Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 163: Job's Reward

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read the final chapters of Job: Job 40-42.

Job 40:12 - Then the LORD said to Job, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.

This is a challenge. But, of course, God already knows how Job will respond. And Job does not disappoint.

Job 40:3-5 - Then Job answered the LORD and said, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more."

Job has already questioned why these things happened to him. Job has already spoken about his grievances. And yet, nothing he said was untrue of God.

God speaks to Job a while longer, reminding him of His power, and how little people understand in comparison to Him.

Job confesses God's power, and his knowledge.

Job 42:1-3 - Then Job answered the LORD and said, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

All the while, the only untrue thing Job has said is to suggest that God was not paying attention to his troubles. Still, it wasn't a direct lie, intended to mislead. Rather, it was how Job felt at the time.

Now, when questioned by God, Job repents, admitting that he does not fully understand all that God does.

God forgives Job, and is pleased that he passed the test, not cursing God or failing in his righteousness.

After his trials, God blesses Job with double what he had before. Job really passed that test. And passed it well.

Job's friends, on the other hand, are in big trouble.

Job 42:7 - It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has."

He then commands them to make sacrifices and repent, and to do so in Job's presence so that Job can intercede for them, because he alone had spoken what was correct about God.

No matter how much Job cried out, or begged to understand why these disasters were befalling him, he never spoke something untrue about God. And God was pleased.

Meanwhile, Job's friends continually spoke incorrectly about God in an attempt to make Job repent of sins that he had not committed, all because they did not have a correct understanding of God. And God was very angry with them.

So, I learned three lessons from today's reading.

1. No matter how hard the storm is, there is always a blessing on the other side. So, don't give up.

2. God is always watching, even when it feels like He isn't, and He cares about us very much.

3. We must be careful what we say. Our words about God must be true, and inspired by His Word. Our words about ourselves, and others must be true, and inspired by God's Word.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Psalms 1-8.