Welcome
Prayer
Song
Silence
In the chapters not covered, Job will make some statements that are honest and from the heart but are said in ignorance and lacking understanding.
This is another main subject of this book – human beings, even those who are suffering, failing to grasp the whole picture of things and then speaking ignorantly on matters – even matters that include suffering when we don’t seem to “deserve it.”
And while God will honor Job for his integrity, He will throw down on His willingness to make conjectures that “question God His Motives and Purposes.”
Here’s the thing straight up – ready?
IF there is a God, and IF this God is what we say He is – Love, Good, Holiness and Power – then NOBODY who believes this should EVERY question what He allows, permits or does. EVER.
(beat)
So, we left off talking about Elihu as the one who paved the way for the arrival of YAHAVAH.
And this brings us to Chapter 38:1.
From here to the end of the book, YAHAVAH asks Job no less than (Listen to this) . . . 88 questions. I would imagine that if He were to ask me one, I would die on the spot with shame, but Job gets eighty eight from the mouth of YAHAVAH almighty.
And remember all that Job has lost and God still asks Him these questions! None of it seems to even nudge the needle forward in having God justifying Jobs mouth or thoughts.
And this is THE GNARLIEST FACT IN SCRIPTURE . . . when it comes to human beings and God – He has no need to answer to anything or anyone for what He allows or prevents.
But He has the right to question.
I cannot impart the importance of this fact that God alone, only YAHAVAH, has the right to question and to not provide answers or even be questioned.
He wants us to question Him when the heart is right but in the face of this story I wonder about questioning Him when our hearts are wrong.
Not that He can’t handle it but the story of Job proves He will not cater to anyone that thinks they have the RIGHT to question Him.
Everything answers to Him – all things. And I just wish I could watch those souls who find themselves so witty and sharp of mind in their rejections and mockery of Him be questioned by His mouth, words and wisdom.
I think of the chutzpah of humanity, of people who actually think that they, in the face of this world’s situation and events, can call Him out.
The lack of responses He gives to Job who has suffered immeasurably underscores this fact.
And yet in their wisdom so called, we have “created-from-the-mud-human beings stepping forward and calling Him out.
It’s embarrassing to me, shameful, void of any faith, full of arrogance, short-sightedness and ignorance.
But God gives human beings made in His image the right and does not strike us dead on the spot for doing so, and while I will personally love cringy atheists like
Bill Gates
Warren Buffet
Mark Zuckerberg
Christopher Hitchens
Ricky Gervais
Ayn Rand and hundreds more
I find men like a dying atheist Steve Jobs last words Jobian as he said before passing
“Oh wow, oh wow, oh wow,” and gave up not only his ghost but his treasures on earth.
We are going to finish the book of Job today by considering YAHAVAH’S words to this man who has lost everything.
Along the way, Job will provide no more than seven passages but what he says is profound.
So, let’s cover Chapter 39 – 42. So, with Elihu having prepared the way for the arrival of YAHAVAH we read:
Job 38.1-end
God Speaks to a Man of Sorrows
November 26th
Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Q
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me D
At this point YAHAVAH begins to question Job on his general knowledge of Creation and asks
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Q declare, if thou hast understanding. Q
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Q or who hath stretched the line upon it? Q
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Q or who laid the corner stone thereof;
And we come to another reference to elohiyms at the creation when He adds
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Q
Then He seems to move down into the created earth and its environs and asks
8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? Q
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; Q and caused the dayspring to know his place; Q
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
Having mentioned the wicked, YAHAVAHA says
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? Q or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Q
And then in the midst of talking about the earth and sea He asks about death, saying
17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? Q or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Q
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? Q declare if thou knowest it all. Q
19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? Q and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, Q
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?
Then YAHAVAH almost sarcastically asks:
21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? Q or because the number of thy days is great? Q
These queries of the Man Job help prove that the Sons of God that shouted were not going to become human because Job is human and was not among them.
His next questions are profound as He asks
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Q or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Q
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Having opened this subject, YAHAVAH then goes deeper asking –
24 By what way is the light parted, Q which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, Q or a way for the lightning of thunder; Q
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? Q or who hath begotten the drops of dew? Q
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? Q and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? Q
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
Then YAHAVAH turns back to the cosmos and asks (showing that the writers had knowledge of the heavens)
31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, Q or loose the bands of Orion? Q
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? Q or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Q
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? Q canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Q
34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Q
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? Q
36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Q or who hath given understanding to the heart? Q
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? Q or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? Q
Moving to animal life, YAHAVAH asks Job
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? Q or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?Q
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat. Q
And that ends FORTY FOUR QUESTIONS but in chapter 39 YAHAVAH continues with the care of the earths animals and asks
Job 39:1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Q or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve? Q
2 Canst thou number the months that they fulfil Q or knowest thou the time when they bring forth? Q
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.
Now Joseph Smith inserted his name in Genesis. Well just to let you know, God speaks of me here in the book of Job, saying,
5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? Q or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass? Q
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.
Then onto unicorns (of course they are some kind of animal with one horn)
9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? Q Q
10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? Q or will he harrow the valleys after thee? Q
11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength is great? Q or wilt thou leave thy labour to him? Q
12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather it into thy barn? Q
Then peacocks and the Ostrich
13 Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? Q or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? Q
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 hers: her labor is in vain without fear;
Now listen to what God says here about the unwise movements of the Ostrich
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 scorneth the horse and his rider.
Then to horses
19 Hast thou given the horse strength? Q hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? Q
20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? Q 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.
Then the hawk and the eagle
26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south? Q
27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high? Q
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.
Twenty more QUESTIONS. And we move onto chapter 40 where He keeps going but this time, he asks a question that gets right down personal. Ready?
Job 40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? Q he (meaning Job) that reproveth God, let him answer it. Q
And God straight up calls Job out. “Can you instruct me, Job (or) you who reproves God, answer me.”
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.
Assuming that there is a God Almighty, which we believe in and take by faith, I mean the very creator, Governor, Kind, God or heaven and earth, all powerful, incomprehensibly wise, WHAT ON EARTH COULD WE SAY WHEN HE QUESTIONS US?
(long pause)
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? Q
And in my estimation we reach the pinnacle question every single human being must ask themselves relative to their pride, arrogance, and ignorance before their maker –
“Will we condemn the Living God so that we may be (seen as) righteous?”
So . . . so . . . so . . . many do, will and have. They think that they know better, could even do better, and have greater wisdom and the mindset, in the face of the reality is frankly unconscionable, lending directly to their breaking the first ten words into smithereens and elevating themselves up as God.
With this as the subject, YAHAVAH continues and asks Job
9 Hast thou an arm like God? Q or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? Q
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.
We note that Job has already repented (apparently) but this does not stop YAHAVAH from continuing His rant against his former attitude and this last line is a doozy!
“Do all of this, YAHAVAH seems to say, and then even I will confess that “Jobs own right hand can save himself.”
And here is the fact – we cannot come close to doing what God tells Job to do, meaning for him to
“Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place and then hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.”
I can’t even fix a broken air conditioner in my car! Or do calculus. Or heal a sore throat!
This is the point of Job – to move human beings into the proper alignment in their mind and heart with the living God and the writer uses the most extreme example for us to make the point – no matter WHAT . . . a human being really has no right to question, challenge or criticize the Living God.
Final words as God chooses to now go into great detail over Job and his relationship and understanding and person in the face of two of God’s creations that He seems to enjoy holding up against Job and his wisdom.
He begins with behemoth (in the rest of this chapter) and then God introduces Leviathan in chapter 41. (verse 15)
What are they?
When everything is said and done, we cannot definitively say though thousands of words have been offered to try.
Some say water ox (or hippo for behemoth) and others say Crock or Alligator for Leviathan.
From there we can reach out to blown-up depictions of the same (dinosaurs) or reduced (Gila Monsters and the like), depending on the author.
Some suggest animals that are no longer extinct or present on earth today, others suggest some really super – developed creatures that are like 300 feet in length with powers to boil the sea water and the like.
Again – we don’t know. What we do know is if YAHAVAH is using them to prove the weakness of Job even in the physical sense by comparison, these animals are bad ass and make us wonder about something like a T Rex.
So, here we go at verse 15 where God says
Job 40:15 Behold now behemoth, 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.
And then on to CHAPTER 42 where God really gets into describing Leviathan and says
Job 41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? Q or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Q
2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? Q or bore his jaw through with a thorn? Q
3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? Q will he speak soft words unto thee? Q
4 Will he make a covenant with thee? Q wilt thou take him for a servant for ever? Q
5 Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? Q or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens? Q
6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? Q shall they part him among the merchants? Q
7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? Q or his head with fish spears? Q
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?
Now listen to how YAHAVAH uses this example in verse 10 saying
10 None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me? Q
IN OTHER WORDS. I CREATED IT, WHICH NONE can stand before, so how do you stand before me?
It’s the same as us looking at the stars and saying, whoever created it I cannot challenge. So we create Big Bang to remove ourselves from a possible creator.
11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? Q 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? Q or who can come to him with his double bridle? Q
14 Who can open the doors of his face? Q his teeth are terrible round about.
15 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 (sneezes) 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.
That last line is really amazing as God himself admits that he made a creature, The KING of all the children of pride and calls it that! In other words, nothing proud had the right to be more proud than Leviathan – it could boast and no thing created could stop it.
Perhaps the message was this – it’s pride that moved you, Job, to ultimately believe that you could question me.
Here’s a creature I created that no human can stand against – I created it. And yet you question me, its creator??
Chapter 42 opens up with Job now responding once again – this time with more – let’s consider his words –
Job 42:1 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.”
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
And we get perhaps the biggest lesson of all from the text as Job now admits –
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
In verses 3-6 we have the most wonderful admission from this man who, still sitting in the dirt, still covered in boils, still absent all of his wealth and children, we get it.
In verse 2 he admits
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
“You are Almighty and my words and thoughts are nothing unique to you.” Then he adds at verse 3
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge?
Or, who can speak or give advice without your knowing it?
He adds to this a conclusion,
“therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.”
As people who walk by faith, this is the call – to realize we understand nothing by comparison and we are nothing by comparison. It’s a humble perspective but one that trusts in the Living God and no other – including our own wisdom.
And this is the heart of the devoted to God – no matter how righteous or good you are, you have no understanding of the things the Living God allows.
And with that wisdom, we humbly hold our tongue, refusing to castigate Our living loving God with short-sighted, faithless ramblings.
But Job continues and adds
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
Let me read this in context of the Book. What Job is really saying is
“Listen, I beg of you, and I will speak AS YOU HAVE SAID TO ME
“I will demand of the theee, declare thou unto me an answer if you can.”
And here is Jobs concluding thought –
(Job 42:5) I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Isn’t this a profound insight by Job into what he has just discovered. By this point in his life, he was hearing the Words of YAHAVAH – He knew what was said but He was unable (until now) to see the real meaning with His minds eye.
In other words, we can know the lyrics because we have heard the words but can we really see the point, the message and meaning?
Job was met with three friends who cited the words and the principles behind them. They counseled him with words, and he responded back with the same.
But all of them failed to really see (understand from the heart) exactly what they were dealing with . . . GOD ALMIGHTY.
May we learn the same from the study.
And now the Conclusion
7 And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite,
“My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.”
Here God tells the friends that what they have spoken of him was in error but His servant Job had! What does this mean? Didn’t God just berate Job for speaking foolishly?
He did. To me the only thing that we can conclude from this is Job was authentic and while his words lacked in understanding, he was speaking his heart where the friends were only mimicking what they had heard. So, God says to them
8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
Notice that these men who were giving advice now went to Job to offer sacrifice?
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
Notice Job offered nothing nor is Elihu even mentioned. And we come to the last half of the chapter at verse 10:
Job 42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, (returned his fortunes) when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
Notice the language – for it was not YAHAVAH who brought all the evil upon Him but Ha Satan – YAHAVAH merely allowed it – and I submit that it was for Job’s benefit and defense and not some baseless bet.
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
14 And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
15 And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
16 After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations.
17 So Job died, being old and full of days.
Questions/Comments
Next week we will cover Exodus.
PRAYER
