No matter how many times one would read the Book of Job, one glaring paradox would consistently appear, and that is, the Lord never directly replies to Job’s desire to know why he suffered. Instead, the Lord merely showed Job that someone wise enough and powerful enough to create this universe and place such a variety of life forms upon the earth, must know what he’s doing. In the end, however, this was enough for Job. Nevertheless, this isn’t enough for many other folks who have to endure suffering every day. People, today, still question why bad things happen to good people. However, God doesn’t answer that question directly, probably because the question is too simple, and suffering is a complex matter having many reasons for its occurrence. The word of God does, however, provide us with a kind of window, which provides partial answers (1Corinthians 13:12).
God tells us that the world he created is good and beautiful (Genesis 1:31). Moreover, God’s creation has order, meaning it was planned out, and not left to chaos. Therefore, things occur for a reason, even when we are ignorant of that reason. Additionally, however, the Bible reveals that this world wasn’t designed perfectly to fulfill our every desire. It is a wild and dangerous world, which means it was never designed to prevent suffering. Suffering, according to the word of God, is an important commodity that fits into the Lord’s ultimate plan for mankind (Mark 9:12; 2Timothy 3:12). There is a reason for suffering, but often that reason is either hidden by God or ignored by men.
Job begins his second reply to the Lord (cp. Job 40:3-5) by confessing that the Lord is Almighty, and he is able to do anything and can rule over everything at once. In other words, Job was confessing his understanding for what the Lord had just finished telling him, namely that he, the Lord God Almighty, isn’t limited by anything that occurs in the world, nor is he limited by what man does, whether he is wicked or righteous. The Lord God Almighty, sees all and can do all. He isn’t surprised by anyone or anything, and no man or event occurring in time is able to thwart his purpose (Job 42:1-2).
Job then quotes God’s question directed at Job: “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” (Job 38:2), to which Job replies in agreement that, indeed, he did utter things in his defense, showing that righteous do suffer without having sinned, and some of the wicked do go to their graves without being judged by God, but all this was a smokescreen in an effort to defend his own righteousness. In seeking to defend his integrity, Job probed matters which he didn’t understand, and he abused holy things, which were too wonderful for him to completely understand (Job 42:4), and he did this all in an effort to defend himself. In other words, in his attempt to defend himself, he abased matters that extoled the Lord, matters that were far above his understanding (cp. 2Corinthians 12:3-4), things for which he had no adequate explanation.
Then, Job quoted the Lord once more in Job 42:4, saying, “Listen, and I will speak. I will ask you questions, and you will answer me” (cp. Job 38:3). Therefore, Job’s reply at this point is to be taken in the context of the Lord’s earlier command, and Job replies that he had heard about the Lord, but now he sees him (Job 42:5). In other words, his understanding of God was the result of what other folks had handed down orally from generation to generation. Some things were true, but not everything that others had claimed about God was so. Therefore, Bildad’s argument (Job 8:8-9) couldn’t possibly be true, and Paul gives us the reason why (Romans 1:18-32). Wickedness had caused men to drift away from God (Romans 1:18), until they simply didn’t want to retain any knowledge of him (Romans 1:28). They corrupted the truth about the Creator, by creating **him** according to their own understanding (Romans 1:20-25).
Still, Job’s ignorance was inexcusable, because the glory of God, including his great wisdom and almighty power, is revealed in the things he created (Romans 1:20), which is why the Lord pointed Job to his creation, the heavens, the weather patterns and the animals etc. God did this to show Job what he, the Lord, is like in a manner in which Job was able to comprehend and embrace. So, Job confessed that he abused truth in an effort to please himself, and in doing so he hid the glory of God (Job 42:3, 5).
Therefore, Job declared that he abhorred (H3988, maas) himself (Job 42:6). In other words, he rejected himself, cast away his righteousness, which was based upon works, the righteousness he taught his family, and was renowned for throughout the East. He rejected it, cast it away and repented (H5162, nacham) “regretted” his behavior and “comforted” himself in the words of the Lord. In other words, instead of seeking to defend his integrity, Job cast all that away in favor of simply trusting God for his grace. Let God be God, and be comforted in his loving kindness toward us.
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