January 15 - Job 40-42: Job Passes His Final Test

Today’s Reading: Job 40-42

The Message

English Standard Version

You made it to the end of Job (no easy ordeal)! Congratulations! Only 65 more books to go!

Thought to Guide Your Reading

God gives Job a final challenge. Will Job respond with anger?

Summary in 100 Words or Less

God questions Job, "You want your day in court? Here it is. I created a world that could crush you. You are not worthy a trial. Case dismissed!"
Job, bewildered, replies, "You are utterly just! My second-guessing was short-sighted. Forgive me! Never again!"
God turns to Job’s friends, "You lied about my nature. You should ask Job to present a sacrifice so I will forgive you."
Job’s health, his wealth and his honor returned. He had ten more children, including three girls–whom Job treated as equals to his sons. Job lived a long life and died a fulfilled man.

How Today’s Reading Contributes to the Gospel: God is Setting All Things Right

God’s response provides the Accuser with his final test—will Job give up after not receiving a proper response?

God is issuing a challenge to Job, "You wanted me to come and answer your charges. Here I am. Case dismissed." This should have proved one challenge too far. There is no way Job’s faith would survive this. But it does.

Job’s response gives the theme of the book—faith in God even when it does not make sense.

Job’s response to God’s challenge is to humble himself and take his place as the created. "I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it hall firsthand – from my own eyes and ears!" (42:5, The Message). Job doesn’t request a retrial. He doesn’t yell at God to answer his charges. He responds with faith. God still knows best.

God humiliates Job’s friends for lying about him.

Job’s friends wanted to defend God by trumping up charges against Job that did not exist. They flailed against his character reminiscent of the "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" sermon given by Jonathan Edwards.
We do not honor God by attempting to convince the world it is evil. We honor God by convincing the world God is good.

Footnote

Let’s not gloss over the fact that Job’s daughters were not only given part of their father’s inheritance (which someone could argue because he had enough to go around) but also were treated as equals to their brothers. This is Job—God’s friend. The next time someone accuses God, the Bible, or Christianity as being chauvinistic point them to the end of Job.

What else did you see reading this passage? Questions? Comments? Leave a comment in the section below or on the Sonoma Mountain Parkway Church of Christ Facebook page.