Job 23 - 24

A Fair Hearing

In Job's final response to Eliphaz, he maintains his innocence.  If he could but find the "court of God" he would present his case.  "Would he [God] use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing."(23:6).  This demonstrates the wisdom of Job.  God does not argue, or need to argue with his people.  He is just and fair and will consider the case one presents before him.  Unlike Job's friends who feel compelled to rationalize and justify Job's condition, Job knows that the providence of God is at work in his life. "Once he has made his decision, who can change his mind?" Job asks in verse 13.

God is sovereign, doing as he pleases.  In a type of the suffering of Christ, Job is allowed to suffer only because it pleases God to permit it.  There is no other contributing factor.  Yes, Job suffers, and the suffering is real, painful, even horrific, but God limits what Satan is granted to do.  And, ultimately God delivers Job and teaches his friends a lesson in humility and forgiveness.

Verse 8-12 are some of my favorite verses in Job and all of the Bible, especially 8 and 9.  "I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed."  Here is Job, in tremendous torment, having lost everything of material value, having lost his progeny, his wife rebuking him, and his friends accusing him.  He seeks God in every direction, yet God is not there.  He is seemingly totally alone in the world. He cannot go forward or backwards. He cannot veer to the right or left. He knows there is a God, but he cannot perceive him in any manner.  The hopelessness of the situation stretches the imagination.

Yet, God knows Job and is mindful of his situation.  He has chosen him, above all men, to suffer for the Lord's name, to please and glorify the testimony of God concerning Job.  Verse 10, "But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold."  Praise the Lord! So in Job's existential loneliness and in the irrationality of his existence, God is still there despite Job's inability to witness his presence.

The promise of this thought is faith inspiring.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.