Thoughts About Job

Job 38:1-7, (34-41)

The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:

"Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone

when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?

[“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of waters may cover you?

Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’?

Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or given understanding to the mind?

Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,

when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together?

“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

when they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in their covert?

Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?”]

The book of Job it is about a man who experienced bad things at no fault of his own.  He is an example of bad things happening to good people.

Job is a man of wealth.  He has seven sons

                                                Three daughters

                                                7000 sheep

                                                3000 camels

                                                500 yokes of oxen

                                                500 donkeys

                                                Many servants

The book of Job begins with God talking to the angels and Satan arrives.  God and Satan begin to talk about Job.  Satan wants to prove that Job only praises God because he has a figurative hedge around him. God agrees to put all that Job has in Satan’s hand, but he must not touch Job’s body.  Satan goes right to work killing his children, thieves taking his livestock, all his riches are gone within a day. Job tore his robe and praised God.

He is visited by three well-meaning friends who believe these things have occurred because of a sin that Job has committed. The friends are Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. They show signs of their grief by throwing dust in the air and tearing their robes. They sit with Job for a week in silence. Job begins to speak after the seven days of silence.  Throughout this discourse from chapters 3 to 37, Job wishes to have an opportunity to talk to God and prove his innocence. He would like a day in court, an opportunity to express his innocence. Each time Job speaks, his friends answer him more harshly stating that he should confess his sin. When Job, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar stop talking, then Elihu begins to speak. Elihu is a younger man; he uses his speeches to remind them that God is just. God speaks to Job starting in chapter 38.

Job wanted to an opportunity to speak with God and plead his case, but he was met with many questions that he could never answer.

God took control of Job’s series of request and began asking him questions that he could never possibly answer. 

Earth’s foundation – measurements, lines, base, and cornerstone.

The sea - boundaries

Wisdom

Lions

Lions young

Raven

After God has corrected the behavior of Job, God expresses his feelings about Job’s friend, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. God requires a sacrifice from them.  This story reminds us that bad things happen to good people in the same way as the guilty.  It is our responsibility to continue our faith in God and realize the suffering will end.

Heavenly Father, teach us to maintain our faith in you during all times.  Turn our hearts and mind back to you in every situation.  In Jesus name, Amen.