NOVEMBER 14, 2024
“Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:1-6)
Job is amid a Spiritual crisis, questioning God. Starting in chapter 38, God himself weighs in. He suddenly addresses Job directly for the first time. He does so in terrifying form, unseen yet heard through the incredible, dangerous force of a whirlwind. After all Job’s questions, God says it’s time for Him to question Job. His interrogation of Job is relentless. God reinforces the image of His power and conveys His care for everything in creation. He made all creatures with particular designs and purposes. Job cannot explain one of these things, much less accomplish these things himself.
The Lord asks Job, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?” (40:2) If Job argues with God, he must respond. Job replies that he is small; how can he answer? He cannot bring himself to offer much else. Finally, given a chance to contend with God directly, Job’s response is silence, realizing that no other response is fitting. Can Job draw Leviathan out with a fishhook? Can he put it on a leash to keep as a pet? Indeed, he couldn’t even hope to capture it to begin with. This mysterious dragon-like being terrifies all other creatures but frolics like a harmless pet for God. Job could never catch such a creature. Only God alone can – like it’s nothing at all.
In chapter 42, Job finally cools off and retracts His previous statements, humbling himself before God. He answers the Lord and says he understands that God can do all things, and His purposes cannot possibly be thwarted. Job admits that he has spoken about things he couldn’t even hope to understand, things “too wonderful” for him. He despises himself and repents in dust and ashes. Job returns to his worshipful attitude at the book’s beginning. Notably, God has not answered Job’s pressing questions about his suffering. However, Job has witnessed God’s incredible power, which seems to preclude the need for answers. Instead (recognizing his utter smallness), Job repents of his arrogance in questioning God.
Job was now sensible of his guilt and would no longer speak against one so far above him. He hated himself as a sinner in heart and life for murmuring against God and took shame on himself. When the Spirit of grace enlightens our understanding, our knowledge of Divine things far exceeds what we had before. It concerns us to be deeply humbled for the sins of which we are convinced. Self-loathing is the companion of true repentance. The Lord will bring those who He loves to adore Him in self-abasement. True grace will always lead to confessing sins without trying to justify them.
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