Dialogue With Job

Job was struggling with fear and false belief. He has been overwhelmed by circumstances beyond his control. His suffering was not from God, but a result of evil being active in his world. Job’s false beliefs were challenged by his circumstances, as nothing made any sense.

But God in His amazing grace (which is unearned and undeserved favour), equal justice and love reaches down to Job in a way he would understand. God is greater than any false belief, sickness, pain or troubles of this world.

Out of a whirlwind God dialogues with Job. Has a one on one with him, intimately and personally in grace and truth. God is there with Job in his suffering.

He speaks wisdom and truth into the tumbleweeds and dust of Job’s mind. God brings living water into the desert of Job’s mind and healing into his brokenness. Sowing the seeds of new life God renewed Job’s thoughts, restored his health and gives him eternal salvation.

So let us listen to a summary of God’s dialogue with Job and hear the heart of God.

‘Were you there when I laid the foundations of the earth and determined its measurements? ?Were you there when I set the boundaries of the sea and clothed the earth with clouds of moisture? Were you there when I commanded the sun to herald the dawn and push back t?he darkness? Were you there when the heavenly hosts and the stars of the galaxies shouted ?for joy and sang My glory?

Were you there when I satisfied the desolate wasteland and caused the growth of tender grasses?

Were you there?

Can you loosen the belt of Orion and bind the cluster of Pleiades? Can you set the ordinances ?of the heavens over the earth and control its cycle? Can you command the clouds to bring forth water and flood the plains? Can you send out lightnings and determine where they go? Can you annul My judgement and condemn Me and justify yourself?

Can you?

Do you know everything that is under heaven is mine and I am no ones debtor? Do you know when the lion, bear and wild mountain goat give birth to their young? Do you know the wisdom ?of a migrating hawk as it flies south for the winter? Do you know the perspective of an eagle ?as it spies out its prey to feed its young? Do you know the foolishness of the ostrich, the strength of a horse and the power of the behemoth?

Do you know?’

How awesome and glorious is God? He reveals His love and blessing is not something that ?we can earn or even deserve. He loves and blesses not because of how clever we are, how prosperous we are or how useful we are. But because of who He is. He is good, kind, gentle ?and loving.

So let’s pick up the dialogue from the text and hear Job’s response.

Job 42:1-5 Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, I will question you, and you ?shall answer Me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.