Overcoming through Faith

KEY VERSE: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye swath thee.” —Job 42:5

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Job 38:1-7; 40:3-5; 42:1-6, 10

GOD finally answered Job, as recorded in chapters thirty-eight through forty-one. He did not accuse Job of special sin. He knew Job was righteous at heart, even as he had told Satan. (Job. 1:8) Under great stress, and in combating his comforters, Job may have overemphasized his righteousness, and thereby implied God was responsible for his suffering. But he did not directly accuse God of bringing his trials upon him, and had even said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.”

Job’s difficulty was his lack of full comprehension of the glorious characteristics of God—his wisdom, justice, love, and power. God knew this; so in his reply he set before Job in a very wonderful manner how his greatness was manifested in the works of creation.

To read and reflect upon God’s answer to Job should give anyone a very exalted vision of the greatness and glory of God. Indeed, a reverent study of the chapters in which this reply is contained should do much to convince even an unbeliever of the fact that there is a supreme and intelligent Creator.

In order to impress Job, and before he had finished his answer, God said to him, “Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? He that reproveth God, let him answer it.” (Job. 40:2) Job then understood the Law’s lesson, and he replied, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”—vss. 4,5

The vision of himself which the Lord had shown to Job had the same effect upon him as upon Isaiah, when this prophet saw the Lord “high and lifted up.” Isaiah said, “Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, … for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isa. 6:1,5) A proper appreciation of the Lord, such as he gives to his people today through the truth of his gracious plan, should cause us all to humble ourselves before him and acknowledge our unworthiness of his grace.

God continued to reveal his wisdom and power to Job as seen in his marvelous creative works. (Chapters 40, 41) And Job’s appreciation of the majesty of the Lord increased. He “answered the Lord, and said, 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. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”—Job 42:2-6

Throughout his experience, and through the marvelous vision he had been given by God, Job learned to know and appreciate his Creator as never before. Like millions of others all down through the centuries, he had heard of God. Indeed to the extent of his understanding, he had faithfully served God. But never before had he truly seen God in the sense of understanding the glorious attributes of his character. And to “see” the glory of God was to make him realize his own nothingness, as well as his imperfections which hindered him from rendering the perfect service due to his exalted Creator.

The record states that “the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.” (Job 42:12) He became wealthier than ever; “He had also seven sons and three daughters.” (vs. 13) And in all the land there were no women so fair as the daughters of Job. After his trial Job lived for one hundred and forty years, “and saw his sons, and his son’s sons, even four generations.”—vss. 15,16

How richly Job was rewarded in compensation for the evil which was permitted to come upon him! And so it will be with all mankind. The permission of evil will contribute to the everlasting blessing of all the willing and obedient

Verse ten states that the Lord “turned the captivity of Job.” The word ‘captivity’ is used a number of times in the Old Testament to denote the state of death. Job might well be considered an illustration of the whole, dead world of mankind, and his restoration picturing the times of restitution of all things.—Acts 3:19-21

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