Explore: What am I supposed to learn?

• The Explore the Bible lesson for July 14 focuses on Job 38:1-4; 42:1-12.

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• The Explore the Bible lesson for July 14 focuses on Job 38:1-4; 42:1-12.

In this passage, which concludes the unit on Job, we find God’s response to Job’s accusations. In other words, Job has gotten what he wants: an answer from God (note the word Lord in all capital letters indicates the Hebrew word use is YHWH, the covenant name of God).

The setting of God’s entrance into the conversation is especially important. The NIV states God “spoke to Job out of the storm” (38:1). Other translations read “out of the whirlwind,” “from the eye of a violent storm” or “out of the raging storm.”

This is not simply a description of the weather at the time of this event. The weather is part of the event, what scholars call a theophany, or an appearance of God. The use of what seems to be some sort of cyclonic storm conveys God’s power and strength before even one word is spoken.

A clear message

God’s words to Job are, of course, significant: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me” (38:2-3). This opening sends a clear message to Job that disputing with God is not the same as disputing with Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu.

Moreover, Job is told he will be asked questions which he must answer. These questions involve God’s acts in creation and the ongoing care of nature, asking where Job was when these acts were completed (38:4-39:40). God’s point is to say that if Job fully understands God’s ways, then surely he was present at creation as well.

In chapter 40, Job attempts to respond. God pushes him to answer all of these questions: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” (40:2). Job demonstrably realizes he is in over his head: “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” (40:4-5).

Getting a response


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While this may seem like a good response to God—maybe we have said words like these before—it is not enough for God in this moment, especially after all Job had said previously. God once again repeats his admonition, “Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me” (40:7). In other words, Job asked for a response from God, and now he is getting it, so he should stop complaining. God continues to ask more questions beyond Job’s comprehension, let alone his ability to answer.

By chapter 42, Job surely is exhausted. He again confesses his small stature in comparison to God. He retracts his defiance by stating, “I spoke of things I did not understand” (42:3); and “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (42:6).

Interestingly, Job does not withdraw his claim to innocence, nor does God require him to do so. In fact, this late dispute between God and Job was not primarily concerned with whether Job sinned or not—the topic never comes up in chapters 38-41.

Trust God

In other words, God’s response to Job resituates his troubles within the orbit of God’s mysterious care of all creation. This does not provide many specific answers for Job’s circumstances—or our own personal troubles—but it does offer an important way forward in life in the aftermath of his suffering: Trust God.

The epilogue of the book of Job is sometimes frustrating to readers because it provides symmetry to Job’s story by describing his reception of immense wealth and a new family. In many ways, this puts him back where he was at the beginning of the book. God also vindicates Job to his friends, who must pay their respects to Job (42:7-9). This seems to provide an easy resolution to Job’s situation, as though he could resume being the same Job he was previously.

Surely this is not the case, because we are not the same after having read this text. We, like the suffering Job, found no easy resolution or moralistic formula to explain Job’s struggles, or our own. Further, we know God does not always “restore the fortunes” of those who experience suffering and loss.

Job’s dissonance between knowledge of God and knowledge of life circumstances is our dissonance as well. Thus, it is important to notice that instead of a simplistic answer—which easily can be found in our culture—Job showed us a continuous pull to a deeper sense of trusting God, in spite of our circumstances. Certainly this is sometimes difficult to embrace, but it is the way to go on in the face of immense suffering.


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