God’s Closing Rebuke And Challenge to Job
March 3, 2021
Commentary
The big question is – Do I want justice or do I want mercy? God finally gave Job the one thing he wanted most, the opportunity to meet Him in court and defend his case (vv. 1-2). But Job had no case to present. His first words were, “Behold, I am vile!” (vv. 3-4) which means, “I am insignificant and unworthy. I have no right to debate with God.” Is this the same man who said he would maintain his integrity regardless of what happened? Is this the same man who declared he was a righteous man and therefore there must be something wrong with God to let this happen to him. Job had told his friends and others to cover their mouths (Job. 21:5) but now Job had to put his hand over his mouth lest he say something he shouldn’t say (v. 4). He had spoken “once,” he had spoken “twice” but now he would say no more (v. 5). As long as we argue with God, He can’t accomplish His plan through us. Life is not always fair, but God always knows what is best.
The second response of God, as the first, was out of the “whirlwind"(v. 6). His first speech challenged Job’s presumptuous knowledge, while the second challenged Job’s charge that God was unrighteous in His rule of the world. The issue now is not the power of God, but the justice of God (vv. 7-8). Job had said that God was unjust in the way He had treated him, and in the way He failed to judge the wicked. Now God asks Job, “Do you have the strength and holy wrath it takes to judge sinners? If so, then start judging them” (vv. 9-14)! However, before He turned him loose on sinners he must practice on the hippopotamus (vv. 15-24) and the crocodile (Job 41:1-34). If Job succeeded in subduing them, then he would qualify to bring judgment against a sinful world. The hippo is the most powerful and fearless beast of the creation (v. 19).
Application
Throughout his time of suffering, Job longed to have an opportunity to plead his innocence before God. Then when God appeared to Job and gave him that opportunity he decided to remain quiet because God’s actions do not depend on ours. He will do what He knows is best regardless. If I ask for justice and get what I deserve, it will not be good. What I really need is God’s mercy.
Job 40:1– 24 (NET)
1 Then the Lord answered Job:
2 “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let the person who accuses God give him an answer!”
3 Then Job answered the Lord:
4 “Indeed, I am completely unworthy —how could I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself.
5 I have spoken once, but I cannot answer; twice, but I will say no more.”
6 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
7 “Get ready for a difficult task like a man. I will question you and you will inform me.
8 Would you indeed annul my justice? Would you declare me guilty so that you might be right?
9 Do you have an arm as powerful as God’s, and can you thunder with a voice like his?
10 Adorn yourself, then, with majesty and excellency, and clothe yourself with glory and honor.
11 Scatter abroad the abundance of your anger. Look at every proud man and bring him low;
12 Look at every proud man and abase him; crush the wicked on the spot.
13 Hide them in the dust together, imprison them in the grave.
14 Then I myself will acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.
15 “Look now at Behemoth, which I made as I made you; it eats grass like the ox.
16 Look at its strength in its loins, and its power in the muscles of its belly.
17 It makes its tail stiff like a cedar, the sinews of its thighs are tightly wound.
18 Its bones are tubes of bronze, its limbs like bars of iron.
19 It ranks first among the works of God, the One who made it has furnished it with a sword.
20 For the hills bring it food, where all the wild animals play.
21 Under the lotus trees it lies, in the secrecy of the reeds and the marsh.
22 The lotus trees conceal it in their shadow; the poplars by the stream conceal it.
23 If the river rages, it is not disturbed, it is secure, though the Jordan should surge up to its mouth.
24 Can anyone catch it by its eyes, or pierce its nose with a snare?
Illustration: Socialist Confronts Carnegie About Having Too Much Money
A socialist once came to see Andrew Carnegie and soon was railing against the injustice of Carnegie having so much money. In his view, wealth was meant to be divided equally. Carnegie asked his secretary for an assessment of everything he owned and at the same time looked up the figures on world population. He did a little arithmetic on a pad and then said to his secretary. “Give this gentleman 16 cents. That’s his share of my wealth.” (Source Unknown).