Texts: Job 38 – 42; James 1: 2-4
Before we examine God’s response, let’s reflect on the study so far. Over the past six weeks, some key observations about Job’s experiences have been explored. Initially, he was fulfilled and successful, but later suffered great calamity when God permitted the enemy to disturb his life to test his faith. This continued when he was criticised by his friends, rejected and scorned by his wife, discouraged, depressed and ultimately fearful that God had abandoned him. In last week’s entry, we see Job’s grief, often expressed through doubts about God’s love and a heaviness that took his joy and threatened to rob his hope. Yet, amidst the turmoil, disruptions and negative emotions, Job did not curse God; there were moments when his resilient faith shone through the dark season, though he may not even have been aware of this at the time.
To reiterate, in Job’s storms, my storms and your storms, innate emotions may potentially overwhelm us to the point where we forget God’s nature and promises. We simply don’t have all the answers and this creates tension – we who belong to God have His Holy Spirit with us, but like Job, we are indeed human. Though that does not provide an excuse for fear and questions or complaints to God, it does explain why it happens. Last week, we examined Job’s longing for answers. The most spirit-filled, holy and prominent saints you may name (including those who are ready to critique others’ response in suffering that they often have not even experienced!), have either experienced this longing or will experience it in the future, even if they do not readily admit it or verbalise their questions to God. Our ability to endure suffering does depend to a great extent on our level of maturity, and interestingly, that level of maturity is often highly connected to the extent of suffering we have experienced (James 1: 2-4). If someone is still growing in maturity (like Job was and like you and I are), it should be an opportunity for graciousness by those who claim to be, or are actually more advanced in faith – not an invitation for the implied self-professed moral superiority seen in Job’s friends.
Despite Job’s self-righteousness, inability to remain optimistic in his suffering, experience of criticism from onlookers and the flaws in his support system, when God speaks in Chapters 38-42 (and ultimately throughout the 42 Chapters), we learn some valuable lessons about His love for him.
1. God hears our prayers.
Firstly, though He may seem silent, God hears us when we pray (Isaiah 65: 24, Psalm 116: 1-6). In Chapters 38-41, God asks Job an extensive series of rhetorical questions in response to his questions – He had been listening. When Job’s grief resulted in his erroneous statements about Him, God was listening. When Job wished for death, God was listening. When Job prayed and praised in the trials, God was listening. In the most challenging season of my life, God’s seeming silence was more worrisome than the actual problem. I understand how it feels when God seems distant or unconcerned, and no attempts at consolation by loved ones is sufficient. Yet, He hears. Job was surrounded by ‘counsellors’ but he dismissed their words, and continued to seek answers from the one He knew was capable of providing them. Though you may feel that your prayers go unnoticed fellow pilgrim, He hears. Since you have the guarantee that He hears, when you pray (according to His will), though it may be difficult to find the resolve, I pray that you will begin to trust that His response will be timely, for His glory and for your good (Romans 8: 28; 1 John 5: 14-15). Though Job was convinced at times that God had abandoned him, this was far from the truth. Indeed, the tests had been approved by God as He was confident that Job served Him genuinely and would not relinquish his faith. So confident was God in Job’s steadfastness that He suggested to the enemy, whether it had considered Job. Before Chapter 38, the last time we hear God speaking in the book of Job is in Chapter 2, when He reminds the enemy of its boundaries – it could afflict Job, but not take his life.
We have the benefit of the entire book of Job, but Job had no book of Job! We know the conversations between the slimy enemy and God, and we know the end. I pray that grants you some assurance that despite your ignorance about the origins of our storms or how long they will last, God knows, and He is there throughout them, listening to your cries. Talk to Him. Those who lack compassion will always have advice about how much crying should be done, how others must handle their storms and what the storm says about the one who endures it. Blah…Blah…Blah. Though storms often include a degree of isolation as you endure challenges that perhaps no one in your circle has encountered, if their responses are potentially damaging to your soul, don’t allow yourself to be further irritated by them – IGNORE THEIR WORDS (and even better – pray for them!). They are genuinely trying to help at times, but are also likely to be ignorant of God’s plans for you; this may limit the quality of the advice they may offer. In Chapter 42, God was actually not roused to wrath by Job’s cries and questions, but He was by his friends/critics who also made wrong assumptions about Him! Like He was for Job, He is still a loving God who understands our hearts and motives. Prayer is a personal conversation between you and God – not you, God and your critics! In fact, even your closest friend(s)’ or family members’ counsel is inferior to God’s. Cry to Him if you need to when you pray, and ask Him questions – He can handle it. Indeed, the best learners are active – not passive; they pose questions to their teachers and peers, read widely and engage in discussions, which helps them to deepen their understanding. If prayers filled with questions, pleas and dissatisfaction are all you can muster in dismal seasons, as I have said in every entry on the book of Job, that is much better than ceasing communication with God altogether – you perhaps already know of someone who lost their faith because of a storm which resulted in them relinquishing their faith and communication with God. Continue to talk to Him and seek Him through His word. If He chooses to also speak to you through others, He will enable you to discern such genuine and godly advice. I pray that you will have wisdom in the middle of your tears to eventually discern true concern from mere criticism and unfounded assumptions. God acknowledges our tears (Isaiah 38:5; 2 Kings 20:5; Psalm 34: 15; John 11:33), and will guide us to the point where we worship Him more than we cry because of our storms. Weeping may indeed endure for a season, but the grief will eventually decrease (Psalm 30: 5). As seen in Job, God’s timing to respond (not necessarily to give us what we want) may be frustrating, but don’t forget – HE KNOWS AND HE HEARS our prayers, regardless of where we stand with Him (as believers, or those who have not committed their lives to Him).
2. God is more sovereign and powerful than you think.
Secondly, when God speaks Job receives new revelations about Him. In Chapters 38-41, each of God’s questions seems to have been designed to caution Job to reflect on His wisdom, control over creation and omnipotence (enough evidence to trust Him). God’s rhetoric reminded Job that the mysteries of creation, (in ways that he perhaps had not even considered), were only understood by the Creator Himself. Throughout the book of Job, we see a multitude of questions from the grieving father and businessman, directed to God. In Chapters 38-41, we see a multitude of questions from God, directed to Job. My late grandfather always cautioned us to avoid answering his questions with questions, but in this exchange, in God’s sovereignty, He does not give Job the answers He seeks, but enough rhetorical questions for him to reflect and realise that He is more sovereign than he previously understood. Job served God when he was wealthy, happy and successful because he acknowledged His sovereignty. However, God clearly used Job’s season of testing to get his attention and mature in his faith and understanding of His nature. Job was utterly humbled to realise that the God who knows all the mysteries of creation, also understands the mysteries of his circumstances, even if He does not reveal them. When we receive tangible blessings without a struggle, our faith does not tend to grow as much as when God blesses us spiritually. Spiritual blessings such as a deeper understanding of God’s character, stronger faith, patience and joy are more costly, and often developed through unpleasant experiences. I was aware of God’s ability to heal, but grew in faith and understood this more intensely when He healed me – there had to be a medical concern first. Now I know Him as a Healer. The same applies to my understanding of Him as a Provider and Deliverer; for me, this was more profound when He identified my needs and provided from unexpected sources. Despite the reason for the tests, we do know that in Chapter 42, Job had stronger faith, more patience and greater revere for God than he did in Chapter 1. It may not feel like it as you endure, but God’s sovereignty allows Him to use every experience for His glory. God does not explain Himself as we want Him to, but His questions to Job remind us that our knowledge of His wisdom and power (though limited), should comfort us in our trials; He is sovereign (above all others who have a degree of ‘power’) and is always working (John 5: 17). As difficult as it is, it pleases God when we are confident in His character, as opposed to needing confirmation in His (overt) actions. Again, when our character is developed, it ultimately glorifies Him (James 1: 2-4).
3. He cares about your character.
Thirdly, though God restored Job and provided new blessings for him at the end of his turbulent season, this did not transpire before Job forgave his friends. As mentioned earlier, God was aware of Job’s pain and listened to him throughout the storms. However, he did not dismiss Job’s sin (against those who offended him with their criticism). Job was expected to forgive his friends. Though you may have suffered because of others’ actions and words, God still expects you to reflect His character. We know of Job’s positive traits from Chapter 1, but we are never exposed to his areas for development (we all have them!). Perhaps he needed to also grow in love and patience. Who knows? We do know that he humbly repented for his weakness and forgave his critics, both of which pleased God. In Chapter 23, he paused from his laments to confidently declare that though God seems silent, He is the Redeemer who will create a golden masterpiece of his life after the tests. Likewise, in Chapter 19, he praised God for His steadfastness despite feeling rejected – Job was assured (from previous seasons of walking with God) that His Redeemer lives, would return for His second coming as promised, and would allow him to experience eternity with Him. He resolved that even if the disease(s) worsened or terminated his life, he would still see God’s face. The sacrificial praise that you muster in your darkest seasons is highly pleasing to God, and is evidence of character development. There are other options, (chiefly to abandon your faith), but when children of God praise Him despite the storms, He is glorified.
Such character is more impactful for future ministries than the character of someone (like Job in Chapter 1), who had not yet survived the trouble that he did by the end of the book. When you grow, your character pleases God, but it also gives Him a resource which the suffering world needs – effective ministers of the gospel. I have been more encouraged and blessed by the ministries of people who have been humbled as they endured a degree of brokenness, than those who have not. I dare say that sometimes those who have not been broken or who have not experienced any trials, sometimes find it rather easier to condemn those who suffer, than to empathise and pray. (I am only one voice, but) I am admittedly always dubious about the minstry of anyone who claims they have always walked with God but have never encountered any trials or indeed failed. Suffering (endurance of it and deliverance from it), helped to authenticate (or give credibility to) the ministry of Bible characters such as Joseph, Naomi, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphath, Ruth, David, John, Paul, Silas and others, and I strongly believe God still uses it in a similar way today. God uses His children for ministry most obviously in the Church, but He is also able to use us all for ministry in our daily interactions with friends, family and strangers, as well as in our jobs or careers. Job was admired in Chapter 1 for his upright character, but I am convinced that on seeing his endurance and deliverance, his testimony was more profound and attracted more people to God’s power and sovereignty, regardless of the origin of his storms.
Whether the storms arose through your sins or the enemy’s plots against you, how you endure and emerge are critical. Though challenging times are often required to mature us, God will use the more mature versions of us to do more for His Kingdom. Like Job, He may also trust us with more to steward when we demonstrate more maturity. By Chapter 42, he had to manage twice as much as he had before. Would the weaker version of Job with fewer revelations about God, less experience of suffering, less patience and less tolerance for critics have been able to effectively steward a more successful life? Without growth, would the weaker version of you be able to effectively handle what God has allowed you to steward now, or what He will entrust to you in the future?
In summary, in our tests, we may not get the answers we seek, but there will always be lessons to advance our faith. Job’s experience is often referred to as a reminder of our need for endurance and continued faith even in the most challenging circumstances. His life also reminds us that whether in this life or eternity, God keeps His promise to never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:8). You may not have all the answers you seek, but do trust that God is always working for His glory and for your growth, even when His plans are obscure. The season of waiting for deliverance, admittedly, may feel overwhelming and impossible to endure. During the most intense season of testing that I have endured so far, I began to bargain with God: ‘With all due respect God, I thank You for grace, but why don’t You hook me up with some of that miraculous deliverance You’re capable of? Grace is amazing, but I WANT DELIVERANCE!’ God listened, but He had plans different to what I desired: I survived the storms and now acknowledge that His plans are superior. Ultimately, without us even understanding the origins of our storms sometimes, God uses them to refine our character, making us more like Him and thereby more capable (through His Spirit) of damaging the kingdom of darkness which aims to permeate our world. Your testimony, after enduring storms (even if deliverance does not come in the form you prefer), will leave many in awe of God. I pray that whether you are in a storm, at the end of the storm or oblivious to storms at this stage of your life, you will grow as God intends in the process. To reiterate, spiritual growth (like Job’s), is not always pleasant; if we are honest, we don’t always aspire for it – we are socialised to strive for ease! Nonetheless, God will create a masterpiece with our lives and experiences if we submit to the process such growth requires. The book of Job is organised to have God’s favourable thoughts about him at the beginning, the painful process of growth in the middle and His personal response to Job at the end. That should console us to know that God has the FIRST and also the FINAL word over all that concerns us, regardless of the enemy’s plots and all the words spoken against us in the middle of our lives and our storms! As He was with Job He is with us in all seasons.
It may be challenging, but don’t quit, and don’t lose your faith in God. Job struggled, but he also endured and held on to his faith, and after being restored, was blessed with the season described in Chapter 42. You may be on the verge of your Job 42 season! I cannot promise you how God will end your season of suffering or how long it will last, but I assure you – He is working, He has a plan for your life and with your submission, He is able to create a masterpiece for His glory with it (Isaiah 61: 3-4). Stay in the fight. I continue to pray for your survival of the storms and your ultimate growth. As always, if all you can muster is a line, a minute, or five minutes, talk to God today. Try it. He hears.
Heartfelt Prayer: Dear Lord, I long for a life that is free from all these troubles! I know You will use storms to refine me and make me more effective for you. I long for that too – to be mature enough to handle any assignments You have designed for me. I often feel an imbalance between the two Lord – please help me when I do. I leave my concerns with You, and pray that You will help me to remember (I often forget!) that You are always working, always have a plan and will always vindicate me. I am tempted to feel some bitterness towards my critics – help me to forgive them, as You did for Job. Help them to also grow in You. I praise You my Redeemer, regardless of whether I can see Your actions. You loved Job in Chapter 1, and You loved him no less in Chapter 42; help me to receive and always remember Your unchanging love. Despite the clarity and answers I seek, I trust You to use every experience for Your glory and for my good. Amen.
