Job part 2

 Lately I keep having this feeling, it's something that I have always known, but lately it keeps coming up in my thoughts. I have this feeling that we really do not have a clue how powerful God is. We acknowledge that he made the world, and we know that he can do whatever he wants, but if we go to pray for something it's actually kind of small. It's like winning a shopping spree with Jeff Bezos and then asking him to take us to McDonalds. We have access to the creator of the world, and what do we ask for on a regular basis? We actually ask him to keep everything the same. Normally we ask him that our health stay the same or maybe minimal improvement. We ask that our job go well, or maybe we ask that if someone is mad at us, we want them to forgive us. We want God to make sure that everything goes back to the status quo. Then we can't figure out why we are craving more in life. I know it may seem like I forgot about Job, but I assure you I have not. 

When we last read Job a few days ago, we only got through a few chapters. Job had lost everything and his was health was failing. At that point, his friends show up and everyone is ready to give their opinion. So now we spend chapter after chapter with Job going back and forth with his friends and also with God. I don't want to take away from any of this, but a few things I want to let you know, it's a lot of chapters to read and way too much information for a blog. But the chapters are short, and it is a very quick read. I actually recommend listening to it through the youversion bible app. After all of the back and forth between everyone it is finally time for God to talk to Job. Again, lots of things to go over, so I can't go over all of it. Let's look at how chapter 38 starts:

Chapter 38

 

The LORD Challenges Job

Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: 

 

    2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom 

      with such ignorant words? 

    3 Brace yourself like a man, 

      because I have some questions for you, 

      and you must answer them. 

The title of the chapter is "The Lord challenges Job". That is scary to me before I even start reading the chapter. Then verse three says that he has some questions and that they have to be answered. I probably would have already passed out. Let's hear some of these questions from chapter 38:

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. ⁵ Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? ⁶ What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone ⁷ as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?  

¹² “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east?  

¹⁶ “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? ¹⁷ Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? ¹⁸ Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!  ¹⁹ “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? ²⁰ Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? ²¹ But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced! 

When we are reading this, I have two perspectives. First, how scary would that be? Here is God talking to you and demanding an answer. You have no answers, you know that he is the only one that can answer those questions. Second, if we step back a little bit, doesn't this show how powerful God is? Who laid the foundations? Who makes the morning appear? Do you know where the gates of death are located? Only the creator knows the answers. This is the same creator that we ask on a daily basis to keep everything status quo. 

³¹ “Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? ³² Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? ³³ Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? ³⁴ “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? ³⁵ Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? ³⁶ Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? ³⁷ Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven ³⁸ when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods? 

Who controls the stars? Who controls the weather? Why does God keep asking these questions? This goes on for all of chapters 38 and 39. God is making clear that he made everything and that he is control. God is in control. Think back to the book of Genesis, Joseph was sold as a slave. Joseph was thrown in prison. Joseph interpreted dreams for two people in prison and then forgotten. BUT, God was in control. He was preparing Joseph for something way bigger. This includes saving his whole family. Why do we still question God? Why do we still doubt God? Bad things happen that we will never understand. God is in control! Now as chapter 40 begins, let's see what the next question is that God asks:

Chapter 40

Then the LORD said to Job, 

    2 “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? 

      You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” 

How does Job respond?

Job Responds to the LORD

3 Then Job replied to the LORD, 

    4 “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? 

      I will cover my mouth with my hand. 

    5 I have said too much already. 

      I have nothing more to say.” 

So how does this story end? How does Job respond to everything?  Here is Job's response and how the book ends.

Chapter 42

Job Responds to the LORD

Then Job replied to the LORD: 

    2 “I know that you can do anything, 

      and no one can stop you. 

    3 You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ 

      It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, 

      things far too wonderful for me. 

    4 You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! 

      I have some questions for you, 

      and you must answer them.’ 

    5 I had only heard about you before, 

      but now I have seen you with my own eyes. 

    6 I take back everything I said, 

      and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” 

Conclusion: The LORD Blesses Job

7 After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. 

10 When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before! 11 Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the LORD had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring. 

12 So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13 He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14 He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15 In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers. 

16 Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren. 17 Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life. 

Look at verse 6- I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” Do we respond this way? I know I don't! The book ends with Job being blessed. He showed repentance and was blessed. We may not ever have a crazy story like Job, but we do question God. And again, when we do go to God, we ask for very small things. I know this is another long blog post, but please stick with me for a few more statements. When bad things happen, ask God what you need to learn from it. Ask God what he is trying to show you. Lastly, start being bold! I no longer want the status quo. I want to be part of making an impact. I want to see amazing things!