Job 39-42

June 9

Job 39-42

Job and his friends had gone round and round about the reason Job was suffering. They spoke of God and spoke for God, but in verse 38 God spoke. He spoke to them out of the storm and struck them in awe. When God spoke, they all realized that they did not know what they were saying when they spoke of God. He is too wonderful for words, to powerful to comprehend.

When God confronted Job, Job realized he was not worthy to complain to the Lord no matter what his fate. Much like Isaiah when he encountered God who responded; "“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty”" (Isaiah 6:5, NIV), Job covered his mouth to keep from even uttering a foolish word.

God confronted Job for condemning God to justify himself. (40:8) We are tempted to blame God when things do not go our way. Job complained that God was punishing him unjustly. We complain about the weather, our lot in life, and numerous other circumstances. Is God to blame? When we realize how unworthy we are to stand before Him, when we realize the extent of His grace, we can do nothing but fall to our knees and humble ourselves.

God does not owe us anything but punishment and hell. Instead, He extends mercy and grace. Mercy is not getting what we deserve and grace is getting what we do not deserve. No matter what we face in life, everything we get is more than we deserve. But thankfully God is graceful and extends life and wholeness to us in spite of ourselves.  The normal reaction when we realize all this is worship and thanksgiving.