God Responds
God Responds
Welcome to a behind-the-scenes look at the research and artwork that goes into making each scene of iBIBLE. Let's take a look at how God responds to Job.
In the past weeks, we looked at the conversation between Job and his friends. So many questions, hypotheses, and thoughts are given about why God allowed Job to suffer in this way. In the end, Job actually states that he wants the Almighty to answer him!
“Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)” –Job 31:35a [ESV]
And then, a voice rang out in a storm. Out of a whirlwind, God speaks:
“Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 'Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.'” Job 38:1-3
Until now, the book has been heavily focused on man's perspective of suffering, but now comes the divine reminder: remember who God is. God asks Job:
Where were you when I:
Laid the foundation of the earth (Job 38:4)
Set the limits to the movement of waters (Job 38:8-11)
Set the rules of light and darkness (Job 38:12-13, 17, 19)
Created the animals (Job 39)
And then He challenges Job:
“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.” –Job 40:2
Job had answers for everyone else, but in wisdom, he responds to God:
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.” –Job 40:4
But God has more direct words for Job:
“Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” –Job 40:8
And God demonstrates His might through the Behemoth and the Leviathan:
“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you… His bones are tubes of bronze, his limbs like bars of iron. He is the first works of God.” –Job 40:15,18-19a
“Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?…No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?” –Job 41:1,10
And now comes the bottom line, as Job is in awe and wonder of God:
“Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine.” –Job 41:11
Job’s reply clearly shows that he is overwhelmed with the glory, majesty, and power of God:
“I know that you can do all things…Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” –Job 42:2-3
“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” –Job 42:5-6
Job has come to clearly understand that it is not man who questions God, but God who questions and judges mankind. The answer to “why does God allow a righteous man to suffer?” is answered by God’s holiness, majesty, and the fact that He is the Almighty. Job learns that by questioning God, he has failed to acknowledge God’s power and position as Creator.
God ultimately does not answer Job about why he suffered. God, however, was glorified, and the armies of Heaven saw that Job valued God more than his possessions. Through all of this, Job learned a valuable lesson in questioning the Almighty! How often have we made the same mistake in asking God “why?”
Next week we will look at God’s response to Job’s three friends and His restoration of Job.
As we bring the words of the Bible to life through the iBIBLE creation process, this is one of our goals: to help people see the lessons contained in every event recorded in the Holy Scriptures. Thank you for helping us to reach this goal.
As we continue to work on iBIBLE, we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance to help us bring all the truths in the Scriptures to their proper portrayal. Thank you for helping RevelationMedia bring iBIBLE to the world! This is a God-sized project, and it is only possible with the support of individuals and families like you.
