Billy P Eldred Supporter

God's answer to Job was basically, "How dare you question me? Do you really know who you are questioning?" He did this by describing things He did that no man could possibly do. In the middle of his rebuke to Job, Job withdrew his petition (Job 40:4-5):

“I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer— twice, but I will say no more.”

God was not through. He then shifted to addressing Job's issue. At issue was Job questioning God's justness. Again, God answered Job from out of the storm. Can you imagine how small Job felt? If there was a rock around, he was probably trying to hide behind it. God even said, "Can you make your voice thunder like this?"

God then described how mighty He was by asking Job if he, Job, could do things like control the mightiest beast on Earth. He included a rebuke that everyone on Earth should take to heart: "When you can do these things, then I, God, will say you can save yourself!" Of course, the point was that Job could never do these things. No one could! Therefore, we can never save ourselves. The first thing everyone needs to understand is WE NEED A SAVIOUR! We can't be good enough or work hard enough to save ourselves.

Job's reply: Job 42:1-6
Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

This is like Luke 18:13 NIV
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Job now understood not only how inept he and all men are before God but also how wonderful God is! Which He demonstrated to us when He sent his Son to die for us that our sins could be forgiven. 

God then rebuked Job's friends by saying Job 42:7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has."

One of the things that Job had said is my favorite scripture in the Bible: Job 19:25-27 NIV
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

3 days ago • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Did God answer Job's charges? (Job 38:1-41:34)

Yes, God answers Job in Job 38-41, but not with direct explanations for his suffering; instead, He responds with a series of rhetorical questions from a whirlwind, challenging Job's limited understanding by highlighting God's immense power and wisdom in creation, thereby demonstrating Job's inability to comprehend divine justice or fully grasp God's sovereignty, which ultimately leads Job to repent and trust God's goodness. 

What God Didn't Answer:

1: God never directly explains why Job suffered or addresses Satan's challenge in the book's prologue.

2: He doesn't offer a simple justification for the existence of evil or Job's personal pain. 

3: God responds not by addressing the content of Job's charges, but by challenging the presumption behind them, leading Job to trust in divine wisdom rather than human understanding. 

Conclusion:

After being silent throughout the dialogues between Job and his friends, God finally speaks to Job out of the whirlwind. God does not answer their questions about Job's guilt or innocence; rather, God speaks about the created order and contrasts what God can do with what humans can do.

Job 38-40 explains God's response to Job's complaints about suffering, using a series of challenging questions about creation and nature (cosmos, weather, animals like lions, ravens, wild donkeys) to show Job's limited understanding and God's infinite wisdom and control, ultimately humbling Job and demonstrating that divine governance isn't based on simple human justice but on profound wisdom Job can't grasp, leading Job to acknowledge his insignificance. 

These chapters shift the focus from Job's suffering as a result of injustice to a demonstration of God's sovereign wisdom and power, revealing that God's ways are beyond human understanding, and true righteousness involves trusting His inscrutable wisdom, not demanding answers based on limited human perspectives. 

Job is advised to recognise human limits and trust that God will take care of what Job and others cannot know or do.

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Shirley H Supporter Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

Yes. Though Job feared God would crush him, God overwhelmed him into submission to restore his role as the Lord's servant.

God challenges Job in 38:3 and verse 40:7. These challenges are to alert Job to the consequences of his complaints and demands.

The Lord asks Job if he was an eyewitness to the foundation of the world.

In Verses 38:12-15 God answers the complaint in verses 24:13-17.

God questions Job about the sea, and death. (Job 10:18-22) Since Job had spoken intelligently, (38:19-21) the Lord asks Job to lead a guided tour to the abode of light and darkness.

God answers Job I think by showing Job that he does not know all that he thinks he knows. God is proving/revealing His omnipotence.

God by showing Job his lack of understanding, is telling Job, "Hey, I got this!"

The Lord interrogated Job to demonstrate his ignorance of God's plan! Would that more people today might question and discover the almighty God! 

The Lord asks who provides for the raven. (38:41). God is in charge! If He cares for the birds, what do you think, Job? 

Is there anything more vulnerable than a deer giving birth? Who watches? 

In Job 3:18, Job had complained about oppression. We see the answer here in 39::5-7.

God, I think is having fun with Job in 39:13-18! In 30:29 Job identified with an ostrich! The ostrich is no doubt laughed at, (see 30:1) but is unconcerned about its situation. Job in contrast is full of worry!

God asks Job questions! Verse 39:30, answers Job's question in 24:1-17).

The Lord confronts Job with his criticism. He invites Job to become king for a day! (40:9-14)

By chapter 41 I think that the Lord has endured enough! His patience are being pushed! 41:10: "No one is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me?"

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