Job is about to subjected to an exam to which he does not have any answers. God is going to put to an exam by God. Job finally gets what he wanted, an audience with God to state his case. He is going to regret it! Job gets no answers to his sufferings. God does not have to reveal His sovereign plan.

1 – The silence of Job (Job 38:1-3)

God has said nothing so far but now he speaks to Job out of a storm. We would like God to speak to us in the sunshine! God often speaks to us out of the storms in our lives. God picks the categories for questions and Job doesn’t know any of the answers.

• The asking that provoked Job’s silence – God is going to ask Job some questions.

1. What do you know about history? (38:4-7) – There is no answer from Job. He wasn’t there!
2. What do you know about oceanography? (38:8-11) – The sea covers three quarters of the Earth’s surface. The ocean can only go so far. Why is that? Job has no answer.
3. What do you know about meteorology? (38:12-38) – Can Job command the sun to rise in the morning? Does he remember the beginning of light and darkness? What does he know about snow, hail, the east wind, rain thunder, dew, frost, ice, lightening and clouds? Job says nothing. He is dumbfounded by the workings of creation.
4. What do you know about astronomy? (38:31-33) – Astrology is a pseudo-science. If you having a bad life, don’t blame it on the stars! God talks about astronomy. There is a big difference. Astronomy is scientific and has a bearing upon the seasons of the year. They appear at the same place in the sky each season. Job has no idea.
5. What do you know about zoology? (38:34-39:30) – Can Job provide food for the animals of the world? There are peculiar animals that have distinct traits. Six beasts and five birds are mentioned and Job has no clue.

• The answer that proved Job’s silence (Job 40:1-5) – God asks Job to speak up and say something. Job opens his mouth and now realises he has to shut up! Job realises God’s greatness and power. Job is wise to keep his mouth shut. You can be silent and still be in rebellion! God was not content to just have Job in silence.

2 – The surrender of Job (40:6ff)

God has more questions for Job!

• God confronts Job (vs. 6-8) – God wonders if Job is going to continue to make accusations against Him. Does Job want to criticise God’s fairness and judgment to justify himself?
• God challenges Job (vs. 9-14) – God asks Job about his arm. Is his arm and power like God’s? Listen to your voice. Does it sound like the voice of God? Look at you appearance. Can you clothe yourself with majesty, splendour and glory like God? Does Job want to ascend to heaven and take over for a while? God has to deal with the proud. Job is dressed down by God.
• God confounds Job (vs. 15.-) – Job hasn’t answered so God keeps the questions coming. These two animals are likely the hippopotamus and the crocodile. God doesn’t use them as examples because of their beauty but because of their strength.

1. The lesson of the hippo – God has made this earth “monster” and no man could control it. Job was not God’s equal!
2. The lesson of the crocodile – God has made this water “monster”. Job cannot control it. You can’t catch it like a fish! There are few weapons that you can use against it that will work! If you lay your hand on a crocodile you are likely going to lose that hand! However, God can handle these monsters. Does Job want to confront God? Not a good idea!

• God conquers Job – God has finally conquered Job.

1. Job’s repentance (vs. 1-6) – Job repents. He is talking about things he knows nothing about. Job has had his moment with God. He realises how insignificant he is. He has gone from silence to submission. Job has come to the place where God wants him to be. He is humbled and broken. He is guiltless of what he has been accused of committing by his “friends”. Job confesses that he is wrong to question the justice of God in his own life. God humbles Job. He learnt that God is in control and we must trust in Him.
2. Job’s reconciliation (vs. 7-9) – God was angry with Job’s friends because they had misrepresented God to Job. They had said wrong things about God when Job had been so weak and so full of suffering that he could not respond. To make a covering for their sin they were to take sacrifices to Job’s house and make an offering. Job would pray for them and make intercession. God would not recognise them but He would recognise Job. They made sacrifices that would have been enough to represent the entire nation! It shows how upset God was with Job’s friends. They had given bad counsel. Job prayed for his friends and they were reconciled to God. There is no mention of resentment on the part of Job. He forgave others as he was forgiven by God.

3 – Job’s Restoration (Job 42:11ff)

• God restored his friends (vs. 11) – Job got his friends back and they had a party at his house.
• God restored his finances (vs. 12) – Job started off with 7,000 sheep and he ends up with 14,000 sheep. He started out with 3.000 camels and he ends up with 6.000 camels. He started out with 500 oxen and now he has 1,000 oxen. God gave back Job twice as much as he lost!
• God restored his family (v12, 13-15) – This is a mirror of what we had seen in the first chapter of Job. Job is gathered with his extended family. Job is given 10 more. He had ten in heaven and ten on earth. His last three daughters were the most beautiful upon the earth. Job gave an inheritance to his daughters. This was unusual in society at this time. His three daughters’ names mean “peace”, “fragrance” and “beauty”.
• God restored his favour (vs. 16-17) – Job lived another 140 years to maybe 210 years old. Job was called “my servant”. He served God through his suffering. Sometimes God trusts us with stuff. Job lived a rich, full life all the way to the end. Whatever adversity you are facing, learn from Job’s experience and stay close to God.

Categories: Job