Job 40:1-5; 42:1-6, Dealing with Bitterness (2)

How can Job come to grips with this overwhelming thought that God is sovereign in his life?  We often like to remind ourselves, “God is on the throne!”  That is a true and important statement; but sometimes I wonder if we actually believe it.  Let’s consider a few thoughts to help us to come to trust God.

First, the Bible is clear that God is always at work is us, in every situation (Phil. 2:13).  In the case of Job, he needed to understand that God was truly at work.  And the work He was doing went beyond Job’s afflictions.  God was bringing glory to Himself through Job, and through allowing Satan access to Job’s life.  Job was not taking into account the entire picture.

Second, this idea that God was behind all Job’s afflictions is not a truth acceptable by the carnal mind.  By carnal I mean the mind that thinks totally in the flesh, totally within the confines of personal experience.  Read Romans 9:19-21 for some Biblical, spiritual and heavenly perspective on this.  The carnal person wonders why God would hold Job accountable for questioning God if, in fact, it’s all God’s doing.  But as Paul asks, “Does not the potter have power over the clay?”  In the end, Job is able to understand and accept this reality because he is a man of faith.

Third, we want to issue a caution.  Sometimes we try to get away from this difficult truth about God by laying it all on His “permissive” will.  God permitted Satan to do what he did so it’s all Satan’s fault.  But to say God permitted Satan is still to recognize that God is supreme in all things.

The previous paragraph leads to another caution.  Every “being” involved in this story bears the responsibility for his/His actions.  In Ch. 42 Job repented (v1-6) and the three friends had to offer sacrifices to appease God’s wrath against them (v7-9).

Here are two points of application that can keep us from bitterness against the LORD.  First, a primary goal in times of affliction is to affirm the righteousness of God.  When Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, this was a grievous trial for God’s people.  As the city burned Jeremiah, in Lamentations, affirmed that this was God’s doing and that God was righteous (Lam. 1:17-18).  At the end of the 70 years captivity Daniel again affirmed God’s righteousness (Dan. 9:7).  When Nehemiah wanted God’s help in rebuilding the city, he also affirmed God’s righteousness and Israel’s sinfulness (Neh. 1:6-7).  Even before, especially before God brings relief, we need to affirm that what He is doing is righteous because He is always righteous.

The second important application is to follow the encouragement often given in Scripture: “Wait on the LORD!”  Ps. 27:14; 37:9,34; Isa. 8:17; 40:31 are a few.  Read these and meditate on them.  Job had a hard time waiting; but when Job 42:1 came, he was fully at rest in the LORD.