Lesson
7
Scripture:
Job
38:1 – 42:6
Main Idea: The
Lord speaks
To me this is the best section
of the whole book of Job. Though it may not be to others, it is the response of
God to the whole scenario that has played out so far. Let’s recap for a moment.
After the introduction where we are presented with the test of Job, we follow
along as Job goes through his difficulties. His wealth is taken from him and he
loses all of his children. Then if that were not enough, God allows Satan to
hurt him with painful sores all over his body. We have followed his lamenting
about his loss and his continual arguing about his innocence. I like the word
lamenting. Do you know what it means? Simply, it means to whine. Then we
followed his three friends who felt they had all the answers and they let Job
know that they were upset with him. It
could only have been some great sin that Job committed or the sin of one of his
ancestors that has caused this great tragedy. But through it all, Job still
proclaims his innocence. And then we are presented with Elihu, a young man who
claims to know even more than his three friends. And he had the audacity to
speak for God. But through it all, Job’s
primary question has been why? Why has this happened to me? Throughout our
lives we encounter situations and crisis that happen to ourselves or others and
almost always the why question occurs. And for most of us, we find it difficult
to answer the question, just as his three friends and Elihu had trouble doing.
They found answers by dealing with the problem in black and white terms. In
other words, there must be an obvious answer to this problem. Someone obviously has done something wrong
or else the situation would never have happened in the first place.
Unfortunately, that is the answer that most people will respond with. Someone
must have sinned. Someone must have done something to cause this. God had a
plan and it is just part of the plan. Aren’t those the answers you are used to
hearing? So what we expect from God is some sort of answer that tells us of
justice, of sin or of punishment. But that is not what we hear. Rather, God
begins to describe what God can do.
First
God demands of Job to stand up like a man and listen to him. And
then God wants Job to answer him when he asks each question. The first question
concerns creation. I love the words, “Where were you when I laid the foundation
of the earth?” Then he almost taunts him, “surely you know”. And then were you
when the seas opened their doors and spilled onto the earth. Could you have
controlled such a thing? Could you control the morning and cause the earth to
know dawn from dusk? And a deep question for all of us. Do we know the gates of
death or is there any among us who have explored Hell itself, called here the
great darkness. Do we have the ability to define where the earth stops and
heaven and hell begin? These are not scientific questions per se, but have
relevance as we explore the universe. And then he taunts again. Surely you were
born when all of this was created, God says, and your age is old enough to
remember, isn’t it?
God
then asks, “Is it possible that we can understand the seasons? I looked up what
the term “Mazzaroth” means and found a great many answers but an apparent lack
of agreement on the meaning. That is to say, most seem to think that Mazzaroth
refers to the entire Zodiac. Some even go so far as to suggest that God gave
Adam the key to understanding the grand plan when everything would come full
circle. Interestingly enough, astrologers of ancient times certainly seemed to
have more understanding of world events as prophesized by zodiac activity than
we do today. Some would suggest that as we leave the age of Pisces the fish and
enter into Aquarius that the zodiac symbols suggest the beginning of the end,
or the end of the beginning.
God
challenges Job and ultimately us with this speech. Do we have the power to
control the weather, the stars, or the oceans? Do we in fact have the power to
create the animals or the fish or birth itself? And the answer is a resounding
no. Can we learn on limited basis to control wild animals? You might ask the
two lion tamers, one who is permanently disfigured as a result of one those
tame lions lashing out. Scientists have a great many theories about how species
evolved and how many of our animals became to look like they do. But have they
authoritative proof? And the answer depends on who you are speaking to. What do
you say? In the 40th chapter, God then turns to Job and asks him, do
we have the understanding and the wisdom to understand God? Notice, that God
does not say, “Do you have the right to ask why.” Rather, his whole argument is based on our ability to understand the
power and glory and creation of the world by God. And Job astutely answers
him with humbleness.
God is not done. In
chapter 40, verse 6 he begins again. Job, stand up like a man and I will
question you and you will answer me. It almost seems at this point that God is
answering the response of Job concerning God as an enemy. Or that God might
have been unjust in Job’s misfortune. God uses two mythical creatures in this
argument. The first is the Behemoth. Was this a
real creature? Some say yes, a great ox, like that of an elephant or a
hippopotamus or even a dinosaur. And legend has it that only God could kill it.
And then God begins to discuss the Leviathan. IN ancient mythology the Behemoth and Leviathan were created at the
same time, one male and one female, one land dwelling and one sea dwelling.
And these ancient stories suggest that they will fight at the end of the world,
both perishing in that battle. Others suggest something that I find quite
interesting. IN the language of Job, Leviathan is described this way. It is a
dangerous animal with teeth that cause terror, a mouth that spouts flame and a
heart as hard as stone. When it raises itself the Gods are afraid, maybe in
this describing an early understanding of angels. Is God describing Jesus arch
enemy, Satan? Descriptions of Satan certainly fit this descriptiveness of
Leviathan. And verse 10 has been translated by at least one commentator as the
one who dared stand before me in heaven. Is this God reaching back to the
original discussion before the test began? What do you think? Hear the last
words, “It surveys everything that is lofty; it is king over all that are
proud.” This certainly describes ego, humanity at its worst and possibly Satan.
And
then Job answers by repenting. What is it that Job is repenting for? Now that
we have heard God speaking, what do we make of his speech? What is he saying to
us?
Questions
Read
Job chapter 38:1 – chapter 41:6
Answer the following questions in discussion group:
1.
What
challenge does God give Job?
2.
What
was Job’s original question?
3.
Does
God answer that original question?
4.
What
is God’s point in his speech to Job?
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