Discovering a Meaningful Faith

MEMORY VERSE: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee.” —Job 42:5

JOB 23:1-4, 16, 17

JAMES wrote, “Ye have heard of the patience of Job” (James 5:11) Job needed patience. Not a great deal of information is given in the Bible concerning him, but from what it does give, we know he was a rich man who owned much cattle, sheep, and camels. He had a wife, and a family of sons and daughters; he was well-respected in his community, and apparently was looked up to as being a religious comforter.

God permitted calamity to come upon Job. His family was destroyed; he lost his flocks and herds; his home burned down, and finally his wife said, “Curse God and die.” (Job 2:9) In addition to all this Job lost his health, breaking out with a loathsome skin disease from head to foot.

Then three of Job’s friends visited him, as comforters. They expressed the religious viewpoint of those in the circle within which they moved; namely, that the truly righteous prosper, and maintain good health, while calamity and ill health were an indication that one was out of harmony with God, either outwardly or secretly. They forthwith accused Job of having secretly committed some gross sin which he failed to acknowledge, claiming this was the reason for all his trouble. Eliphaz, one of his comforters, said to him, “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee”—Job 22:21

We know that these comfort, for later the Lord said to them, “Ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath” (Job 42:7) Job knew that he had not knowingly transgressed against God, so the false viewpoint of his comforters merely served as a further test of his patience and his faith. Job knew that if he could find an explanation, he would be satisfied.

“O that I knew where I might find him,” said Job: “Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot perceive him: on the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: but he knoweth the way that I take: when he bath tried me I shall come forth as gold.”—Job 23:3,8-10

To put this in other words, Job is saying that while he could not find God, he believed God was trying, or testing him, and when this test was over he would come forth approved, as gold which is tried in the fire.

JOB 42:1-6

In due time God began to reveal himself to Job. First it was through a series of questions. (chs. 38-41) Many of these questions pertained to God’s creation, and all of them were designed to impress Job with how little he really knew concerning God. They were questions for which he did not know the full answer. Since this was true, how could he expect to understand fully God’s dealings with him?

Job answered the Lord: “I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.” (vs. 2) Job continues, “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.” (vss. 5,6) All that Job’s three comforters said to him did not cause him to feel the need of repentance, for he had not willfully sinned against the Lord.

But when the Lord spoke, it was different. He realized then that although he had done his best to serve the Lord he had come short of the perfect standard of righteousness, and thus felt the need of repentance. The power of God, through his Word, will yet bring all mankind to repentance, except those who are willfully opposed to him.

Through the centuries of history there have been millions who have heard about the Lord, and many who have served him without truly knowing him. These will, even as Job, in the future kingdom of the Messiah “see” God.

QUESTIONS

How were Job’s faith and patience displayed?

What was the viewpoint of Job’s comforters, and why was it wrong?

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