May 7, 2024 Leave a Comment

A Lesson In Humility (An article by Christian Henry)

MAY 7, 2024

“Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it. 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.” (Job 40:1-5)

At the beginning of the book, Job is a wealthy man living in a land called Uz with his large family and extensive flocks. He is an upright man, always careful to avoid doing evil. One day, Satan appears before God in heaven. God boasts to Satan about Job’s goodness, but Satan argues that Job is only good because God has blessed him abundantly. Satan challenges God that, if permitted to punish the man, Job will turn and curse God. God then allows Satan to torment Job to test this bold claim, but he forbids Satan to take Job’s life in the process. In one day, Job receives four messages, each bearing separate news that his livestock, servants, and ten children have all died due to marauding invaders or natural catastrophes.

Job receives counsel from four of his friends until, in chapter 38, God finally interrupts, calling from a whirlwind and demanding Job to be brave and respond to His questions. God’s questions are rhetorical, intending to show how little Job knows about creation and how much power God alone has. Overwhelmed by the encounter, Job acknowledges God’s unlimited power and admits the limitations of his human knowledge in a state of shock.
Communion with the Lord effectually convinces and humbles the believer, making them glad to part with the sins they love most. We must be thoroughly convinced and humbled to prepare for God’s remarkable deliverances.
After God had shown Job, by his ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge God’s methods and designs in the world, He put a convincing question to the man, asking, “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him?” Job immediately began to melt due to the sorrow and guilt he felt. When his friends tried to reason with him, he did not yield his stance.
But now it was the Lord doing the speaking, and the voice of the Lord was compelling. When the Spirit of truth comes, He will convince. Job finally yields himself to the grace of God.
He is an offender who has nothing to say to justify himself. He is now sensible of his sin and calls himself vile. Repentance changes people’s opinion of themselves. Job is now convinced of his error.
Those who are truly sensible of their sinfulness and vileness can never attempt to justify themselves before God. He perceived that he was a poor, mean, foolish, and sinful creature who shouldn’t have uttered one word against the Divine Creator.
One glimpse of God’s Holy nature would turn back even the fiercest rebel. How will the wicked bear the sight of God’s glory on the Day of Judgment? The ultimate humbling occurs when, by the Gospel, one comes to behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (II Cor. 4:6)

 

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