GLEANINGS — January 12, A.D. 2014                                                                                                               "An Answer for Job"

The Bible records the account ("stories" are fictional) of the man Job. It describes his severe trials, his questionings, the conflictions of his own thoughts, and his outward wrestlings with his friends. The book bearing his name is the God-breathed documentation of events in the life of a man as real and historical as Adam, Abraham, Aaron, or Andrew the apostle, and accurately preserves what was spoken by Job and others.

We might reduce all Job's questions, recorded in his book, to two words: WHY, GOD!?

God Himself, speaking to the devil himself, says of Job that "...there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil" (Job 1:8, 2:3). At the end of the book, God commends what Job said, but He finds fault with what Job's three friends* said of God (42:7). Job himself, during his various discourses in the book, appeals to his own blamelessness in the midst of  his bitter sorrow and bewilderment. So with Job, we also wonder...WHY, GOD!?

The bottom line answer which God gives to Job can also be briefly summarized: "I am God, period" And that suffices the soul who loves and fears the God Who afterward blessed Job with blessings above and beyond the blessings he enjoyed before his severe trials.

Humbly in the fear of God and with a Biblical understanding of His ways, can we dare to offer further words of explanation? Can we who have a perspective possessed neither by Eliphaz, nor Bildad, nor Zophar*, nor Job's wife, nor Job himself put ourselves in their midst so long ago, and offer words of illumination and comfort? For the glory of God, perhaps we can!

If one of us could be transported back through the millenia to that time before Moses and the prophets, and heard Job's hearth wrenching wail – WHY, GOD!? – this is what we might say:

"Job, for thousands of years to come, untold millions of people who will love and trust the same God to Whom you clung 'through it all' will draw strength from your courageous example of faith in the midst of staggering loss and severe bodily illness!

Brave servant of God who held fast your integrity even when your own wife advised you to curse God, know that although you did curse the day of your birth and wished you had never been born, another great company of souls, feeling deep despair and being tempted to harm themselves, will NOT do so...because of you!

In the centuries ahead, dear saint, many parents who in God's mysterious providence will grieve over lost but still much beloved children will find soul healing power and the ability to go on in their callings to live for God, as His Spirit applies to them lessons gained from your life and fills them with resurrection hope!

Great sufferer, an untold company of God's suffering people will not only learn directly from you themselves, but the power of your example will be multiplied as yet others see through them – your imitators – what it means to live unto Him Who is unseen! 

Yes, Job, the ultimate answer is "He is God, period" Yet there is even more in which to rejoice – because He is the good and righteous God! Perhaps with you in mind one of the ambassadors of that coming Redeemer of whom you speak (Job 19:25) will write: "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33)

* The reader will notice that the fourth man who appears in the record, Elihu, is not mentioned along with the other three friends of Job, either in the Scripture verse cited, or by this writer. Hmm...