And so ends Job. Seriously, I feel like I should have a deeply reflective post on the book as a whole, the themes, what Job learned, what God had to say... but my mental capacity is seriously diminished. This is perhaps the flaw in writing every day for "publication" rather than working over time and having the ability to go back and reflect and tweak and rewrite.
This is the coolest passage in Job. In fact, I'm kind of thinking it's one of the coolest passages in the Bible. God is speaking. Speaking directly to a follower (and make no mistake, Job followed God!) who is in need of God's Word. The things He talks about: His Creation and how intimate He is with it. These massive and might creatures, the behemoth and the leviathan, which we may not even have today, their power and majesty and wildness and how God is their master and friend. It's amazing. It kind of makes you want to step back and say, "Wow. This is the God I serve."
Job's response? Well, in light of the fact that he was calling God down to have a face-to-face, and that it definitely isn't going the way he wanted it to, I'm not sure his response is surprising. God challenges him, asking if he understands creation, can command it, if he has the infinite powers that God has and what his wisdom is in the face of it.... And Job knows he doesn't. In fact, Job says, "You know what, I'm just going to shut my mouth." Is Job insolent at this point? He doesn't in fact fall down at this moment and say, "Go away from me for I am a sinner!" as Peter did with Christ. I don't think he was. He ackowledged that he was of small account, that before the Almighty God, he was insignificant. However, he had said "his piece" and concluded he would speak no more. He was humbled to the point that he saw he was insignificant when compared with the Almighty God. (Again, contrast, not in essentials), but he wasn't repentant. So, God begins again. Here are the passages on the behemoth and the leviathan. How AMAZING might these creatures have been that man cowered before them? Especially the leviathan! I can imagine that maybe the leviathan is something like the whale or a shark, but he seems so much... more. God alone can contend with him, and not only contend with him but tame him. A-MAZ-ING. And finally Job is not only humbled but repentant.
Does God hold anything over Job's head? No. As soon as he repents, God calls him His servant again. In Job's repentance he finally admits who he is, and who God is. God is the Creator, the Master, the Mover and Shaker. The world, and everything in it and everyone upon it, is God's. He is sovereign. Whatever He decides to do in respect to His creation is His right. Just as potter may cast the pot into any shape, size or color, or destroy it, God may do. Do you notice that God never tells Job why everything happened? Job never receives the answer he was looking for! But he received the answer that he needed: that whatever happens, God is in control, and God is good. Job has at last seen God. Before, he had only heard of God by the hearing of the ears, but now at last he has seen with his own eyes. What more should we want? What more can we want? To see the True and Almighty God? Both terrifying and wonderful. I think that may have been more than all the riches and blessings Job received afterwards. I think Job would have been content without them, but God in His goodness chose to bless Job further.
I think it's a wonderful example of healed relationships and the blessing of submission to God. If we submit, if we seek Him out, we will find Him; we will see Him.
Tomorrow' Reading: Genesis 12:1-13:8
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