Featured Job

On another post, MennoSota said:

First let's clarify what it means by the sovereignty of God:

One of the clear teachings of the Bible is the sovereignty of God. That means that nothing happens in the universe without God allowing it to happen. But just because God allows something to develop or happen doesn't mean that He is its Author or creator.

 

Let's go to the book of Job.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. 7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

Here's some points we need to discuss:

• God stated to Satan that Job was "a blameless and upright man"
• Satan accuses Job of ulterior motive for "fearing God"
• Satan says to God, "put forth Your hand ..."
• God says to Satan, "all that he has is in your power" only you can't touch him

Why did God allow Satan access to Job, his family and servants? After all, God stated that Job was "blameless" and shunned evil.

Satan had to get God's permission to move against Job. That's why Satan said, "put forth they YOUR hand". But ultimately it was Satan that did the work of destruction in Job's life.

 

Q1: Who was responsible for allowing evil to come upon Job?

A1: God

Q2: Why did God allow it?

A2: To get that answer we must look at the book of Job

Q3: Who was to blame for the chaos that ensued?

A3: Satan

 

As I already stated God was responsible for allowing Satan into Job's life, but the real question is who is to blame for actually creating disaster?

From the messenger's point of view it was God:

verse 16 (Messenger to Job) “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Who did the messenger blame? Not Satan, but God. Clearly Satan was behind the chaos.

What was Job's response to this disaster?

"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing."

Job didn't blame God for the hell that came down on his family and servants.

 

That would be out of context, now wouldn't it? Why not stay with the immediate context?

 

Very good observation, but Job viewed himself as perfect:

Job to God: "Let God weigh me (Job) in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless" Job:31:6

Elihu to Job: "But you have said in my hearing-- I heard the very words-- 9 'I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt." Job 33:8

 

No, no, no....It is not God's will that any suffer. God is love; He does not have Satan's attributes. Be very careful what you lay at the feet of the Lord.

 

Ex 33:18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

 

But context is always better...otherwise it is just cutting & pasting ideas and words together to make up your particular view....

 

New International Version
I am pure, I have done no wrong; I am clean and free from sin.
New Living Translation
You said, 'I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.
English Standard Version
You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.New American Standard Bible
'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.
King James Bible
I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

May I remind you of 1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

 

No Sir, it's not the immediate context. The subject is Job. Got it?

 

There is a reason that God no longer held "the destroyer" back. That reason was because Job was self-deceived by his own self-righteousness.

 

Job's self-righteousness:

"Let God weigh me (Job) in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless" [Job:31:6]

God, through Elihu, rebukes Job:

Job 33:8 "But you have said in my hearing-- I heard the very words-- 9 'I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt."

Job 36:1 Elihu continued: 2 "Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God's behalf...

Job's problem:

Job 32:1 Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned; against Job his anger burned because he justified himself before God.

 

Job 35:1 (Elihu to Job) Do you think it is just when you say, "I am righteous before God"? (HCS)

Within the context of Job chapter 35, Elihu says:

"So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words." (Job 35:16)

In other words Job is self-deceived in his claims to righteousness.

The question is does God agree with what Elihu stated? Remember Elihu claims to speak in God's behalf (see Job 36:1).

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?"

This is the first time God speaks directly to Job. So when did God first counsel Job?

Answer: Through Elihu!