Job 42:1-6

Job’s friends tried to persuade him that the tragedies in his life were the result of sin. Job knew this was not true. He had trusted in God alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. That initial repentance empowered him to live a life devoted to God. Because God transformed his heart, Job led a blameless, upright, and obedient life. Job never claimed perfection, but he was adamant that, with the Lord’s help, he had been striving to follow him closely. When tragedy struck, Job did not sin against God (Job 1:22; 2:10).

However, during Job’s prolonged suffering, he expressed, “God has worn me out” (Job 16:7). Have you ever felt this way? Amid Job’s emotional anguish from losing his family, his physical distress due to devastating health issues, and his spiritual despair, which made him feel as if God had abandoned him, he raised accusations against the Almighty. Through Job’s pain, bitterness and pride emerged.

Then God confronted Job, and he repented of his sins.

Job 42:5-6 (NLT)
I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.

There are two aspects of repentance. The first is initial repentance when we trust in Jesus and begin our new life with him. Job, described as blameless, upright, and obedient, exemplified how God transformed his life. The second aspect is ongoing repentance, an essential and frequent practice in every believer’s life. As a believer, Job sinned, and it was necessary for him to engage in ongoing repentance.

We discussed initial repentance last time. Today, let’s get practical and consider the steps of ongoing repentance.

Repentance: Step #1—Conviction of Sin
Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (John 16:8-11).  The Greek word for convict (Greek: elencho) means to expose. The process of sin involves seeing, wanting, taking, and then hiding. The Holy Spirit’s work of conviction places our sin directly before our eyes so that we can recognize it. Job’s conviction came when God appeared out of the whirlwind and asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:4). This initiated a series of questions that left Job silent, humbled, and repentant.

Repentance: Step #2—Owning My Sin
Let’s face it. Most of us don’t want to acknowledge our sins. We may admit that we did what we should not have done or said what we should not have said, but we often blame our actions on someone else. I remember meeting with a couple where the wife had an affair. She said, “Yes, I had an affair. No, I shouldn’t have done it. However, my husband is never home and is more married to his work than to me.” I knew that her husband was frequently away and was addicted to his job. She wasn’t wrong in her statement. However, blaming her husband for her sin did not put her on the path to repentance.

In 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, the apostle Paul discusses “godly sorrow” and “worldly sorrow.” “Godly sorrow,” he explains, “means I acknowledge my sin. I feel convicted and recognize that I have sinned against God,” which leads to repentance. Conversely, “worldly sorrow” reflects embarrassment over being caught and shifts the blame, asserting, “It’s my spouse’s (or kids’, or friend’s, or boss’s, etc.) fault,” while also showing a refusal to change. Paul warns that this mindset leads to destruction.

Job’s accusations against God were bold, even brazen. But when God questioned him, Job owned his sin. Job said,

Job 40:4-5
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵ I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Repentance: Step #3—Confession of Sin
Confession is simply the act of accepting and admitting our disobedience before God. It involves saying, “God, this is what I have done. I acknowledge my sin. I feel the weight of your conviction. I have no excuses. There is no one to blame but myself. I take full responsibility. I am sorry.” David expressed it this way:

Psalm 32:5 (NIV)
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Repentance: Step #4—Turning from My Sin
Turning from sin involves a decision and a prayerful plan. The decision is a conscious choice to stop engaging in the sin that the Holy Spirit has revealed and convicted you of. The plan is a strategy for establishing protective barriers to avoid this sin. This may include seeking professional counseling, joining a support group focused on your area of temptation, or enlisting individuals who will hold you accountable. We all need a prayerful plan with a practical strategy.

The word ‘strategy’ originates from two Greek terms—stratos (army) and agein (lead)—which together mean to lead an army. We are engaged in a battle. To lead an army, you need an army to lead, so gather a community of others around you to assist, provide godly advice, and ensure your accountability.

There’s an adage that says,

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s conviction, take responsibility for your sin, confess it, turn away from it, and create a prayerful strategy to guard against that sin. This is true repentance.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 42:1-6. Focus on the steps of ongoing repentance.

Talking to God
Do you need to confess and repent for anything? Follow the four-step process to take the necessary action.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

Job 42:1-6

Job was ready to challenge the Almighty and did not hold back with his questions. God, in turn, did not hold back with his answers. He told Job, “You were not present at creation; you cannot control my creation, nor can you overpower two of the great creatures I made.” God then asked, “Who are you to question me when you cannot comprehend the mind of the Creator, control the ways of the Creator, or conquer what I created?” When confronted by God, Job reacted in two ways: first, he was humbled, and then he repented.

Job 42:5-6
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; ⁶ therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Repentance is a vital theological truth and an essential practice for every believer. It serves as both the starting line and the runner’s pace in the Christian life. The first step of repentance occurs when we place our trust in Christ, known as initial repentance, which marks the beginning of our Christian journey. The second aspect of repentance is ongoing. It represents a continuous process in the believer’s life that fosters growth. Today, let’s focus on initial repentance. Next time, we’ll explore ongoing repentance. Understanding the full meaning of repentance is crucial, as it must be part of our discipline for spiritual growth. Let’s start with a definition.

The word “repent” in Job 42:6 is the Hebrew term niham, which means “to change one’s mind.” However, this does not refer to a change “about individual plans, intentions, or beliefs, but rather a change in the whole personality from a sinful course of action to God.”^[1] In essence, to repent signifies a radical change in thinking and direction.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for repent is metanoeo, which means “a change of mind or purpose.” This term emphasizes action. We may recognize the need to alter our thinking and direction but often fail to take steps toward that change. The Greek word directs us to put change into motion. To be clear, repenting does not involve changing our diet or exercise routine. It initiates, as mentioned earlier, “a change in the whole personality from a sinful course of action to God.” And that is where the Christian life begins.

In our faith journey, initial repentance starts with the realization that we are separated from God because of our sins. We acknowledge that we cannot bridge this separation through our good works. We understand that Jesus came to do for us what we couldn’t do for ourselves. Because Jesus is both fully God and fully man, he paid the penalty for our sins. He was sinless and voluntarily died as our substitute. Trusting in Jesus as the One who paid for our sins signifies our initial repentance. This transforms our minds and actions, shifting from trusting in ourselves to trusting in Jesus. When we do this, Paul says we become a new creation; “…the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor. 5:17). J. I. Packer states, “Repenting means starting to live a new life.”[2]

One of the great stories of initial repentance in the New Testament is found in Luke 5. Under the Roman government, Israel was taxed into poverty. The Romans recruited Jews to collect the taxes. These tax collectors often overcharged and pocketed the surplus. The Jewish people viewed tax collectors as traitors of the worst sort.

Levi was a tax collector, a wealthy man with a significant position. Jesus met Levi right where he was—in the tax booth. Jesus said, “‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything, he rose and followed him” (Luke 5:27-28). By grace through faith, Levi was spiritually transformed. Theologian Wayne Grudem says it like this:

Conversion is a single action of turning from sin in repentance and turning to Christ in faith. A person who genuinely turns to Christ for salvation must at the same time release the sin to which he or she has been clinging and turn away from the sin in order to turn to Christ.[3]

Initial repentance is a part of Job’s story that is not recorded. However, we know there was a time when God told Job, “Follow me.” Job would not have known about Jesus, so how could he have been saved? The apostle Paul addresses that question in Romans 4. Paul explains that Abraham, who we consider to be a contemporary of Job, “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness” (Rom. 4:3 NIV). Neither Abraham nor Job could have worked their way to God by keeping the law because the law would not be given for another four hundred years! Did Job know about Jesus? No. But by grace through faith, he trusted God to forgive him and bring him into a personal relationship. In God’s plan, Job’s new life was based on the future work of Jesus. Paul made it clear that whether you lived in Old Testament times or after Jesus came, the means of salvation is no different: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.[4] (We’ll consider this further when we study the book of Romans).

When we read that Job was “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1), this does not describe Job’s good works that earned him a relationship with God. Rather, Job 1:1 reflects the result of God’s work in Job’s life. Because Job trusted in God by grace through faith, he was empowered to fear God and live obediently before him.

Ann sat in a church service and stared at the crucifix. Beneath it were the words Jesus spoke from the cross: “It is finished.” God had been working in Ann’s heart, opening her mind to understand that she could add nothing to her relationship with him. Jesus had accomplished all the work for her. On that day, Ann realized two things. First, she was finished trying to earn her way to God. Second, Jesus had completed all the work for her on the cross. That day marked her initial repentance. She left behind her old way of thinking and living and entered a new walk with Jesus. The old had passed away; the new had come.

My prayer is that you, like Ann, have left behind the old ways and embraced a new life with Jesus.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 42:1-6. Focus on the steps of initial repentance.

Talking to God
Thank God for opening your eyes and heart to trust in Jesus alone, by grace alone, through faith alone.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

^[1] Paul Helm, “Repentance,” in Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1836–1837.

[2] J. I. Packer, Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs (Tyndale House Publishers, 1993), 162.

[3] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology (Zondervan, 1994), 713.

[4] https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-salvation.html

Job 42:1-6

God spoke, and Job listened. Job had called God to the witness stand, but instead, God told Job to brace himself because questions would be directed at him. As the book’s narrative approaches its conclusion, Job’s words are few. First, he expresses his humility (40:1-5). Then, Job begins a statement of repentance by acknowledging God’s sovereignty. Job confesses:

Job 42:2
I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

The reality of God’s sovereignty is woven throughout Scripture. One of the many instances where this truth is evident is in the book of Daniel, where the powerful Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar experienced a divinely ordained period of insanity. Following his recovery, the king stated,

Daniel 4:34-35
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

Job recounts one of the seventy questions that God posed to him and then admits his lack of understanding.

Job 42:3
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

Job’s challenge to God was heartfelt yet misguided. In his pain, he expressed thoughts he did not fully comprehend, which were too marvelous and beyond human understanding. Job acknowledges, “I should have kept my mouth shut.” God turned the tables on Job, saying with a hint of irony, “Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me” (Job 42:4). God asked Job where he was when God was creating the earth, hanging the stars, positioning the seas, and creating animals, many of which man cannot contain. The point God made was obvious!

Job 42:5-6
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; ⁶ therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job confesses that he had heard of God before this experience, but now he feels he has seen God for the first time with his own eyes. When Job states that he despises himself, he is not expressing self-loathing. Instead, this conveys a sense of remorse. Job is essentially saying, “I take back everything I said.” His response signifies genuine repentance.

This raises a few questions: Why did Job need to repent? What had he done that required forgiveness? Let’s take some time to hopefully answer these.

First, we know that Job’s circumstance did not result from sin. God introduced Job as “a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8).

Secondly, when Job lost his children and wealth, he did not sin. He responded with worship by saying,

Job 1:21-22
…” Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” ²² In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.

Third, when Job lost his health, he “did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).

Fourth, Job was not guilty of the sins that Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar claimed must be the reason for the tragedies Job experienced. Throughout all their confrontations, Job never wavered in asserting his innocence (Job 27:2-6).

So where in all of this did Job commit his sin against God? Before the calamities struck, Job was blameless and maintained his integrity. However, through his suffering and devastation, Job grew bitter and proud. He sought to justify himself rather than God (Job 32:2). His questions were accusatory, demanding that the Almighty respond to him and explain the “why” of his pain. He wished to put God on the witness stand for interrogation. Job believed that by questioning God, he could demonstrate that God’s treatment was unfair. In time, Job’s words and motives reveal his arrogance.

Let me tread lightly here. These are my reflections, and I reiterate this with great care. I have observed that people often experience a kind of spiritual euphoria at the onset of trials. Following a cancer diagnosis or the death of a loved one, many individuals feel God’s presence strongly. God “is close to the brokenhearted” (Ps. 34:18 NIV). I remember one man who shared with me after his wife passed away, “I feel bad that I am not grieving more deeply.” However, a few months later, the heartache and pain struck. That’s the nature of grief. You can’t avoid it; you must confront it. I have seen individuals postpone it for a time, but they can never truly set it aside without facing the inevitable.

For some, the rounds of chemotherapy, illness, or disease begin to take a toll on them. I am not asserting that they lose their faith or curse God. However, bitterness can creep in, fostering a sense of knowing better than God, which can take root in the heart. Recall again how God introduced Job to Satan. God said, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil” (Job 1:8). Job never lost that standing, yet his words and attitude became critical of God. We see this in how Job concluded his defense: “Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)” (Job 31:35).

But then God spoke. Job declared, “I despise myself,” meaning, “I retract everything I have said!”

There was only one thing left for Job to do: repent. And that’s precisely what he does. We will discuss what repentance looks like tomorrow. But for now, picture Job in deep sorrow for his sin. That is where sin should drive us all. 

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 42:1-6. Focus on God’s response.

Talking to God
Is there anything you need to confess and repent? We’ll talk about the process tomorrow.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

Check out my podcast with Ray Pritchard, in which he discusses suffering further. See The Journey with Ron Moore podcast Episode 34, “Keep Believing.”

Job 42:1-6

Arthur Gossip’s wife suddenly passed away, leaving him devastated. As the pastor of a thriving church in Scotland, he felt lost and uncertain about how he would endure. It’s one thing to minister to those experiencing loss; it’s another when it becomes personal…and so painful.

When he could preach again, Gossip’s first message was: “But when life tumbles in, what then?” He struggled to reconcile his faith with his loss and openly shared this in his sermon.

I do not understand this life of ours. But still less can I comprehend how people in trouble and loss and bereavement can fling away peevishly from the Christian faith. In God’s name, fling to what? Have we not lost enough without losing that too?[1]

We started our Job study by asking three questions:

Can I trust in God when life doesn’t make sense?
Can I trust in God when I can’t explain him?
Is God enough?

Job’s life crumbled around him. He was mentally, physically, and spiritually battered and bruised. Like Gossip, he cried out, “God, I don’t understand this life of ours!” Job did not sin to bring about his suffering. However, he allowed bitterness and pride to take root amidst his pain. In his suffering, he demanded that God explain what was happening. God did respond, but not with an explanation. After appearing in a fierce storm, God bombarded Job with questions to demonstrate that God’s creative work could not be comprehended, controlled, or subdued by anyone other than God himself. This revealed the absurdity of Job’s mindset that he could understand God’s ways.

Let’s consider Job’s final response.

Job 42:1-2
Then Job answered the Lord and said: ² “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”

Job’s initial response to God’s questions demonstrated humility. He said, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth” (40:4). In his subsequent response, Job starts by affirming God’s sovereignty. He admits that nothing is outside of God’s control; nothing is impossible for him.

We must understand God’s sovereignty to grasp the message of Job and God’s work in our suffering. Job provides an excellent starting point. He declares that God can do all things, and no one or no thing can prevent him from accomplishing his purposes. Our suffering will not make sense unless we view it through the lens of God’s sovereignty. We must recognize that the circumstances of life are part of a larger plan. This understanding places our pain—albeit mysteriously—within the narrative that our loving Father is writing in our lives.

When we consider God’s sovereignty, it includes his omniscience (all-knowing), omnipotence (all-powerful), and self-existence (independence). Let’s reflect on the aspects of this attribute.

If there was one tiniest bit of information, however small, that God didn’t know, A. W. Tozer says, “[God’s] rule would break down at that point. To be Lord over all creation, He must possess all knowledge.”[2] And if God lacked “one infinitesimal modicum of power, that lack would end His reign and undo His Kingdom….”[3] Tozer explains “that one stray atom of power would belong to someone else and God would be a limited ruler and…not sovereign.”[4] Finally, God’s sovereignty demands that he be self-existent and absolutely free. Again, Tozer explains, “[God] must be free to do whatever He wills to do anywhere at any time to carry out His eternal purpose in every single detail without interference. Were He less than free He must be less than sovereign.”[5]

We should think about God’s sovereignty in two ways.

First, God is in control of all global affairs. Proverbs 21:1 states: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Ponder that truth! In every world event you hear or read about, God is behind it all, working toward the glorious ending and new beginning he has prepared as part of his ultimate plan. This doesn’t mean we should refrain from discussing current events, nor does it imply that we aren’t active participants in national debates and elections. It also doesn’t mean we should cease to pray. Instead, it assures us that God maintains control at the end of the day, guiding all things toward his ultimate purpose. And remember, his plan cannot be thwarted.

Secondly, God oversees all personal matters, as shown in our study of Job. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t cry out and ask questions; Job did. Just as God is shaping the global narrative for his plan and purpose, he is also crafting our story with the same intention.

The author of Psalm 147 skillfully combines God’s personal and sovereign work in this passage.

Psalm 147:3-5
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. ⁴ He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. ⁵ Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

The God who can accomplish all things, the God whose purposes cannot be hindered, the God who names every star, the God who is omnipotent and omniscient—this same God “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Isn’t that truth amazing?!

We began with a quote from Arthur Gossip, who dealt with grief. Let’s conclude with another insightful and uplifting point from the same sermon.

I don’t think you need to be afraid of life. Our hearts are very frail; and there are places where the road is very steep and very lonely. But we have a wonderful God.[6]

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 42:1-6. Focus on the mystery and power of God’s sovereignty.

Talking to God
Pray Job 42:2 and Psalm 147:3-5. Tell God you desire to trust him.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

Check out my podcast with Ray Pritchard, in which he discusses suffering further. See The Journey with Ron Moore podcast Episode 34, “Keep Believing.”

[1] Ray Pritchard, Keep Believing: Finding God in Your Deepest Struggles (Gideon House Books, 2019), 9-10.

[2] A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (HarperOne, 1961), 108.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Pritchard, Keep Believing, 21.

Job 40:6-41:34

Years ago, I led our church staff through a study of a book by Les Parrott called Control Freak. The book had a “Control Freak” assessment. I remember my score was off the “Control Freak” chart! Maybe you have a control problem as well. Parrott writes,

At any given moment, millions of Americans are scrambling to take control of their jobs, spouses, kids, health, and time. And it seems nothing is too petty to dismiss an opportunity to prove they are living life their way, making life an exhausting war of wills for everyone they encounter.[1]

Job also had a control problem. His pain brought him to the brink of demanding that God answer every one of his questions. He wanted to call God to the witness stand and drill him with inquiries. But the Almighty turned the tables. From Job 38 to 41, God peppers Job with over seventy questions focused on creation.

First, God asked, “Job, can you explain my creation?” (38:1-38) by specifying, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know!” (38:4). Job was silenced.

Second, God asked, “Job, can you control my creation?” (38:39-39:30). In this section, God focused on many of the animals he had created. He probed, “Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south? Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?” (39:26-27)

Finally, after a brief interlude, God returns with this question: “Job, can you conquer my creation?” (40:6-41:34) That’s our focus today.

Job 40:6-9
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ⁷ “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. ⁸ Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? ⁹ Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?

After the first two rounds of interrogation, God grants Job a moment to express his humility. Job has no answers and no rebuttal. He states, “I lay my hand on my mouth” (40:4). Once again, God appears as he did initially “out of the whirlwind,” and instructs Job to “dress for action like a man.” Job wishes to question God and prove him wrong for his suffering. However, God leaves no room for this in his rhetorical question: “Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me so that you may be in the right?” God’s strength and the storm that accompanied his entrance, possibly including lightning, hail, and thunder, demonstrate that Job is no match for the Lord Most High.

God reminds Job that everything under heaven belongs to God (41:11) and is under his control. In Job 39, God describes twelve animals to demonstrate Job’s lack of control over the wildlife. Now, he wraps up with two beasts, created by him and controlled by him, that no man can conquer.

Job 40:15-19
Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. ¹⁶ Behold, his strength in his loins, and his power in the muscles of his belly. ¹⁷ He makes his tail stiff like a cedar; the sinews of his thighs are knit together. ¹⁸ His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. ¹⁹ “He is the first of the works of God; let him who made him bring near his sword!

The Behemoth describes a very large animal God made, just as he created man. The exact identity of this creature remains unknown. Some speculate it was a diplodocus or an apatosaurus, while others suggest it could be a massive bull elephant. Most scholars believe God was referring to a hippopotamus, which can be five feet tall and weigh over four thousand pounds. Regardless of its identity, God uses it to illustrate that this beast cannot be conquered.

The next animal God showcases is the Leviathan, another that no man can overpower. Traders have no chance of catching him, and no man will go near him.

Job 41:5-10
Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you put him on a leash for your girls? ⁶ Will traders bargain over him? Will they divide him up among the merchants? ⁷ Can you fill his skin with harpoons or his head with fishing spears? ⁸ Lay your hands on him; remember the battle—you will not do it again! ⁹ Behold, the hope of a man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of him. ¹⁰ No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?

Like the Behemoth, no one knows what the Leviathan truly was. Some speculate that it was a giant crocodile that could grow up to twenty feet long and weigh over two thousand pounds. “His back,” God says, “is made of rows of shields” (41:15). “Out of his mouth go flaming torches; sparks of fire leap forth” (41:19). So perhaps this isn’t a crocodile, after all! We do know that the creature is virtually indestructible. Iron weapons are “as straw” and “bronze as rotten wood” when used against it (41:27). “The arrow cannot make him flee; for him, sling stones are turned to stubble. Clubs are counted as stubble; he laughs at the rattle of javelins” (41:28-29). No human can dominate all of God’s creation!

God drives home his sovereign control with these words:

Job 41:10-11
No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me? ¹¹ Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.

God’s message to Job is clear: How could you possibly stand before me if you cannot conquer all that I have created? Using Job 41:11 to declare God’s majesty and sovereignty in Romans 11, Paul concludes,

Romans 11:36
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Paul’s benediction provides fitting words to end God’s encounter with Job.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 40:6-41:34. Focus on God’s argument that his creation cannot be conquered.

Talking to God
Thank God for his sovereign rule over all things. Reflect on the words, “Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.”

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

[1] Les Parrott III, The Control Freak: Coping with Ones Around You. Taming the One Within. (Zondervan, 2006), 11.

Job 40:1-5

Job was a renowned individual with a diverse and prosperous business, financial stability, and the love and support of a large family. He was generous to widows and those in need, serving as a mentor and respected counselor. He loved God and was a spiritual leader in his community. However, everything fell apart in his life. The man who was on top of the world was brought low.

There’s nothing more humbling than suffering. When you lose a loved one, the only thing you can do is grieve. Losing your livelihood strips you of your means and influence. A decline in health often results in a loss of privacy and independence. Pain and suffering bring us to our knees.

Pain and accompanying humility cause us to cry out. This is what Job has been experiencing. He desperately wishes for God to take the witness stand and swear under oath to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me… well, God is God. There is no name higher by which he can swear! God does not take the stand but responds with a profound interrogation of Job.

God has one more set of questions, but he pauses for a response here.

Job 40:1-2
And the Lord said to Job: ² “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

The term translated as “faultfinder” is the Hebrew word yissor. It describes a person who continually rebukes and instructs others, someone who consistently finds fault. This individual embodies a critical spirit, spending most of their time complaining and is rarely, if ever, satisfied.  The Hebrew word rob translates as “contend,” meaning to engage in a struggle, attack, or complain. God’s questioning of Job is penetrating: Job, should someone like you, who constantly finds fault, challenge the Almighty? God states that Job has been arguing and rebuking him, striving for vindication, but now the tables have turned. God says, “He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job would have been happy to answer God until God appeared in a whirlwind. Now, God has been asking Job a series of questions:

• Job, where were you when I created the world? You created nothing. I made everything, yet you still question my person and work?
• Job, I govern the actions of everything in the skies above and the earth below, yet you question my authority? I meticulously oversee the world in perfect harmony, and still, you doubt my ability to guide your life.

Following his encounter with God, Job responds with humility.

Job 40:3-5
Then Job answered the Lord and said: ⁴ “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵ I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Job’s initial challenges to God remained unwavering. He concluded his final appeal by proclaiming, “Oh, that I had one to hear me!” He confidently declared, “Here is my signature!” One might imagine he signed like John Hancock, with bold, prominent letters. He then demanded, “Let the Almighty answer me!” (Job 31:35). Don’t overlook the exclamation marks. But now God has spoken. Job has changed his tune.

The same man who decisively challenged God says, “I am of small account…” Standing before God, he recognizes his impertinence and has no answer. Job reflects that he has spoken freely in the past but now lacks an adequate response and “will proceed no further.” To demonstrate his humility, he places his hand over his mouth.

When Job is silent, he starts to hear God. When he is low, he perceives God in the heights. Job cries out, and now God speaks directly to him. Job appreciates God’s majesty despite the mystery of his circumstances.

An old Puritan prayer says it well:

Let me learn…

               that the way down is the way up,

               that to be low is to be high,

              that the broken heart is the healed heart,

              that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,

              that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,

              that to have nothing is to possess all,

               that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,

               that to give is to receive,

               that the valley is the place of vision.[1]

Job faced God and discovered that the valley was indeed the place of vision.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 40:1-5. Focus on Job’s first response to God. What do you learn about God and Job?

Talking to God
Ask God to allow you to hear his voice clearly in your valley of vision.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

[1] Edited by Arthur Bennet, The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions (The Banner of Truth Trust, 1989), 1.

Generational Theory expert Walt Mueller on the unique characteristics, values, and experiences that define each generation.

Job 38:39–39:30

When someone is sick, we pray for healing. We pray boldly, knowing that the Great Physician can perform miraculous work. We also pray for God’s will to be done. We learn this from Jesus, who prayed while facing the cross, “…Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). So, where is the sweet spot? Where does confidently praying for healing intersect with surrender to God’s will? Does praying “your will be done” indicate a lack of genuine faith? Does unwavering faith suggest that I am in control, not God? These are the questions I discussed with a godly couple facing the harsh effects of cancer. I confessed that I didn’t know where the sweet spot was. So, we prayed together for God to reveal that to us.

Perhaps Job was trying to find the sweet spot as he cried out to God in pain. His devastating situation, combined with the harsh counsel from his friends, led him to demand an audience with God—to put God on the stand for questioning. Yet, God reversed Job’s request and placed his servant on the witness stand, asking over seventy questions. The first set of questions centered on God’s power displayed in creation (Job 38:1-38). The second wave of interrogation echoes this:

Job, can you control my creation? (Job 38:39-39:30)

In this section, God teaches Job a lesson in zoology. He asks Job if he knows how to feed young lions and ravens, and he wonders whether Job would know how to control the timing of mountain goats giving birth. One of the most challenging animals to tame is the wild ox, so God speculates,

Job 39:9-10
“Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger? ¹⁰ Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, or will he harrow the valleys after you?”

The idea is, Job, if you can’t control the ox, why do you think you should be able to control all the events in your life? However, God will provide additional information to reinforce that point.

God raises thought-provoking questions about the horse, wild donkey, hawk, eagle, and ostrich. When it comes to the ostrich, we can summarize God’s point by asking, “Job, do you understand why God created such a peculiar bird?”

Job 39:13-18
The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love? ¹⁴ For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground, ¹⁵ forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them. ¹⁶ She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labor be in vain, yet she has no fear, ¹⁷ because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding. ¹⁸ When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.

God reminds Job that his ways are higher than our ways. Just as there are questions about God’s magnificent creation that we cannot answer, there are also questions in our lives that will remain unanswered. We cannot control the animal kingdom or govern our realm. Not only do we lack strength and power, but we also lack wisdom and knowledge.

Job 40:1-2
And the Lord said to Job: ² “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.

Arguing with God, playing tug-of-war with the Almighty, and wishing for total control over circumstances, people, and events that only God can direct are all losing propositions.

Some of you may wonder why God has covered the dimensions of the earth and zoology in his instructions to Job. That is a valid question. In his excellent book Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance, Charles Swindoll quotes author David Atkinson to provide perspective.

Why, we need to ask, does God spend all this time talking about the skies and stars and the animals? Surely there is a more appropriate topic of conversation for someone who for some weeks has been going through an appalling sense of isolation….

It is as though the Lord God is taking a walk through his creation—a walk through the Garden, perhaps, as the storm becomes still—and is inviting Job to accompany him: Do you see this? Do you recognize this?…

Let me amaze you, says God, by the complexity and intricacy of it all! From the foundation of the earth (38:4), when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God in the heavenly court shouted for joy (38:7)….

Come round with me, Job: see these things; wonder at them; enjoy them. You cannot control them, but they are under my control, says God….[1]

So, where is the sweet spot between praying with bold faith and surrendering to God’s will? I am not sure there is an answer to that, but we have confidence in this: God’s will shall be accomplished! He is in control. He is sovereign over all. And that’s the only place to rest and experience his peace.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 38:39-39:30. Consider God’s points specifying his absolute control over creation. He is, and always will be, sovereign over all.

Talking to God
Ask God to allow you to rest in his sovereign control.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

[1] Charles Swindoll, Job: A Man of Heroic Endurance (Thomas Nelson: 2004), 274.

Job 38

The reformer Martin Luther was born in Eisleben, Germany, to Margaret and Hans Luder—his name as it was locally pronounced. Hans worked in the copper mines and was determined that Martin would become a lawyer. After attending Latin school, Martin was sent to the University of Erfurt at the age of thirteen. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the shortest time allowed by the university. His sharp intellect earned him the nickname “The Philosopher.”

In 1505, twenty-one-year-old Luther found himself caught in a severe thunderstorm. A lightning bolt struck the ground near him as he walked along the road to Erfurt. He screamed, “Help me, St. Anne! I will become a monk!” Luther honored his vow, giving away all his possessions and entering monastic life. During his study of the book of Romans, Luther began to understand that salvation was a gift of God’s grace, not something earned through works. He said, “Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open.” In 1521, Luther took a bold stand against the Catholic Church and initiated the Protestant Reformation.[1]

It’s incredible to think that the Reformation began with a thunderstorm and a crash of lightning. Job’s reformation started in a similar manner!

In Job 38, God entered the scene in a mighty windstorm and addressed his servant, Job. God put Job on the witness stand and began a barrage of seventy questions. Can you imagine facing such an examination? These questions fall into three main categories, reminding Job of who was, is, and always will be the sovereign Creator. He is writing our story…even in the unanswered questions of our suffering.  God probes:

• Can you explain my creation? (Job 38:1-38)
• Can you control my creation? (Job 38:39-39:30)
• Can you conquer my creation? (Job 40:6-41:34)

Let’s start with the first question: Job, can you explain my creation?

Job 38:4-7
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. ⁵ Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? ⁶ On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, ⁷ when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

God compares his creation of the earth to building a structure. He asked, “Job, who decided how large the earth should be? Was it you? Did you stand there with a tape measure to ensure everything was accurately measured? Job, do you recall the beautiful song the angels sang when the work was complete? Oh, you weren’t there? Then how do you know so much about the way I operate?”

If you expect God to approach Job gently, you may be disappointed. When God highlights a point, he does not hold back.

Job 38:8-11
Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, ⁹ when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, ¹⁰ and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, ¹¹ and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

In the remainder of Job 38, God poses fifteen additional questions to emphasize his point. Here are a few.

Job 38:16
Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?

Job 38:22-23
Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, ²³ which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

Job 38:34-36
Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you? ³⁵ Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’? ³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?

God’s words are filled with irony, and his questions are rhetorical. Job has neither cursed God nor will he do so, contrary to Satan’s prediction. However, Job’s pain led him to put God on trial. His heart became filled with pride, even as it was burdened by pain. God does not answer Job’s questions. Instead, by questioning him, he compels Job to set aside his pride.

I understand this is a difficult truth about suffering. However, let’s think this through. Even in our suffering, we can feel a sense of pride, and I have certainly been guilty of that. My questions to God have sometimes aimed at pushing him off his throne so I could take his place and rule my world. Can I speak frankly? Sometimes, I don’t believe God is doing a good job. He doesn’t meet my expectations, doesn’t act as I deem best, and takes me in a direction with which I disagree. And I make my feelings known. I allow my hurt and pain to evolve into self-righteousness. It’s one thing to call out to God for help. It’s another to cry out because I want to control and run the world according to my desires. Oh, but I wasn’t present when he created the world, so how could I possibly know how to run it?

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 38. Focus on God’s questions and how he addresses Job’s pride.

Talking to God
Ask God to deal with any pride that has built up in your pain.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.

[1] Editors of Christian History Magazine, 131 Christians Everyone Should Know (Holman Reference, 2000), 33-34.

Job 38

Sometimes, God whispers. Elijah called it God’s “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 KJV). Sometimes, God shouts. Moses experienced lightning and thunder (Ex. 19:16-19).  The prophet Nahum said God’s presence was like a storm (Nahum 1:3). In Job, God comes in a “whirlwind.”

Elihu’s last words were barely out of his mouth when God spoke directly to Job.

Job 38:1
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind….

The term translated as “whirlwind” is the Hebrew word searah. It refers to a strong, potentially destructive wind. In 2 Kings 2:11, this term describes the wind that took Elijah into heaven. Psalm 107:25 uses it to depict powerful winds that produced great waves in the sea. Isaiah told the people of Jerusalem, “You will be visited by the LORD of hosts with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, with whirlwind and tempest…” (Isa. 29:6). Describing the glory of the Lord, Ezekiel stated, “A stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing continually…” (Eze. 1:4). When God shows up, no one can doubt his presence!

Despite the powerful winds and deafening sounds, do not overlook a more significant point: “The LORD answered Job.” “LORD” translates to the Hebrew word Yahweh, referring to the personal God who enters into a covenant relationship with us. God did not distance himself while Job suffered; he did not cover his ears when Job cried out. God never abandoned Job in his pain, hearing every word, every cry, every accusation, and every plea to appear on the witness stand so that Job could question him. Now, the personal God engages in an intimate conversation with his servant. Recall how God introduced Job: “…there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns from evil” (Job 1:8). God holds the same view of Job in chapter 38 as he expressed in chapter 1.

Since chapter 1, much has happened. Satan did everything he could to destroy Job’s faith, aiming to break him to the point of cursing God to his face (Job 1:11). As Job endured mental, emotional, and physical suffering, his friends tried to impose their version of prosperity theology on him, insisting he must acknowledge the grave sin they believed was present. However, Job redirected the conversation towards God. In his pain, he cried out as anyone would. He sought direct interaction with God, and his request was granted. God comes— but he arrives on his terms, not Job’s.

God did not emerge from the whirlwind to passively take the stand and let Job challenge him with questions written on his legal notepad. Instead, God has questions for Job!

Job 38:2-3
Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ³ Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

The phrase “darkens counsel” indicates making something difficult to comprehend. Job’s words confused rather than clarified the issue. Because of his suffering, Job’s perspective was limited. Elihu observed that Job’s remarks lacked insight (Job 34:35) and noted he “opens his mouth in empty talk” (Job 35:16). In this context, God agreed with Elihu.

Next, God communicates with Job that he has no intention of taking the witness stand. In Job 31:35, Job said, “Let the Almighty answer me!” But God responds, “No…that’s not going to happen.”  Now, Job will answer the Almighty and must prepare for the encounter. God told Job, “Dress for action like a man.” The NIV translates this phrase as, “Brace yourself like a man.” The Hebrew text states, “Gird up your loins like a strong man.” In Job’s time, men wore outer robe-like garments and sash belts. When a soldier prepared for battle or a man readied himself for strenuous work, the outer garment was tucked into the belt to allow freedom of movement. God is instructing Job to prepare for serious action. He must be free and unencumbered to hear what God says.

Next time, we’ll begin with a series of questions God presents to Job. But let’s pause here for a few thoughts.

Sometimes, God comes as a loving Father. He embraces us and reminds us of his unconditional love. At other times, God takes on the role of a tender shepherd, holding us in his arms and calming our fears. Sometimes, we are the recipients of his grace and forgiveness. We resemble the prodigal son, whose father eagerly and patiently awaited his child’s return. Our gracious heavenly Father stands with open arms to welcome us home.

I readily admit that if I had authored the book of Job, this would be the part of the story where I would have written about the tender shepherd. God would have wrapped Job in a consuming embrace, delivering immediate healing and comfort. But I didn’t write the story. I’m not even writing my own story. God is writing his story in me!

While Job never rejected God, he became accusatory. He demanded that God explain himself, but God makes it clear that his ways are higher than ours. We can’t grasp the depth of his thoughts and actions. Thus, he addresses Job as a tough coach would: with love, yet the confrontation is hard-hitting. This reminds me of God meeting with Joshua and telling him to “Get up!” Joshua was instructed to stop mourning and confront the blatant sin that caused Israel’s downfall (Joshua 7). I recall Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13). God’s words to Job are not harsh; they are profoundly instructive. Our pain can sometimes harden us, so God breaks through.

Dare I say this to someone who is hurting? Perhaps your pain is holding you back. Hurt from the past breeds bitterness. Your struggles distance your heart from God. I am not referring to those who question God—like a dear couple I spoke with recently, who both acknowledged that a cancer diagnosis has drawn them closer to God, even amidst their questions. I am addressing those who have allowed their pain to define both themselves and their relationship with God. Perhaps today is the day to “dress for action,” “brace yourself,” rise from the ground, and act like strong men and women. Today is the day to get up and move forward with God’s help and strength.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 38. Take the time to read, re-read, and contemplate the first two verses of this chapter. What is God teaching you through his initial interaction with Job?

Talking to God
Ask God to help you move forward…even in your pain.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.