“Nothing can keep the purposes of God from
being manifest. His true strength can wait its time until the best minute has
come. No miracle? No intervention by God? Remember – that is only a commentary on the past. The future is wide open with
possibility!” (Robert L. Wise in his
book “When There Is No Miracle”)
Job was on the precipice of a reversal of
fortunes.
Following a divine
PowerPoint presentation on the intricate design of the two primordial monsters Behemoth
and Leviathan, Job responded to God with the following, “Then Job answered the LORD and said, ‘I know that You can do all
things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.’” (42:1-2) Keil and
Delitzsch write, “Those strange but wondrous monsters are a proof to him that
God is able to put everything into operation, and that the plans according to
which He acts are beyond the reach of human comprehension.”
I like that. “…the plans according to which He acts are
beyond the reach of human comprehension.” The apostle Paul echoed that same sentiment
when he wrote this in Ephesians 3:20, "Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us..."
God's ultimate plan for Job wasn't maggots and misery; God's plan was to do far more abundantly beyond all that he could possibly ask or even dream about! And God's plan for you isn't some inconsequential, drab and mundane existence...His plan for you is to share His dream, His passion and His life!
Job’s declaration of faith is worth
repeating, “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can
be thwarted.” The striking thing about that statement? He says this, not when he is delivered and
healed, but when he is still engulfed in tragedy!
Notice how these various versions put that
verse:
BBE: I see that You are able to
do every thing, and to give effect to all Your designs.
Darby: I know that Thou canst do
everything, and that Thou canst be hindered in no thought of Thine.
Message: I’m convinced: You can
do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset Your plans.
There are two
words we should pay close attention to in this section. The first is the word “purpose.” A few years
ago there was a phenomenal best-selling book by Rick Warren titled “The Purpose
Driven Life.” We desperately need to
know that there is meaning to our lives – that there is a divine intention,
plan and goal. Concerning this word
“purpose” found here, Jamison/Faucet/Brown write in their commentary, “The word
is designedly chosen to express that, while to Job’s finite view, God’s plans
seem bad, to the All-wise One they continue unhindered in their development,
and will at last be seen to be as good as they are infinitely wise.
Next, do you see that word “thwart?” Its kind of a funny word and it essentially
means “to oppose successfully; prevent from accomplishing a purpose; to
frustrate or baffle.” From the vantage
point of earth, Job’s life-plan (his purpose) seemed to have been thwarted –
successfully opposed and frustrated. But
from the vantage point of heaven, it was right on course! In previous chapters, while Job surveyed the seemingly
disorganized and meaningless pattern on the backside of the tapestry of his
life (the wreckage, tragedy and sickness that engulfed him), it must have
seemed to him that a beautiful tapestry could never possibly be woven out of
his life. In his view, the Divine Weaver appeared to be inept.
Prior to chapter 38, it seemed that God’s
purpose for Job had been thwarted and that the Managing Director of the
Universe had sorely mismanaged Job’s life.
But that is no longer his view.
“I am convinced,” Job now says out of the
wreckage surrounding him, “You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans!”
42:3
“”Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?'” "Therefore I have
declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I
did not know."
Note how these versions put that verse:
Amplified: You said to me, “Who
is this that darkens and obscures counsel by words without knowledge? Therefore
I now see I have rashly uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful
for me, which I did not know.
Message: You asked, ‘Who is this
muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my
purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me,
made small talk about wonders way over my head.
Job repeats what God had asked him earlier (“Who
is this that hides council [by words] without knowledge”). He then humbly acknowledges, “I, I am the
one, I have declared that which I did not understand; I have babbled on about things too wonderful for me, which I
did not know…”
Hartley says
this, “In taking this path Job confirms that humility is essential for a vital
relationship with God. With this
concession Job demonstrates that he serves God for himself alone and not for
any personal gain or benefit, not even his own justification. Yahweh's confidence in his servant in the
face of the Satan's challenge has been completely vindicated.”
42:4
“Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask you, and you instruct me.'
Job again repeats what God had asked him at
the beginning of chapters 38 and 40.
42:5
“I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees you…”
Theory has turned into reality; the
hypothesis and conjecture of seminary have met head on with a supernatural
whirlwind.
“I heard of You…but NOW my eye sees YOU!”
Remember Job’s cry in chapter 19? "As for me, I know that my Redeemer
lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my
flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see
and not another. My heart faints within me!” (25-27). One writer states, “Job's
deepest longing has been fulfilled. The vision of Yahweh overwhelms him,
filling him with a sense of wonder and awe and reducing all his complaints to insignificance. In appearing to his servant, Yahweh
vindicates Job's integrity!”
Job’s complaints were not insignificant, but
upon seeing God, they were reduced to insignificance! Tragedy and destruction blew his world
apart. But in God’s presence things
changed.
42;
6 “Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."
“That lawsuit I had filed against God in the
preceding chapters?” Job says, “Well, I retract it. And not only do I retract
my lawsuit….I repent.”
And notice those final words in verse 6,
“…in dust and ashes.” He had been
sitting for so long on dust and ashes, but now he finally repents IN dust and
ashes!
Do you see what is happening here? Absolutely
nothing has changed at Ashheap Village and yet so much has changed on the
inside of Job: his
Ash Heap home is still the same old Ash Heap home; his
non-comforting, accusatory friends are still non-comforting and accusatory; he
is still penniless; his
children are still in their graves; and his
body is still racked with pain and disease
But now….my eye sees YOU and EVERYTHING is
different!!!
When repentance and brokenness sweep over someone’s
heart, the view from the inside changes: the
house we hated doesn’t seem to be quite so drab and dilapidated; the
spouse we have been incessantly irritated with suddenly seems much more loving
(and lovable); the
couch that seemed so horribly faded and out of date now doesn’t seem so dated; that
old rusty truck doesn’t seem to be quite so old and rusty; and
even the squabbling among the kids takes on a sweeter tone.
More often than not, change doesn’t need to
happen “out there”…change needs to happen “in here” (in the heart). In the end,
Job doesn’t blame God or the Chaldean bandits or the Weather Channel or his
wife or the Three Comforters.
He repents.
“…the plans according to which He acts are beyond
the reach of human comprehension.” This insight Job has gained through a deep and dark valley of tears. In
the end he simply repents and leaves the details to a God Who has prepared “things too wonderful for me, which I did
not know.”
Steve
Green’s song “I Repent” serves as a fitting conclusion to this portion of Job: "I Repent"
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