Chasing Truth™: Read the Bible Cover to Coverနမူနာ

His Ways are Higher

Job 42:10

Job’s friends and family members had avoided him, deserted him, or tried to correct him. Job’s three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, engage in a conversation that spans all but the first chapter of the Book of Job. Their corrective tone and judgmental words did nothing to heal the wounds that occupied Job’s soul. Job struggled to understand why he was suffering so. He cried out to God, questioned God, begged God for mercy, and wept. 

His friends wanted to make sense of his situation almost as much as he did. They failed when they thought they had the insight and wisdom to explain Job’s horrific circumstances of loss and suffering. Their words did nothing to alleviate his pain and did much to actually cause him greater grief.

When God finally stepped into the conversation, He corrected Job but didn’t answer his “why“ questions. Instead, God asked Job dozens of questions which reveal that God’s ways are higher. He also offered examples of His magnitude, infinite power, and glory. Sometimes that’s the only answer we receive this side of heaven. God is infinitely greater than our minds can know, and His ways are higher than what our minds can grasp. He is a good, good Father, loving and perfect in all of His ways. 

The Lord was very displeased with Job’s three friends, declaring that they had not spoken correctly about God. He told them that when Job prayed for them, He would accept his prayer and forgive them and not deal with them as they deserved. Job graciously prayed, and God forgave them, rewarding Job for his faithfulness. 

Let’s refuse to be like Job’s three friends, offering shallow, human-based explanations for those who are suffering. Let’s trust in the Lord no matter what, leaning into His character and love. We can never go wrong when we keep our trust in Him.