Finding Peace with God

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

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Job 29:1-5; 40:6-9; 42:1-6

LEARNING to find peace with God, when the trials of life may be pressing hard, is a characteristic of heart that should be much sought after by every child of God. In last week’s lesson we considered Job, who was an upright man. We also learned that Satan was allowed to prove Job’s loyalty to God. We then compared his experiences with those of the Christian and found that there is an important lesson for all who desire to put their lives in the Heavenly Father’s care.

Job’s reaction to the misfortunes that had befallen him is worthy of our attention. While in the depths of despair and hardship, Job continued to praise God and to render thanks for the goodness and mercy of his Creator. First, after having learned of one misfortune after another, he said (1:21): “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Later, after having suffered even greater deprivation and misery, he said (13:15), “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” It is evident from these passages that Job was a man of strong faith. God had allowed Satan to test his loyalty, and in spite of the calamities that had come upon him he continued to show his devotion. Indeed, he had learned to find peace with God.

Job looked back to the calmer days when he had found favor with God and said: “Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; when his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; as I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me.” (29:2-5) His words are full of pathos, for how different his life had become! He had been stripped of everything except his bare existence.

“Then answered the Lord unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Hast thou an arm like God or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?” (40:6-9) Job had complained that he had spoken to God, not once, but twice, with the implied suggestion that God had not heard him. God responded in such a way (in the whirlwind) that his omnipotence and power were manifest. The lesson was brought forcibly to Job’s attention.

The third group of selected scriptural readings is taken from chapter 42. In these passages Job answered with the acknowledgment that God’s wisdom and power lay far beyond his own ability to comprehend. He had come to realize that his complaints were unjustified and that they were spoken in ignorance. He had come to the place in his life where he could surrender himself to God and submit his life to the divine purpose. He said (42:2-5), “I know that Thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from Thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech Thee, and I will speak: I will demand of Thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”

Job had all along been trying to solve the mystery of his predicament. He had suffered much in the way of deprivation and sorrow, yet he came to realize his need for divine grace. Eventually Job’s health was restored, and he again became rich. In the end God gave him another family—and in many ways he became better off than he had been in the beginning. Woven within the framework of Job’s experiences we catch a glimpse of the divine purpose to restore mankind in the kingdom of Christ. In a larger sense the whole human race has been experiencing sin and death, but they will be restored to health and happiness in due time. For this we may all rest in peace with God.

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