Reflections on Job 40:1–14; 42:1–6.

In Job 13:15 Job says, ‘Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.’ In our passages today Job gets the chance to defend himself to God. This was something he had been longing for throughout his discourse with his friends. He was probably hoping for total vindication by God, in order to show his friends how wrong they had been! But, when God gives him the chance to speak, Job realises he no longer needs to.

In chapter 38 God finally appears and starts by saying ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?’ (v.4). He goes on to reveal His sovereignty through so many things that we do not understand. All the mysteries of nature have Him at their helm.

Once he has spoken, Job’s questions, complaints and demands melt away. Yes, what happened to Job seems totally unfair to our human eyes. But God, by His very nature, is just and fair and so whatever He decides to do, or allow, is fair – however hard that is for us to understand. Remember what we talked about in an earlier reflection? Do we lay down our rights to understand – even when we are hugely disappointed by what is going on around us or to us?

For Job, it was learning the certainty of the character and sovereignty of God that led him to the conclusion that, however inexplicable the circumstances, he could still trust and hope in Him. That, I believe, is the lesson of this book, of this character, for us today. That God wants us to hope in Him not because of what He can do for us, but simply because of who He is.

For prayer and reflection: Father I am sorry that I can view you like a slot machine – I put in my prayer and expect You to produce the answer
I want. I acknowledge You are sovereign, and do not work in ways that I am going to understand always.