Who Do You Say? Reading With the People of God #19Sample

May We Be Like Job

After reading the book of Job, I am shy about commenting on it, lest I be like Job’s three friends, of whom God said, “You have not spoken of Me what is right (Job 42:8 ESV),” or like Job, whom God answers, ”Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge (Job 38:2 ESV) ?” But, God wants us to ask hard questions.

The book of Job is basically 42 chapters of asking God, ”Why does God let the righteous suffer?” Along with Rev 19, it demonstrates that “the secret things belong to the Lord our God (Deut 29:29 NIV).” In Rev 19, we see the final display of God’s righteousness and power as the army of God defeats the power of darkness as “He who sits on it is called Faithful and True (Rev 19:11 ESV).”

But, Job is not privy to this final chapter in the history of mankind. It’s likely his knowledge of history precedes even the story of Abraham. Yet, God calls him “blameless, and upright, one who feared God, and turned away from evil”(Job 1:1).” With very few examples, Job has managed to be such a faithful servant of God that God boasts about him to Satan, like a father bragging about his son. Job listens to about 40 chapters of answers about his pain, finally receiving God’s reply, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways (Is 55:8-9 NIV).”

May we be like Job, considered blameless because he trusted and believed in God, despite his questions about the things God did.

Primer contributed by Donna Beardsley