A Couple Thoughts from Job

I read Job earlier this month and was struck by a couple things--simple things really--I'd never noticed before.

1. Job is the only person among the talking heads (besides Satan) to address God Himself. He often answers his stupid friends' arguments and then immediately moves on to pouring out his questions and complaints to the Lord. Job was a man of relationship. He was familiar enough with God to talk to the Lord, and not just about the far and distant Almighty, after the manner of his friends.

"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways to His face." - Job 13:15

2. Strangely enough, though Job was criticizing, accusing, and questioning God, and his friends Elihu, Bildad, and Zophar were seemingly defending God's position--His righteousness, name, deeds, and justice--God, ever unpredictable, was angry at the friends. The religious types mouthing fat and juicy opinions didn't really know God, and He was mad at them for misrepresenting Him.

3. Job didn't know God either. That's really the crux of the book. After it's over, his questions are silenced and there is only this:

"I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eyes sees Thee. Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes."

God never once explains the mystery or purpose of Job's circumstances or suffering: in the end He reveals Himself, and that is enough. Job moves beyond a mental understanding, with all its implications of "being a good servant" of the Lord, making sacrifices, praying a lot, teaching his children well, helping the poor, etc., to an experience of El Shaddai.

4. "The words of Job are ended." - 31:40

When the words were expended, revelation came.

5. Satan left Job his wife. Think about it. Ha ha ha.