Job 40-42:6

Read Job 40 - 42: 6

Verses chosen for meditation: Job 42:5,6 ESV:

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

Reflect

To what lengths did God go to bring Job to this point? Was he successful?

How did Job resolve all his confusion, doubt, anger, loneliness and despair? 

They say nothing beats seeing it with your own eyes. Who else might have had the experience of 'seeing God' besides Job?

What about yourself? Do you have a similar experience or perhaps, an experience that is different?

What can you further learn about God? And about suffering?

Relate

In this story, we see God going to great lengths to bring Job to the place of true surrender where he finds out about the God whom he acknowledges.

Though this whole scheme was not God's idea to start with, it is still consistent with the discipline of God. He disciplines those whom he loves. (Hebrews 11: 6) 

God has a far greater idea than the one who is testing Job. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed Job to be put through the whole nine yards of misery just to prove a point. That is certainly not in keeping with his character. 

Furthermore, discipline is not a bad word. It does not always mean punishment. In fact, it may have nothing to do with punishment whatsoever.

Discipline, in the hands of God, is intended for our good. That is why he disciplines only those whom he loves. Abraham was disciplined. So were Joseph, David, Peter, Paul and even Christ if Calvary could be considered as a form of discipline. There were many others as well. They were all people whom he loved.

During one of my study sessions, I mentioned to the group that the person who practices 'tough love' is God. Here is an excellent example of tough love. I'm fully aware that not everyone responds well to tough love as it is oftentimes misunderstood since it conveys a direct opposite message. But to those who take it well, they emerge stronger. Just as I was trained under tough love during my undergraduate ministry days. Looking back, I am glad for the training.

For all his misgivings, Job took it well too. As a result, he emerged a better man at the end. He took it much better when God finally broke his silence. It was not to explain the situation, but to remind Job of his ultimate sovereignty in the whole matter.

Most times, all we need is the assurance of God's presence. When he doesn't speak, we feel lost. The timely reminder of his sovereignty usually does the job as it tells us that he is still very much in control. In order for us to experience the full weight of it, we need to be humbled by the revelation. There's no playing victim here, only the creature that we are meant to be. Like worship, it puts us in our right place. And from there, things can only look north.

Though Job did no wrong, it was still repentance on his part. “In what way?” you may ask. For one, he made a confession. His whole attitude and posture resembled that of repentance. In Romans 2: 4, it says that God's goodness leads to repentance. Job somehow could feel the goodness of God, which led eventually to his confession and repentance.

It is said that repentance requires a view of God that will evoke in us a deep sense of remorse for our own sins and failings. For no one can be in the presence of God, or regard the Almighty as speaking to him or her, without confessing, ' Lo, I am vile.' There is nothing so much fitted to produce such a response as having a high view of God. A truly penitent person is also disposed to use only a few words, like in this case: 'Therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.'

Last but not least, repentance consists in stopping where we are, resolving not to go any further with our foolish ways or thoughts, and being willing to retract our errors and confess that we were wrong.

I have not seen God, but I had felt his nearness. Feeling downcast after a failure, I was suddenly led to give him my highest worship many decades ago. That's when I knew that I was in the presence of God. My whole perspective changed. And I cried quietly. For I couldn’t contain the thought.

Whatever it is, God is not someone to be outdone. For no one can outdo him. His thoughts and ways are simply higher than anyone else.

A few years ago, my mum told me something percipient about suffering, which I will not forget: It's okay to suffer. But let's not suffer in vain.

Job did not suffer in vain because God was in it. The God who cannot be outdone. 

Rest

Lord, we thank you for the trials that come our way. In that way, we can grow stronger in you. We can grow closer to you. We can grow to know you more. It may even seem as though we have seen you. Or perhaps, we really do. 

Naville Chia