Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the God who is always right. Wow! We can’t say that about anyone else, but we can confidently say it about God.
Lesson #42. God declares His position of righteousness. In these verses (40:1-14), God calls Job to a point of solemn contemplation. God questions the possibility that Job actually has anything authoritative to say. God opens the passage with this challenge: “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it” (40:2). God closes the passage with His conclusion to the challenge, having presented a “then” that Job can’t possibly fulfill: “Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee” (40:14).
Between this opening and closing, God presents His position of righteousness by contrasting Himself with Job. God presents the possibility that Job make himself as manly and brave as possible. In that bravery, would Job assert himself to find fault with God? Would Job dare to present his own answer instead? “Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me” (40:7). God wants to know if Job really thinks he has a better answer than God does. Does Job actually think he could possibly have a better plan? Would Job deign to suggest that his own plan should override God’s or that he has power anything like God has? God asks, “Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?” (40:8-9).
Between His opening and closing, God also presents Job's position (vs. 10-14). If Job were to be the most impressive that he could be, he could not think of knowing or doing what God knows and does. God presents Job with the challenge of asserting himself with all the dignity and honor he can muster, and in that position being able to bring forth judgment on man. Would Job be able to bring down the proud? Would Job be able to defeat the wicked? The answer is understood. Job cannot humble the proud, and Job cannot defeat the wicked. These are things that only God can do. God's conclusion is that if Job could do those things that only God could do, then Job also would be able to save himself. God's point is that there is only one Person who has the position and the righteousness to make such decisions.
Even before God concluded His arguments, His opening statement was enough to bring Job to his knees. “Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further'” (40:3-5). When confronted by God, Job realized and understood his own position of insignificance. From this point on, Job’s arguments ceased. Job still did not understand what was happening to him. He still knew that his trial was undeserved. We would assume that he still longed to be delivered. But he came to the point of recognizing that he was a mere man standing before an incomparable God.
Job does not outwardly state his answer to God's question: “Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?” (40:8). Job’s answer is clear, however. As Job silences himself and acknowledges the Almighty, he expresses his conviction that God alone is able to oversee the world and make decisions for mankind and for individuals.
In our trials we must also come to grips with God's questions. If we had the opportunity and ability, would we actually change what God has decreed? If it came to actually stating it in words, would we really say that we are right and God is wrong? Would we say that to His face? A Christian who is striving to walk with God would not say these things. In the midst of trial, his emotions can be raging, and his thoughts can be conflicting, and he will sometimes find in himself what really are unthinkable thoughts. Often a confrontation like God gave Job will clarify the turmoil and conflict and will crystallize the believer’s thinking. Suddenly he will see the erroneous conclusion that his emotions, thoughts, and words are pointing toward.
When the Christian realizes the implications of his conflicted, confused, overwhelmed, emotion-driven thinking, he does what Job did. He places his hand on his mouth, and he says with conviction, “No, God, I would not change Your plan. I would not declare myself right over You.” When the challenge is placed in such stark terminology, the devoted Christian collapses into submission and humbly retracts his earlier assertions. God alone has the power. God alone is righteous. God alone is in a position to determine the affairs of men. Truly every plan of God is good and right.
Thank God for the confidence that we have in His righteousness. May that confidence enable you to accept what is hard and confusing. We can rejoice in our righteous God and follow Him with full assurance.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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