Job’s Reply   (42:1-6)

42:1-6
Job was finally brought to the end of himself. Humbly, he submitted himself to God. Job began his confession by acknowledging the sovereignty of God (42:1-2). He recognized that no one or no thing could thwart the plans of God. God is absolutely sovereign. Job also acknowledged the inscrutability of God’s ways (42:3 and see also Romans 11:33-34).

Job admitted that he had presumptuously spoken about things he did not understand. Job acknowledged that his own wisdom and insight was woefully inadequate. He demonstrated a teachable spirit (42:4).

Someone has said that suffering makes students of us all. Charles Spurgeon said, “The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is the knowledge of our own ignorance.”

Job expressed that he now had a keener awareness of God (42:5). Finally, Job repented of his presumptuous words and attitude toward God (42:6). Job was broken. Satan had lost. God was glorified. The storm had passed.

Epilogue

42:7-9
God addressed Job’s three friends and expressed his displeasure over their misrepresentation of Him. They had misrepresented God by limiting His sovereignty, by claiming to know why Job was suffering, and by thinking that they knew exactly why and how God does what He does. They had reduced God to a formula and a cliché. God ordered them to offer a blood sacrifice for their sin. Job was to pray for and forgive his friends. Job’s three friends swallowed their pride and did exactly what God told them to do.

42:10-17
After Job prayed for his friends and forgave them, God restored his fortunes. Once again, loved ones surrounded Job. Job’s loved ones gave him gifts of silver and gold, tangible expressions of their support. And God restored Job’s fortunes two-fold. In addition, God gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. Job even included his three beautiful daughters in the family inheritance. And finally, God restored Job’s future. He lived an additional 140 years.

Jehovah’s First Words from the Whirlwind   (40:6 – 41:34) — continued

41:1-34
God asked Job if he could go fishing and catch a giant crocodile (41:1-2). And, if Job could catch a crocodile, what could he do with it? He certainly could not make the crocodile pray to him. The crocodile has mighty limbs, fierce teeth, strong jaws, and a hard covering (41:12-17). The crocodile is a powerful animal. When he churns up the river and blows out water he resembles a fire-breathing dragon (41:18-24). The crocodile is fearless. Man’s weapons do not intimidate him. He can handle any enemy on land or water. If Job cannot bring the mighty crocodile under his power, how can he be so presumptuous as to question the crocodile’s Creator?

This concludes God’s interrogation of Job. God’s interrogation served to teach Job some important lessons about the might and sovereignty of God. Job, who earlier couldn’t wait to argue his case before God, was speechless. He was totally awe-struck before God. He came to the realization that God was greater than he had ever imagined.

Jehovah’s First Words from the Whirlwind   (38:1 – 40:2) — continued

40:1-2
God called upon Job to present his case (40:1-2). He called upon Job to answer His questions.

Job’s Reply   (40:3-5)

40:3-5
Job responded by saying that he could not answer God (40:3-5). In fact, Job acknowledged that he just seemed to be getting himself into deeper weeds with every passing word. It would be better to remain silent than to try to contend with God.

Jehovah’s Final Words from the Whirlwind   (40:6 – 41:34)

40:6-14
God again challenged Job to gird up his loins and prepare for another round (40:6). God wanted for Job to face up to his guilt in questioning His love and justice in order to justify himself. Job’s friends had misjudged him on the basis of appearances. Job was guilty of the same thing in regard to God. He misjudged God on the basis of appearances.

God, therefore, asked Job to instruct Him and to try to condemn Him (40:7-8). God, in essence, invited Job to try to do a better Job than Him of running the universe (40:9-14). He invited Job to deal with some of the kinds of problems He must deal with like humbling the proud. If Job could successfully do those things then God would concede to Job’s criticism of Him.

40:15-24
God accentuated His point by calling Job’s attention to the hippopotamus. The hippopotamus is one of the most powerful of all creatures. He eats at leisure and is not intimidated by a raging river. God asked Job if he could go fishing and reel in the mighty hippopotamus. If Job could not capture and control a hippopotamus, he certainly could not control the Creator of that hippopotamus.

Jehovah’s First Words from the Whirlwind   (38:1 – 40:2) — continued

39:1-30
As God continued to question Job He asked Job what he knew about the obstetrical care of animals (39:1-4). Job did not understand the gestation periods of animals or how animals know when to send off their young. If Job was ignorant of such things how could he possibly understand the season of pain through which God was bringing him? God would deliver Job in due time just as certainly as animals give birth to their young at the end of their gestation periods.

Again, God asked Job what he knew about the ways of the wild donkey (39:5-8). Job, perhaps feeling a little like a donkey himself, had no answer. God asked Job is he understood why a wild ox cannot be tamed (39:9-12). If Job cannot control an ox, he certainly cannot control God. Once again, Job, perhaps feeling as dumb as an ox, had no answer.

God asked Job if he understood why an ostrich can lay an egg and forget its location (39:13-18). If Job cannot understand why such a funny looking bird does such strange things, how can he possibly hope to understand everything that God does?

God asked Job if he knew why the horse was so courageous and willing to gallop into battle (39:19-25). He asked Job if he understood the way of the hawk in the air (39:26).

God asked Job where the eagle got its understanding to build its nest on the rocky crags and its keen eyesight to find food (39:27-30). Again, Job, perhaps feeling a little like a turkey, had no answer. Job was unable to answer a single one of God’s questions.

Jehovah’s First Words from the Whirlwind   (38:1 – 40:2)

38:1-18
Job had repeatedly expressed his wish that he might have an audience before God, an opportunity to plead his case (see Job 13:15, 18, 22; 23:3-7; 31:35). At long last, Job’s wish was fulfilled. God broke His silence and spoke directly and audibly to Job from the midst of a whirlwind (38:1-3).

God’s speech to Job is the longest conversation in the Bible in which God speaks. But rather than God taking the witness stand to be examined and questioned by Job, Job takes the stand and is examined by God (God asked Job over 70 questions).

Interestingly, God did not address any of Job’s questions or concerns about God’s fairness. Neither did God reveal to Job what took place between Himself and Satan at the beginning of the book. Instead, God asked Job a series of questions concerning the created order.

God asked Job to tell him where he was when the earth was created (38:4-7) and the oceans were birthed (38:8-11). God had no recollection of Job being present when He created the world. God asked Job if he had ever commanded the sun to shine in the morning (38:12-15). God asked Job if he had ever explored the subterranean springs far below the surface of the earth (38:16-17).

The implication is clear: “Job, you were not present at creation, nor do you understand how the oceans and rivers and lakes were assigned their place, nor have you ever commanded the sun to rise and run its course, nor have you searched out the springs that are below the ocean floor. How then, can you possibly understand the greater workings of My moral order? How can I explain to you why I have allowed this time of suffering in your life? If you cannot understand the lesser things, how can you understand the greater?”

38:19-41
God continued to question Job by asking him if he knew where the sun went at night and where the darkness went during the day (38:19-20). “Surely you can tell Me, Job,” said God, “after all, weren’t you around when light was called into being?” (38:21). Job was certainly in the dark about that question!

God asked Job if he knew where the snow, hail, lightning, and wind were stored (38:22-24). He asked Job if he could tell the rain where to pour and the lightning where to strike (38:25-30). God asked Job if he could control the course of the stars and planets (38:31-33). The obvious answer was no, only God can control the movements of celestial bodies. If then, God can control the course of planets, He can certainly be trusted to control the course of our lives.

God asked Job if he could command the clouds to deposit the rain or instruct the lightning concerning where to strike (38:34-38). Again, the obvious answer was no. Those are things that only God can do.

So far, Job had been unable to answer any of God’s questions. But God was not through. God continued by asking Job if he could feed the animals of the earth when there was no food available (38:39-41). God said that He was able to care for the animals and provide for their needs. Certainly, then, God could be trusted to care for man. Job did not answer!

God’s questions exposed the inadequacy of human wisdom.

Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24) — continued

37:1-13
Elihu graphically described the wondrous workings of God in nature. God sends storms so great that they cause both man and beast to scurry for shelter. God sends both snow and rain. God’s acts in nature are awe-inspiring. Man is helpless in the face of such storms.

37:14-24
Elihu asserted that God displays perfect wisdom in His management of the weather. No man can know, understand, or explain how God does such wondrous things. Therefore, men should fear Him and trust Him to do what is right.

Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24) — continued

36:1-4
In his fourth and final speech, Elihu contended that God is powerful and in control, in spite of anything indicating otherwise. Elihu told Job that he knew what he was talking about.

36:5-15
Elihu declared that God is righteous and mighty. He is personally concerned for mankind, judges the wicked, helps the oppressed, and exalts the righteous (36:5-7). God uses His power to help the righteous and punish the wicked. Those in affliction who are unrepentant will die whereas those who repent will live (36:8-12). Elihu said that the ungodly do not cry out to God for help when they feel the chastening of God. Instead they die like young and incorrigible degenerates (36:13-15).

36:16-21
Elihu strongly cautioned Job to stop complaining lest by doing so he sin against God. He told Job to be careful lest he speak presumptuously against God.

36:22-33
Elihu reminded Job that no man is in a position to reprove or instruct God concerning His actions (36:22-26). Who can question the way in which God runs the universe? He manages it with skill beyond our comprehension as evidenced by the cycle of precipitation. These wondrous works in nature testify to the greatness and power of God. Elihu’s point was that God is in control of nature and everything in the universe. God is sovereign and powerful. God reigns from the throne of heaven. God is not powerless.

Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24) — Continued

35:1-8
Elihu began his third speech by, once again, quoting Job’s own words. To his credit, Elihu listened more carefully to Job than did the others. He restated Job’s words that it appears there is no reward for living righteously (35:1-3). Elihu addressed Job and his friends by reminding them that God is higher than man (35:4-5). Our actions, whether sinful or righteous, do not change who God is, although it affects our fellow human beings (35:6-8).

35:9-16
Elihu declared that God is with us when we suffer. He will never leave us. His presence gives us “songs in the night” (35:10). He cares. He is worthy of praise for His presence and for giving us an intelligence that sets us apart from mere animals (35:11). God, said Elihu, does not answer the prayers of the proud (35:12-13). Elihu said that Job did not make sense when he, on the one hand, claimed to lay his case before God and then, on the other hand, suggested that God was not concerned about matters of injustice and wickedness. Elihu told Job to be patient and wait upon God (35:14-16).

Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24) — continued

34:1-9
In his second speech, Elihu rebutted Job’s claim that God is not fair. He invited Job and his friends to listen to his words. Elihu again quoted Job’s words (34:5-9) in which Job declared that he was innocent and was suffering unjustly. Job questioned why one should serve God if suffering is the reward.

34:10-15
Elihu told his listeners that God is always just and always acts according to His nature. God “will not pervert justice” (34:12). He will judge the wicked. There will be a payday someday. In addition, God is sovereign and beyond accountability to anyone (34:13). He answers to no one. In addition, Job had wondered, “Where is God?” Elihu answered by reminding Job that God is here! If God were to withdraw Himself from our lives we would immediately perish (34:14-15).

34:16-20
Elihu declared that no man is in a position to criticize God in the matter of how He enforces judgment. God rules the universe impartially. He looks upon no man with partiality. God does not play favorites. Any man, regardless of his station in life, can be quickly judged and removed from the earth.

34:21-30
Elihu praised God as the omniscient Judge of the universe. God sees everything that men do in the light as well as the darkness. No man can dupe God in the way human judges can be duped. He is capable and qualified to judge men on the basis of what he sees and knows. No man can escape God’s searching gaze and the accountability that he requires of all men. Injustice and wickedness will never enjoy any lasting triumph.

34:31-37
Elihu told Job that while he could ask God why he was suffering, he was wrong in demanding that God give him an explanation. God, said Elihu, is not accountable to us. Elihu concluded his second speech by quoting Job’s friends (34:34-37) who felt that Job ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24) — continued

33:1-7
Elihu politely asked Job to listen to him. He promised to speak honestly and sincerely. Elihu told Job, and his critics, that he made no pretense at being anything other than a fellow human being made by God.

33:8-18
Elihu began by telling Job that he had listened to every word he had said. In fact, Elihu quoted some of Job’s words back to him (33:9-11). Job’s words asserted his innocence and accused God of treating him like an enemy. Elihu told Job, “You’re wrong. God is greater than man. So stop complaining.” Job had said that God would not speak to him. Elihu said that the problem was that Job was not listening. Elihu pointed out three ways in which God speaks to men. First, God speaks to men through dreams, often speaking a word of warning that will keep a man from destruction.

33:19-22
Second, God speaks to men through pain. C.S. Lewis wrote, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” God can certainly get our attention through pain. It can serve as an incentive to evaluate our values and priorities and make certain that they are properly ordered.

33:23-33
Third, God speaks to men through others. Elihu said that God speaks to men through angels, either a heavenly being or a human messenger who represents God to man. Elihu saw himself as just such a messenger to Job. He told Job to listen up! God had been speaking to Job through his suffering. And so, Elihu told Job that God is not silent. If we are to have a right view of God we must understand that God is not silent.