If a man ever was justified in remonstrating against God, Job certainly was. Described by no less than God himself as “blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil,” to be so afflicted was an insult not to be borne—or so it would seem from our perspective. Job lost everything, and was left with nothing but a wife and friends who only poured salt in the wound. His was an exquisite misery . . .
Yet Job did not blaspheme. He cried out, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” (Job 13:15). Even his wife tried to get him to find ultimate relief. Her advice was simple and to the point: “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).
Job refused to take the easy way out. He suffered the counsel of fools by listening to the advice of his friends. Finally he rose up to challenge God on the matter. He faced God alone, wrestling and struggling for answers to his misery. God’s reply was hardly comforting:
Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?” Job 38:1–11, nivThis was a difficult oral examination. Job demanded answers from God. Instead of answers he received a bundle of questions in return. God rebuked Job for casting a dark shadow over divine wisdom by his own ignorance. It was as if God said, “OK, Job, you want to interrogate me? Fine, I’ll answer your questions, but first I have a few for you.” Like bullets from a rapid-fire machine gun, God shot out questions, each one more intimidating than the last. Finally Job spoke:
Then Job answered the Lord: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer—twice, but I will say no more.” Job 40:3–5, nivConsider the image Job used. He said that he would place his hand over his mouth. He gagged himself. He covered his lips with his hand lest any more foolish words escape his mouth. He was sorry that he ever challenged God. He recognized that his words had been presumptuous. He had said all he wanted to say.
But the interrogation continued. God was not yet finished with the examination. He asked a series of questions that overwhelmed Job:
Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Job 40:8 nivHere the issue is plain. Job’s challenge flies into the teeth of divine justice. His charges are an insult to a holy God. God’s question rings in Job’s ears: “Will you condemn me to justify yourself?” There is no doubt that Job longed to be justified. He was sick of the accusations of his friends. He did not understand why he was so miserable. He prayed for vindication. But his desire had gone out of control. He was on the verge of trading God’s justification for his own. He had crossed a line in the debate, suggesting that perhaps God had done evil. God asked him straight out, “Do you want to condemn me so that you can be exonerated?”
The full weight of God’s questions fell hard on Job. He was almost crushed by them. Finally he took his hand away from his mouth and spoke again. This time there were no accusations in his words. He broke his vow of silence only to voice his contrition:
I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, “Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?” Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:2–6 nivWhen we read this section of the book of Job, we may get the idea that God was bullying Job. He cried out for answers, anc. God said that He would answer Job’s questions. But the answers never came forth. To be sure, there was a condition attached to the promise of answers: Job was required to answer first. But Job flunked his exam. God then gave no answers.
Yet Job was satisfied. Even though God gave no answers, Job’s questions were put to rest. He received a higher answer than any direct reply could have provided. God answered Job’s questions not with words but with Himself. As soon as Job saw who God is, Job was satisfied. Seeing the manifestation of God was all that he needed. He was able to leave the details in God’s hands. Once God Himself was no longer shrouded in mystery, Job was able to live comfortably with a few unanswered questions. When God appeared, Job was so busy repenting that he did not have time for further challenges. His rage was redirected to himself: “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
—R. C. Sproul, The Holiness of God (Tyndale, 1985), 178–182.
TrackBack URL: http://www.thirstytheologian.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2070
Share this post:
Posted in: Job · R C Sproul · The Holiness of God
Link · 0 Comments · 0 TrackBacks
← Previous · Home · Next →
