GLEANINGS FROM THE SCRIPTURES Let God be God What book of the Bible asks the most questions? It’s the book of Job. There are over three hundred profound and difficult questions contained in this Old Testament book, which is also reputed to be one of the oldest. In this book there were assumptions as well as questions presented by Job and his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, at the end of which God asks Job eighty three questions that Job was unable to answer. As the potter who fashions the clay, God was driving home the point that Job must let God be God, the sovereign and omnipotent Creator who is not required to answer to anyone. These questions concern the heavenly creation, the elements, natural science, and God’s omnipotent power. In today’s world, the more we learn of scientific things, the more it seems to engender even more questions. One commentator says that many suggestions have been made as to the purpose of the book. However, the overriding intention seems to be to demonstrate to man the inadequacy of human reason to account for the suffering of the innocent. There is a mystery of divine freedom which does not contradict God’s goodness of sovereignty but remains elusive to man. Therefore, man is resigned to an attitude of trust and dependence on a good God whose workings man cannot fathom. Poor Job, sitting on the ash heap, scraping his boils with a piece of broken pottery, listened to his friends arguments on why he had lost his children, why he had lost his health, and how sinful he was. Job takes the opportunity, now that all three friends have spoken, to give his opinion of their counsel. “NO DOUBT” he said,...”WISDOM SHALL DIE WITH YOU.” The statement is dripping with sarcasm, but is an appropriate answer to these three friends who thought that they had all the answers to his dilemma. Oe of the strongest utterances of faith in the Bible is Job’s statement, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Job expresses the unquenchable faith of one who lives by faith, not by sight. Even when it appears that God Himself has turned against Job, he will still trust in God. The age old question that Job asks, “If a man die, shall he live again,? is answered by Job when he says, “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another;...” This is a clear indication of the resurrection of the body which is found in the Old Testament. Because of God’s questions, Job was finally able to see himself for what he is. He cried, “I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.” The point of all of Gods questions was not lost on Job: he has a new awareness of the wisdom of God’s hidden plans, a new sense of the limits of his own wisdom, and a new sensibility to his own sin. He admits that his had been a limited perspective, and he totally submits to God’s will and authority. He allowed God to be God. References: The Book of Job, The KJV of The Holy Bible. Return to Home Page Return to Current Edition Contact us