READ JOB 40
In Job 40:1-2, God rebukes Job for his lack of respect and rudeness when he found fault with the Almighty. If Job was so wise and powerful, he should have been able to answer the long list of questions God asked him.
Job begins his response in Job 40:3-5. He is humbled after God asks him a series of many questions. We know Job is humbled regarding his wisdom or lack thereof. He says, "I am nothing; how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence."
In Job 40:6-14, through the whirlwind, God challenged Job to respond like a man.
In Job 40:15-24, when God asks Job if he is able to capture two fearful creatures, Job admits he is insignificant in comparison to God's power. He is humbled regarding his power.
God told Job to consider the behemoth, a big land creature that God could create but not Job.
READ JOB 41
Notice that God still has not addressed Job's complaints or told him why he has been punished and is still suffering. Along with the behemoth, God asks Job to consider another big creature: the leviathan, a sea creature. God chose these big creatures He made to illustrate His power to Job.
READ JOB 42
Job is overwhelmed and humbled. He acknowledges the sovereignty of God. (THIS IS THE MAIN THEME OF THE ENTIRE BOOK JOB). Notice God never mentioned anything about Job's suffering, but He spent a lot of time speaking about His creation and His creatures.
Job understands the points God made and he made a major confession that is found in Job 42:1-6. In the prologue at the beginning of the book, Job is described as "blameless." Now he admits he is grieved because he sees God like never before. Therefore, he repents in dust and ashes.
SIDE NOTES
In the prologue, we found out Job was legalistic. That means he did things as rituals instead of knowing the spirit of God. Remember how he would offer sacrifices for his ten children among other things.
The epilogue of the book is in Job 42:7-17 that includes the following:
1. Job's three friends are rebuked and restored (42:7-9).
2. Job's prosperity is restored (42:10-17).
God reprimands Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar for misrepresenting Him. They insisted that all suffering is punishment for sin. That was not true in Job's case.
God rebuked the three friends for their false accusations of Job. God instructed them to make a sacrifice. They sacrificed with burnt offering of seven bulls and seven rams.
As soon as Job prayed for them, God restored in inverse order twice as much as he had before: twice as many sheep, camels, oxen, and female donkeys (42:10-12),
Job also received seven sons and three daughters, which doubled his family, since he presumably still had the first one in heaven. Job lived an additional one hundred and forty years. The Lord blessed his latter days more than his beginning. So Job died old and full of days.
Notice, Job never admitted to his friends that he had sinned to cause his punishment.
Notice, Job never cursed God and dies as his wife advised.
Notice, even though Job wanted to confront God and have a confrontation with Him, he never turned his back on God as Satan said he would do.
LESSONS FROM THE BOOK OF JOB
1. We read in the prologue that Job's suffering was not the direct result of any personal sin. Remember two conversations between God and Satan. Also, remember it was God who suggested Job.
2. Job was not delivered until he saw his own nothingness and God's greatness (42:1-6)and until he prayed for his friends.
3. The righteous people are not exempt from suffering.
4. Suffering is not necessarily a result of sin.
5. God has set a protective hedge around the righteous.
6. God allows sickness and suffering, but it does not come from Him. It comes from Satan (Luke 13:16, 2 Corinthians 12:7). However, Satan can bring these things on a believer only with God's permission.
7. God does not always explain the reason for suffering.
8. When visiting those who are grieving, visits should be short and do not be judgmental as Job's three friends were.
9. Job's patience in suffering proves Satan is a false accuser and a liar.
10. Human reasonings aren't helpful. Only God can comfort you perfectly.
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