Bible Reading 2020 Day 15

Today’s Bible Reading: Job 40-42

JOB 40 begins with God demanding Job answer His questions, as Job had previously done to Him.  God gives him a chance to speak, but he now has no argument, as he has been humbled before God Almighty.  His response shows he has realized how small he is before the Creator of all.  So, God begins to speak again.

He begins this dialogue with questions, as He did the last one.  This time, He confronts Job with the premise of whether He is just when He judges the wicked.  God stresses His power over the proud and wicked.  Because Job had accused God of not quickly punishing the wicked, God makes the suggestion that Job take on the task.  Because he can’t do that, Job should be content with the way God takes care of it.

God uses the ancient animals Behemoth and Leviathan as examples of Job’s lack of control.  If he can’t control these massive animals, as God can, how could he ever contend with the powers of evil?

God continues in JOB 41 with Leviathan, who was a water creature.  Man-made tools could never suffice in capturing the fierce creature.  God created Leviathan and Behemoth, and He can easily control them. God uses vivid descriptions to describe this ferocious animal.

In JOB 42, we finally see Job respond, humbled and repentant.  The Reformed Study Bible notes describe Job’s response in this way:

“Because of his experience, his repentance is unforced and sincere as he acknowledges the full dimensions of God’s sovereignty and confesses his folly in questioning God’s goodness and justice.”

In 42:5, Job is saying he has known God from words and teachings, but now he is experiencing the living presence of the Most High God because he is meeting Him as Savior and God.  His inclination to argue with God has been dissolved.

In verses 7-9, God reprimands Job’s friends and the description shows Job acting as their preist.

Beginning in verse 10, we see the friends obeying and brought back to God through Job’s intercession.  the Lord blessed Job and his wealth was restored more than it was before.  He became the father of seven sons and three daughters.

As the reader, we know the experience of Job was created by Satan and allowed by God, to prove Job would remain true.  He never cursed God and God was glorified through this trial.  It was God’s pleasure to reward Job.

We will end the Book of Job with James 5:11, which I think is fitting here:

We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Tomorrow, our Chronological reading will take us back to Genesis.

Be sure and check out WB Moore’s Biblical Insights for more thoughts on today’s reading.