Reading through the Bible in 2020: Notes from the Bible Recap Day 14 and 15

Reading through the Bible in 2020

Bible Recap Day 14 and 15 Job 38-42

Personal notes from reading Job 38-42:

Ok, I’m not going to lie, I totally wish I could have been there to see the looks on their faces when God shows up in a whirlwind!  And then, the first thing God says is “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”. OH! MY! GOSH!!! Um, didn’t Elihu describe himself as perfect in knowledge like moments before God speaks to them.  And didn’t the friends suggest that they were coming to Job with counsel as if it was an inspired word from God?  

For more than 2 chapters God describes the complexity of the universe.  He paints a picture, detail after detail of His most marvelous creation and how the pieces work together to form systems.  Then he starts asking Job question after question about these multiplex details. I can’t imagine the feeling in Job’s stomach when God point blank asked him where he was when He laid the foundation of the earth.  And then the real punch was when God uses sarcasm and said, “Who determined its (the earth’s) measurements-- surely you know!”. I would imagine in that moment there was complete repentance in Job’s heart. But God went on with His lesson.  God was certainly near and He was most certainly making Himself known to Job.

But boy oh boy, did Job’s Heavenly Father put him in his place in chapter 40!  But listen here, God wasn’t just speaking to Job, He was speaking to me and I felt it deep in my gut when I read it.  Take it like a man and read chapter 40 again with conviction. God’s words are as powerful as He is. So much of the time we speak as if we really know something, when the reality is we know next to nothing!  We did not lay the foundation of the earth, nor can we pretend that we’re smart enough to know exactly how He did it. But we like to think we have an arm like God sometimes and boast that our theories unlock the mysteries of old.  And then we publish them as if yes, we indeed do understand the complexity of God and His creation. All I have to say is, “Hold on brother! Hold on sister! Go and read Job chapter 40 and rephrase your arrogant theories!”.  

God is complex beyond our understanding and so is His plan.  Let God’s conversation with Job be a humble reminder of our place in His creation.  

And let me tell you, when God speaks to Job’s friends, He spoke to me.  I’m a human and I better be careful in what I say as I represent Him in my everyday life.  I better watch that I don’t take it upon myself to condemn on God’s behalf.  

God ended up restoring Job.  He heard his prayer. And then He blessed Job greatly.  Abundantly. And just like the trials of Job weren’t a punishment of sin, neither was Job’s prosperity a reward.  It was a blessing. It was grace.

Notes from the Bible Recap Job 38-42:

When God responds to Job, the Bible uses God’s personal name, LORD.  This wasn’t just any response. Job got a personal response from his Lord.  When God speaks to Job, He doesn’t address the struggles and sorrows that Job endured.  He established Who He is. Everything else is secondary. God put Job in his place and we’d best believe He can put us in our place if we need it.

In Chapter 42, Job responds that he will just put his hand over his mouth because he has already said way more than he wished he had.  I can SO LEARN from this. So often I need to just put my hand over my mouth before it comes out. And that includes my thoughts as well.  Job had lost focus on the big picture and got wrapped up in his own world and troubles. We have to remember, even when our own life is troubled, there’s a bigger picture going on.  And yes, He cares about our little troubles, but He also cares about the big picture and our part in it so sometimes His response isn’t exactly what we desire.  

Pride and entitlement will get us in trouble.  And God purges us of those things when needed.  

God restored Job.  Not only did God restore his family and way of life and wealth and health, He most importantly restored Job’s view of God and their relationship.  Our God is a God of restoration. We don’t deserve His mending ways, but He makes us new in Him. Now if that doesn’t just send you straight to your knees!  I know it did me!