God’s challenge to the sufferer
(Coverage Job 32-41; Reading: Job 40:1-14)
Be careful what you wish for! That is the plot of a number of stories[1]. King Midas, of course, is perhaps the most famous. A greedy King wanted everything he touched to turn to gold. And Midas was very happy, until he tried to eat something. Until he tried to hug someone he loved. In the bible, sometimes the worst thing is to be given what you asked for.
For example, Israel wants a King. And so God gives them Saul, who turns out to be a punishment. And even under good Kings, the Monarchy continually oppresses the people.
The Prodigal Son says, Dad, give me the inheritance now! I want to go to a far away country and have some fun. And he gets it. His father gave him what he wanted. But it was a hard lesson. And he returned humiliated, hoping his father would treat him like a hired hand.
Or in Romans, Paul says sinful humanity suppresses the truth about God. They know God is there and he is God. His evidences from creation are clearly visible. But they make up their own gods. Idols in human form, or in the shape birds, animals and reptiles. And so God says, you want to do what you want, do you? Ok, I’ll give it to you. And God hands them over to their own sinful desires. They get what they wanted. And it’s a disaster.
In the end, that’s what hell is. Hell is people getting what they want. Hell isn’t a place where people are wishing they could be with God, but just fell short. Hell is a place where sinners go. People in hell continually sin against God. They continually rebel against God and his right to be King over all creation. God, I don’t like who you are. I don’t like the decisions you’ve made. I don’t like you, and I don’t want anything to do with you. And God says, that’s absolutely right. You will have nothing to do with me or any of those good things I that I gave you. And that’s what hell is.
Sometimes people wish they could see an angel. ‘If only I could see an angel, I would know God is there and that he loves me’. And I think, ‘You’ve got no idea what you’re asking for!’
Again and again in Scripture, when someone sees an angel, they’re freaked out. Often the very first things the angel says is ‘don’t be afraid’. (Matt 28:5, Luke 1:13,30, 2:10, Acts 27:24) Why? Because an angel is scary. Like seeing a great white or 6 metre croc while you’re taking a swim. The very sight instills fear in the best and bravest.
Moses, hides his face in fear from the Angel in the bush (Ex 3:2,6). Balaam falls facedown before the Angel’s drawn sword (Nu 22:23ff) Gideon and Manoah think they’re doomed (Judges 6:21ff, 13:21ff). David falls facedown and confesses his sin (1 Chr 21:16; 2 Sa 24:16)[2]. And afterwards he’s too scared to go to the tabernacle (1 Chr 21:30). Daniel as wise and godly as he is, sees Gabriel. Then he takes to his sick bed for days, exhausted and appalled (Daniel 8:27) Later another angel speaks to Daniel. Daniel himself falls to the ground overwhelmed with terror. He fasts and mourns for three weeks (Daniel 10:1ff). And all his companions can do is flee in terror and hide themselves. Zechariah sees one, is gripped with fear, and then struck mute (Luke 1:11-12, 19). The shepherds are terrified of them (Luke 2:9). Cornelius can only stare with fear (Acts 10:4) The guards at the tomb shook and became like dead men (Matthew 28:2ff). The Apostle John’s instinctive reaction is to fall down and worship them (Revelation 19:10, 22:8-9).
We must stop thinking of angels as white robed choir boys or lifesize Christmas decorations. In a night, one angel can destroy a super-power army and not raise a sweat. And these are the very creatures who fall at the feet of God and his Son Jesus Christ and worship. Angels, for all their power and might, give the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb who was slain, who is the Lion of Judah, all power and praise and dominion.
How foolish, it is then, for someone to think. ‘Look, all this bible and sermon stuff is not for me. ‘It’s not very impressive or powerful. ‘I’d much prefer to hear God’s word directly from him. ‘Then me and God, we could have a beer and a chat. ‘Sure, we’ll agree to differ on some things, no doubt. ‘But I’m sure God is a good bloke, he can cope with me thinking his wrong.
Israel heard God speak to them directly. God spoke the 10 commandments to them directly. And you know what Israel begged Moses? ‘Stop it’ ‘It’s too much’ ‘Please beg God to stop speaking to ‘us. ‘We cannot bear it. Exodus 20 verse 18:
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." (Exodus 20:18-19[3] NIV)
Do you really want God to speak directly to you? It’s frightening enough for the creator to speak to the creature. But when the Holy God addresses his rebellious image bearers, that is a fearsome thought. Israel said no. Give us a mediator.
Saul the persecutor saw the risen Jesus. On the Damascus Road, Saul heard Jesus’ voice. What what was Saul’s response? He fell to the ground. His companions are struck speechless. He is blinded by the light. And must be led by the hand into the city. For three days and nights, Saul eats and drinks nothing. He fasts and prays to the God he has offended
That is what it is like to see God and his Christ. Thunder, flashes, blinding light, fear, self loathing, and a desire to hide.
And Job wants God to meet him. At his best, Job trusts that God will vindicate him from his friends’ slander. But at his worst, Job has called on God to defend his actions. He has even accused God of wronging him, of being unjust
Here are some of the things Job has said to God:
Job 9:16-19 NIV 16 Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. 17 He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. 18 He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. 19 If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who will summon him?
Job 13:3 NIV 3 But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God.
Job 13:20-22 NIV 20 "Only grant me these two things, O God, and then I will not hide from you: 21 Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. 22 Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply.
Job 19:5-8 NIV 5 If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, 6 then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. 7 "Though I cry, 'I've been wronged!' I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice.
Job 23:3-7 NIV 3 If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! 4 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. 5 I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say. 6 Would he oppose me with great power? No, he would not press charges against me. 7 There an upright man could present his case before him, and I would be delivered forever from my judge.
Job 24:1 NIV Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days?
Job 27:2 NIV 2 As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul…
Job 31:35-37 NIV 35 "Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense-- let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. 36 Surely I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on like a crown. 37 I would give him an account of my every step; like a prince I would approach him.
So now, Job will get what he asked for. Job wants to correct God. He has an accusation to make against God. So Job will face God.
You know, you and I will face God. If the bible and Jesus and Christianity is true, you and I will be judged by God. Does that not fill you will some fear? It’s usually a little bit scary when you’ve got your 6 monthly performance appraisal at work. It is natural to be apprehensive about a job interview or a school exam. How much more should we be aware and concerned and anxious about this last, most important examination and interview?
But Job wants the process expedited. Bring it on! I’m righteous! I’ve done nothing to deserve this suffering. Come on God, let’s meet and sort this out.
But Job doesn’t get what he wants straight away. First, he has to endure the long winded, angry young man, Elihu.
I heard of a bumper sticker, ‘Employ a teenager, while he still knows everything’. Mean, isn’t it? But sometimes there’s truth in it. Elihu is the young university student who has done first year philosophy and therefore knows it all. He is outraged at the ignorance and wrong he sees all around him.
Elihu bursts onto the scene. Speaks 4 self important speeches over 6 long winded chapters. And then disappears again, completely ignored and irrelevant. Job doesn’t respond to him. God completely ignores him. After Elihu speaks, he is never mentioned in the bible again.
Elihu is like a blown-up woohpy cushion, or a coke bottle all shook up (32:18). He’s full of hot air and has to find release. And once Elihu’s cork is popped, his words shoot out and spray everyone listening.
Elihu first sprays the three friends. He is angry that they couldn’t prove Job wrong. And of course he sprays Job. He is angry that Job has said some of the things he has said.
Amidst Elihu’s words, he says lots of true things. They are true, but irrelevant. And the overall thrust of Elihu’s argument is wrong. Elihu simply repeats what the three friends have already said.
Basically, Elihu believes God is punishing Job for his sins (33:19-33, 34:35-37; 36:8-12). God has spoken to Job in the suffering. The suffering itself tells Job that he needs to repent (36:8-12, 17, 21). He has sinned and needs to repent. Job should realise this from the suffering itself. And if Job repents, God will then restore him to his former blessedness.
Job 36:8-12 NIV 8 But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, 9 he tells them what they have done-- that they have sinned arrogantly. 10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. 11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. 12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
Again, we know this is wrong. Elihu has unwittingly believed Satan’s slander. That people serve God for what God gives them. And he also believes in karma, the automatic impulse in God. Prosperity is reward for righteousness, and suffering is the punishment for wickedness.
But unwittingly, Job has also fallen into this mistake. Job has taken on the retribution, the karma, theology of his friends. That is why Job has accused God of injustice. Job too has been thinking: ‘God, you haven’t been playing by the rules. I am righteous, but you’ve treated me like a sinner. I don’t deserve this punishment that you’ve sent me. You must be unfair.'
The friends and Elihu have fallen off one side of the narrow path. And Job has fallen off the other. The friends think suffering is punishment for sin. So Job has sinned. And this is wrong. But Job has begun to agree with them that suffering is punishment for sin. But God is wrong, he is unjust, God has wrongly punished him. We know the problem with both sets of thinking. Suffering is not always punishment for sin.
In the end, God accepts Job’s challenge. God will not allow the three friends and Elihu’s dishonest defences of him to stand (32:13) But neither will God allow Job’s challenge to go unanswered. God will speak for himself.
Now, God could have just told Job what happened in the heavenly realms. God could relate what happened in chapters 1 and 2. ‘Well, Job, Satan slandered both you and me. He kept saying you only served me for wealth and health. And I knew this wasn’t true. I knew you feared me and shunned evil. But to prove it to Satan, I took your wealth and health away. And look I was right. You didn’t curse me. Though you did say a few somewhat disappointing things.'
God could have said this. But he doesn’t, though it would be true.
What God does is engage in a reality check. In a torrent of rhetoric, God explains who he is, and who Job is. God has overstepped the mark, and so God puts Job back in his place.
Job 38:1-5 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: 2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4 "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? (Job 38:1-5 NIV)
He makes Job again see the distinction between creature and creator. In his pain and shame, Job temporarily lost sight of the fact that God is God. And that Job is a creature. Because God is God, Job should not accuse God of wrong or injustice. God is all wise. Not just all knowing, but all wise. He is the very definition of justice. Job has no right to demand anything of God. For the creature doesn’t call the creator to account. It is rank arrogance.
Paul talks about this kind of attitude in Romans 9:
20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? (Romans 9:20-21 NIV)
God is the creator and owes no explanation to humans. And so on and on God goes. God is sarcastic, even verging on mocking Job (eg 38:21). Job knows nothing. He spoke without knowledge. Job has no knowledge about the earth, the sky, the sea, how God made it, how it works. Job can’t control the stars, the constellations, the seasons (chapter 38). He knows nothing about the wild animals: the mountain goats on the heights, the wild donkeys in the wastelands, the fast but foolish ostrich. He can’t understand, let alone control, the great beasts that God made: The strength of the wild ox, the fearless warhorse, the sharp-eyed eagle (chapter 39). The massive behemoth (40:15-24) or the terrifying leviathan (41:1-34) God is the creator, and Job, the creature.
Job 40:1-14 NIV The LORD said to Job: 2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" 3 Then Job answered the LORD: 4 "I am unworthy-- how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. 5 I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more."
Job is so sorry that he can’t even say sorry yet. He has no answer to give God.
6Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm: 7 "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 8 "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? 9 Do you have an arm like God's, and can your voice thunder like his? 10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. 11 Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, 12 look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. 13 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. 14 Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
God here reminds Job of two things.
First, it was OK for Job to justify himself. It was right and true for him to say that he had not sinned to lead to the suffering. But it was wrong, very wrong, for him to then condemn God’s justice. He verged on accusing God of sin. All because he seems to have accepted his friend’s premise, that suffering is punishment for sin. Suffering is punishment for sin, and God has done wrong by me. And God rebukes him for this.
And second, Job needs to be saved. As righteous as Job is, he still has sins. Not that he has sinned to deserve the suffering. But at different places he does admit he has sins. And he is frail flesh in a harsh world. So God reminds Job that he needs to be saved. The relationship Job must purse with God is not the accuser. That’s Satan’s job, and he will be fully punished for it. No, the relationship is of sinful human needing salvation. Job, like us, needs a relationship with God not of debt, but of grace. For we cannot save ourselves. As Paul says:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
Often people are angry with God. If God is there, why does he do things like this? Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Wars, Floods, Hurricanes, Cyclones. Why did he take my loved ones from me? Why am I racked in this agony? Why did he make me like this? Why doesn’t he just kill me now, and be done with it?
But you and I are in no position to judge God. We are wholly and completely dependent on him. We cannot save ourselves. So what we need to ask God is not, ‘Why are you so unjust’, for that was Job’s mistake. We need to ask God to save us, because we cannot save ourselves.
For when we make ourselves God’s judge, we invite his rebuke as an enemy. But when we ask him to save us, he saves all who call upon him. For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved:
Romans 10:9-13 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
[1] http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor
[2] Sure there are other examples, eg Abraham, Elijah, Mary.
[3] God answered Jesus’ prayer with a voice that sounded to some like thunder (John 12:28-30)