The book of Job reveals to us a few things about God and His
world. We see from the first few chapters that the angelic sons
of God by creation do come before the Lord, they are after all,
servants that He created for different functions. Obviously they
were created to be able to come before God in all His glory, it
is written that man can not look upon the face of God and live.
We have seen that Moses was only allowed to see the back part of
the Eternal in His glory.
And it is obvious from these first chapter a Job that Satan
is allowed at times to also come before God, at least in this
particular case concerning Job. The Almighty was very pleased
with Job, he was a perfect and upright man, who feared God and
avoided evil, in fact there was none like him in all the earth in
that day.
Satan accused God of putting a hedge about Job, that he
served Him only because of the good physical life the Lord was
allowing him to have.
"Okay," said God, "I will allow you to take things away from
him."
As you read on in these first chapters, more and more things
were taken away from Job, and Job did not sin. It finally got to
where Job had all kinds of boils from the sole of his foot to the
crown of his head. Even Job's wife told him to curse God and die.
"You do not know what you are talking about," Job told her,
"shall we not receive good at the hand of God and shall we not
receive evil (chapter 2:9-10).
Job knew that a child of God did not always have, or was not
always guaranteed a rose garden, and sometimes with the rose
garden comes sharp thorns.
The apostle Paul certainly knew that life was not always a
birthday party. And chapter 11 of Hebrews .... well you read it,
and see that some people did not have the easiest physical life
in serving God.
Why is it that some do and some do not? There is no answer!
Why did most of the 12 apostles die as martyrs and the apostle
John lived into old age and die a natural death? We have no
answer. Only that the Lord promises not to try us more than we
are able to bear. Those who suffered in the flesh for God were
able to bear it, and they go down as being some of the greatest
people of faith. It is an inspiration for the rest of us.
We are told by wise king Solomon in Ecclesiastes that "time
and chance" can happen to any one. We have to accept that, and
make the most of each day we are given. Most of us never know
when it is our last day in the flesh, and the sleep in death
awaits us until the resurrection.
Many years ago I was attending a Feast of Tabernacles in the
south of the USA. The first day we had an announcement that a
family, husband and wife and three children travelling to our
Feast site, they had a car accident that killed all of them, the
details I have now forgotten. They were about God's business,
doing the Lord's work, on their way to observe the Feast of
Tabernacles, and they were all killed.
I have seen young and old die in local congregations in what
is "time and chance." One beautiful young lady about 14 or 15 got
sick, as did the rest of her brothers and sisters, from one of
those very rare "house sicknesses" you just about never hear
happening today. This was way back in the 1960s but even then it
was extremely uncommon. She came down so sick she was sent to the
hospital. The local minister asked me to visit her and explain
the very serious life and death situation she was in. Here was
this sweet and lovely looking girl, very mature for her age,
someone who loved the Lord and His Bible. I had to tell her the
life and death situation she was facing, and that we did not know
if God was going to heal her, we were praying for her; the
doctors told us they could do no more. I asked her if she
understood what I was saying to her. With sweet calmness and
peace of mind she told me she indeed understood. For such a young
age she was a mighty fine example of trust and faith, that
whatever the Lord decided, well she was at peace.
A few days later I received the phone call to say she was
now sleeping in death.
I've written about her story elsewhere on this Website.
What are some of the lessons from Job, well some of his
words teach us how to look to God:
"Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure
than his maker"? (chap.4:17).
"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise
not the chastening of the Almighty" (5:17).
"There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty
gives them understanding" (chap.32:8). Yes God has given to us an
invisible spirit that united with our mind so we are above all
the mind of any animal. There is no animal that can put together
the workings of the Internet and all the information it can
house. No animal can decide it will go to the moon and then make
it happen. God created us as indeed "unique" beings.
Who was it that laid the foundations of the earth, put it
just at the right distance from the sun, so we would not melt
away or be frozen stiff? Who set the right amount of ozone to
filter out the bad rays of the sun (as long as we do not mess the
ozone up with our pollutants)? Who created gravity that all our
solar system works on to keep our little blue planet in a safe
position around the sun? Who created all the trees and vegetation
that produce oxygen for us while they drink in carbon dioxide? On
and on we could go. Who created the law that dogs and cats cannot
breed together? Who created the law that horses and cows do not
and cannot breed together? Can we lift up our voice to the clouds
and tell them to rain? Who has set all the different foods for
all the different animals on earth? Is it us each day who must
look after the feeding all created creatures? Who created the
light and the darkness, just so that under normal conditions
gives life to this earth. Who created the sea creature that live
so deep down in the ocean there is no light, but constant
blackness, yet many of them we now know because we can go there
in our tiny submarines and see the creatures with their built in
lights. Who decided the oceans would have their boundaries? What
is it that we teach God, is it not that we find out more as what
He teaches us, day by day we learn more of the marvels of
creation and of the universe, that is ever faster and faster
expanding, Our own milky way galaxy is 100 THOUSAND LIGHT YEARS
ACROSS - that is going at the speed of light which is 186,000
miles per second, for 100,000 years. Since the days Jesus walked
this earth is it has been 2,000 years. We have hardly begun our
journey across the Milky Way, we are still in the dug out, going
at 186,000 miles a second.
God works MIRACLES as and when He sees fit. The Bible is
full of them. History is full of them. Who stopped the wind and
the waves as the allied soldiers were forced onto the beaches of
Dunkirk in the Second World War, they only way to escape full
destruction by the advancing might of the German army, was to
escape across the English channel, which is just about never
peaceful. They came across in row boats and tiny boats, made
possible by the miracle of Dunkirk. Miracles are still happening,
maybe you have personally seen them in your life or the life of
someone you know or knew.
God speaks to us in the book of Job:
CHAPTER 38
God challenges Job to answer
THEN the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee,
and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?
declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who
hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the
corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God
shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if
it had issued out of the womb?
9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a
swaddlingband for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here
shall thy proud waves be stayed?
12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the
dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the
wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.
15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high
arm shall be broken.
16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou
walked in the search of the depth?
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou
seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Declare if thou
knowest it all.
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness,
where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that
thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wart then born? or because the
number of thy days is great?
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou
seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the
day of battle and war?
24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east
wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters,
or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the
wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud
of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven,
who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep
is frozen.
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the
bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazz-a-roth in his season or canst thou
guide Arcturus with sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the
dominion thereof in the earth?
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of
waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto
thee, Here we are?
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given
understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the
bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast
together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of
the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie
in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry
unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
CHAPTER 39
God continues his challenge:
1 KNOWEST thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring
forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil? or knowest thou
the time when they bring forth?
3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they
cast out their sorrows.
4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn;
they go forth, and return not unto them.
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the
bands of the wild ass?
6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his
dwellings.
7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the
crying of the driver.
8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth
after every green thing.
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy
crib?
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or
will he harrow the valleys after thee?
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? or wilt
thou leave thy labour to him?
12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and
gather it into thy barn?
13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and
feathers unto the ostrich?
14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in
dust,
15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild
beast may break them.
16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were
not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;
17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he
imparted to her understanding.
18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scometh the
horse and his rider.
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck
with thunder?
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his
nostrils is terrible.
21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in his strength: he
goeth on to meet the armed men.
22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he
back from the sword.
23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the
shield.
24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither
believeth he that it is the sound of the trumpet.
25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the
battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward
the south?
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on
high?
28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the
rock, and the strong place.
29 From thence she seeketh the prey, and her eyes behold afar
off.
30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain are,
there is she.
CHAPTER 40
Job humbles himself:
1 MOREOVER the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he
that reproveth God, let him answer it.
3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine
hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer, yea, twice; but I
will proceed no further.
God's power and wisdom:
6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and
said,
7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and
declare thou unto me.
8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that
thou mayest be righteous?
9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice
like him?
10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array
thyself with glory and beauty.
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that
is proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread
down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in
secret.
14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand
can save thee.
15 Behold now Be-he-moth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass
as an ox.
16 Lo now, his strength is in his loins, and his force is in the
navel of his belly.
17 He moveth his tail, like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are
wrapped together.
18 His bones are as strong pieces of brass; his bones are like
bars of iron.
19 He is the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make
his sword to approach unto him.
20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the
beasts of the field play.
21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and
fens.
22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of
the brook compass him about.
23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, and hasteth not: he trusteth
that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
24 He taketh it with his eyes: his nose pierceth through snares.
CHAPTER 41
The power of God in the Leviathan:
1 CANST thou draw out Le-vi-a-than with an hook? or his tongue
with a cord which thou lettest down?
2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through
with a thorn?
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft
words unto thee?
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a
servant for ever?
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him
for thy maidens?
6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him
among the merchants?
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with
fish spears?
8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not one be cast down
even at the sight of him?
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to
stand before me?
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is
under the whole heaven is mine.
12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely
proportion.
13 Who can discover the face of his garment? or who can come to
him with his double bridle?
14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible
round about.
15 And his scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close
seal.
16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they
cannot be sundered.
18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the
eyelids of the morning.
19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap
out.
20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or
caldron.
21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his
mouth.
22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy
before him.
23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in
themselves; they cannot be moved.
24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of
the nether millstone.
25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason
of breakings they purify themselves.
26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear,
the dart, nor the habergeon.
27 He esteemeth iron as straw, and brass as rotten wood.
28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with
him into stubble.
29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a
spear.
30 Sharp stones are under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things
upon the mire.
31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like
a pot of ointment.
32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep
to be hoary.
33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the
children of pride.
CHAPTER 42
Job's repentance:
1 THEN Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can
be withholden from thee.
3 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......
Job goes on to say he had heard about God, in a certain way
he had known god, but now his eyes and mind were truly opened,
and he said he abhored himself, and repented in dust and ashes
(verses 5-6).
The mighty Leviathan sounds like the fire blowing monster
that has been in folk history for centuries - the DRAGON of so
many stories handed down through the time of man on earth. Only
time destroyed that creature, not man, but time. God had His
reasons that such a monster is still not with us. The same for
the mighty Behemoth. There is no creature today out there in the
hills that comes close to his power and might. Indeed for reasons
known only to God, these two monster creatures are not with us
today. But, even without them we have been able to look back
through geological history and have the skeleton remains of
creatures from the Dinosaur age that man would have never been
able to tame and control.
Today we can search the universe and discover things that
blow the human mind, things so great, so mighty, so powerful,
they are very much "out of this world."
If you can, you need to obtain the DVDs from the History
channel of TV called "The Universe" - season one and season two,
and maybe more as time goes on. There are also the BBC's "Planet
Earth" and "The Blue Planet" - both sets of DVDs are
breathtaking.
The AWESOMENESS of what the Eternal Godhead has created is
so MAGNIFICENT from the smallest atom to the largest creations in
the universe that we like Job, should be HUMBLED and be willing
to SEE with our mind, that Job came to see, the true God, not the
God of man's religion, but the REAL God. Then with that mind-set
that real God can lead us with His Spirit, to understanding His
Word as preserved in the pages of the Holy Bible.
Job came to know God! Will YOU? The studies on this Website
are to help you find the restitution of all things - to find the
light and truth of those things that God wants you to know and
understand in this life time.
.......................
To be continued
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