant Job. Satan asks God, " Does Job fear God for nothing?" Basically, does Job serve and worship you for nothing? You've blessed him and protected him. If you take it away is he still going to worship you? (Job 1:6-11) Does this sound familiar? When things are going great, we're "blessed by God." However, when circumstances are not in our favor are were just as excited to praise Him?
Job did not give into the pressure of affliction. He didn't curse God with his lips even after his own wife encouraged him to. During times of suffering there are three ways in which one can react:
- Despise it-treat it too lightly
- Faint under it-treat it too seriously
- Be exercised by it-receive instruction from it
Job's friends learn of his adversity the come to comfort him. However, their lame attempts only aggravate Job. They insist he has committed a sin that is justifying God's punishment. Job does not deny sin but denies sin worthy of such punishment. After several rounds of speeches Job makes a desperate attempt to call God out. He begs for a meeting (31:35-40). Perhaps you've been in the same position. You've been faithful to God. You're doing what you're supposed to be doing and then suddenly everything goes wrong. You seek the counsel of friends and family and no one seems to know what to tell you. "Pray about it" they may tell you, or "Read your Bible." You're desperate so you find yourself calling out to God, "Why? Why did this happen? What did I do?" We demand answers.
Enter Elihu. Elihu was the youngest of the men comforting Job. He had remained silent throughout the course of speeches out of respect for the other men. After Job made his last plea to the Lord, Elihu intervenes. Elihu charges Job with rebellion. He reminds Job that he cannot obligate God to acknowledge his past righteous acts (35:2-3).
Elihu highlights the mighty acts of God. He does great things that we cannot comprehend (37:5). In 37:21 he states that men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies. Think about it we are warned never to look directly into the sun. We'll be blinded. We have to protect ourselves from the heat of the sun my keeping cool. We cover ourselves to hide our skin from the sun. We even harness power from the sun. What a powerful element the sun is. Yet, God created the sun. How much more powerful He must be! If we can barely stand to be in the presence of the sun for too long, how much more powerful would an encounter with God be?
Elihu finishes his speech. God reveals Himself to Job in a whirlwind. God questions Job from the realm of creation. "Where were you?" God asks Job at the creation of the earth and all things. He asks if Job knows where the treasuries of snow and hail are. Can Job move the stars? Can he make it rain? In chapter 39 God speaks of the ostrich. Perhaps this is a comparison of man's pride (13-18). God continues to show Job that He is sovereign. There is no doubt about it Job was left dumbfounded. He confesses his lack of understanding and repents of his rebellion.
God never once had to justify His actions toward Job. In fact, nowhere in the book of Job does God even tell Job that it was not Him but Satan that afflicted him. He didn't have to. It's important to remember that it is not necessary for us to know the purpose of all of God's actions. He is sovereign. Even more importantly we should be able to answer the question Satan asked God so many years ago, "Will a human serve God for nought?" Let's make that a resounding "YES!" Also, be reminded the next time we ask God "Why?" His answer, " I am the Alpha and the Omega." Enough said.
2 comments:
Geez Brianne, if you were featured in the new testament people would say that this was a "hard lesson" indeed. I love your exegesis of Job, God's Sovereignty is something that we just have to accept because it should highlight our trust. The only reason why we dont want to give up our own sovereignty is because we are afraid of being taken advantage of (and not being able to take advantage of others).
Geez Bri, when thinking of Satan's question to God about whether man would serve him for nought, I can't help but imagine Satan mumbling under his breath "...cuz I sure wont." And in fact, he did not. Just reminds us that outside of service to God, we are pretty much on Satan's level - damned and out of God's company.
Interesting. Ever wonder why it is that non Christians and others will cite to you that they do not like people who tell them that "if I dont do this I'm going to hell". The person may not even believe in hell, there is just something about the idea of not measuring up, of being deprived of something that is nearly inexplicable. On the one hand they are offended you think they are better than them, and on the other hand, I think that there is an inherent spiritual tension that realizes their fallen state and the their potential.
Some people may not be satisfied with the maxim of "its God" as being the answer to the profound questions and realities around them. But when you have a creator as complete in His work and His power, can you get a better explanation? When God questions Job about being there where the foundations of the earth were made, Job may not have understood plate tectonics or anything like that, but would it be technically wrong to state "its God's will" if it was indeed God that was the author?
Would it be wrong to say "its Jane Austin's will" if Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy fall in love in Austin's Novel, Pride & Prejudice ? On the one hand, you can be very technical and say the two fell in love because they share similar interests, but without the will of the author that put them there, created them like that, and worked them through various situations to create a classic novel, would you be having the discussion?
It says God is the author of our faith in the bible. I am not shortchaing human curiousity, I think it is a great thing at times. I just feel like Brianne hit the nail on the head with the fact that God's mystery should inspire more awe than frustruation; His soveriegnty should engender our servitude.
Thanks for laying down the gauntlet Brianne.
Sovereignty. I use this word all the time, calling God the "Sovereign Lord of the Universe," while supposing to take that place in my own life. I make decisions that are not mine to make. I cast judgment when that is not my place. I like to think of my plan and purpose as my own. This lesson on God's complete Sovereignty is indeed a tough one. I try to reconcile my will with the plan of God in my life while listening to the siren call of the American Way to be a "self made man" and can't help but be amused at the inherent inconsistencies of such a life. How easy I get distracted by something shiny or new! Just like walking in the mall and talking to someone and then seeing something in the window of a store strategically placed to ensnare people such as myself and then ignoring what my companion is saying to me. I treat God in much the same way at times (too often, I think). When He finally gets something through my thick skull, I am delighted at my own creativity or insight, when it really comes from Him. A life lived under the rule or sovereignty of a human would entail that whatever his or her whim of the moment was, I would be obligated to enact. If not, my rightful punishment would be the dungeon or the rack. How much more for the Creator of everything! I find myself asking questions of God, not to build myself up or to help others, but to satisfy my own curiosity and need to know, fully understanding the frustration of Moses when he asks God who to tell the Israelites who sent him. The answer was simply, "I AM." "No, seriously God, for real, who?" "I AM that I AM." What does that mean? Excactly what it says, He is. What more do I need to know? How secure is my rest, knowing He is. How confident are my steps, knowing He is. How delightful my worship and praise, knowing He is. Thank you Bri, for that reminder.
Post a Comment