Job 42

Job Responds to the LORD

14 Then Job replied to the LORD:

2“T know that you can do anything,and no one can stop you.

3You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,things far too wonderful for me.

4You said, ‘Listen and I will speak!Ihave some questions for you,and you must answer them.’

5Thad only heard about you before,but now I have seen you with my own eyes.

6I take back everything I said,and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.”

Conclusion: The LORD Blesses Job

77After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. 8So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” 9So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. 10When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before! 11Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him inhis home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the LORD had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money* and a gold ring. 12So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. 13He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. 14He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. 15In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers. 16Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.

17Then he died, an old man who had lived a long, full life.42:11 Hebrew a kesitah; the value or weight of the kesitah is no longer known.42:7, 8 God made it clear that Job’s friends were wrong. Thefact that God did not mention any specific sins shows that Godconfirmed Jab’s claim to have led a devout and obedient life.Job’s friends had made the error of assuming that Job’s suffer-ing was caused by some great sin. They were judging dob with-out knowing what God was doing. We must be careful to avoidmaking judgments about a person because God may be workingin ways we know nothing about.42:8-10 After receiving much criticism, Job was still able to prayfor his three friends. {tis difficult to forgive someone who hasaccused us of wrongdoing, but Job did. Are you praying for thosewho have hurt you? Can you forgive them? Follow the actions ofJob and pray for those who have wronged you.42:10, 11 Would the message of the book of Job change if Godhad not restored to Job his former blessings? No. God is stillsovereign. Jesus said that anyone who gives up something forthe Kingdom of God will be repaid (Luke 18:29, 30). Our restora-tion may or may not be the same kind as Job’s, which was bothspiritual and material. Our complete restoration may not be inthis life—but it wi happen. God loves us, and he is just. He notonly will restore whatever we have lost unjustly, but he also willgive us more than we can imagine as we live with him in eternity.Cling tightly to your faith through all your trials, and you, too,will be rewarded by God—if not now, in the life to come.42:17 The main question in the book of Job is timely: Why dobelievers experience troubles and suffering? Through a longdebate, Job’s supposedly wise friends were unable to answerthis question. Job’s friends made a serious error for which Godrebuked them. They assumed that trouble comes only becausepeople sin. People make the same mistake today when theyassert that sickness or lack of material blessing is a sign ofunconfessed sin or tack of faith. Though normally (but notalways) following God leads to a happier life, and rebellingagainst God normally (but not always) leads to an unhappy life,God is in control. \n our world invaded by sin, calamity andsuffering come to good and bad alike.This does not mean that God is indifferent, uncaring, unjust,or powerless to protect us. Bad things happen because we liveina fallen world, where both believers and unbelievers are hitwith the tragic consequences of sin. God allows evil for a timealthough he turns it around for our good (Romans 8:28). Wemay have no answers as to why God allows evil, but we can besure he is all-powerful and knows what he is doing. The nexttime you face trials and dilemmas, see them as opportunitiesto turn to God for strength. You will find a God who only desiresto show his love and compassion to you. if you can trust himin pain, confusion, and loneliness, you will win the victory andeliminate doubt, one of Satan’s greatest footholds in your life.Make God your foundation. You can never be separated fromhis love.