Job
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| William Blake's "Book of Job" |
-Ecclesiastes 7:14
BKC:
"When Job’s wife urged him to forget his integrity (related to the word “blameless” in Job_1:1), curse God and (as a result) die, he called her a foolish (nāḇāl, “spiritually ignorant or nondiscerning”) woman. Unknown to her, this advice that he curse God was exactly what Satan had twice predicted Job would do (Job_1:11; Job_2:5). When Job needed comfort from her, he received another terrible blow — evidence of her bitterness toward God. In calm confidence in God’s ways Job pointed out that trouble (rā‛, “evil, calamity”) as well as good comes from God (cf. Ecc_7:14; Lam_3:38). This contrasts starkly with most peoples’ view that trouble means God’s very existence is questionable! Later Job affirmed to his friends that he would retain his integrity till death (Job_27:5)." -BKC
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"At the beginning of Job’s trials, when he heard of the loss of one blessing, he feared the loss of another. And hearing of the second one, he feared yet another, and so on."
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"Fearlessly Job was ready to speak out to God and to take the consequences (let come… what may) even though it meant risking his life. The NIV marginal reading, “He will surely slay me,” is preferable to the better-known rendering, Though He slay me."
CBB:
I like this summation from the Chronological Bible Blog:
"Finally, the Lord himself speaks to Job, and Job recognizes that we do not so much need “answers” to life’s problems, as we need God himself."
"This view of a few of the world’s fauna demonstrates that Job, unable to contend with creation, hardly qualified to condemn the Creator. At the same time these words point up God’s delight in His creation. His stars and angels sang and shouted when He made the earth (Job_38:7), and He apparently enjoys His animal world. Also, God uses creation to limit the wicked (Job_38:15), to aid man (Job_38:23), to water the earth (Job_38:26, Job_38:37-38); He controls and limits creation (Job_38:8-9, Job_38:11); He regulates creation (Job_38:12, Job_38:25, Job_38:31-33). And in the animal world God provides for animals (Job_38:39-41; Job_39:29-30), helps them (Job_39:1-4, Job_39:26-28), frees them (Job_39:5-12), and strengthens them (Job_39:13-25). In contrast Job could do none of these. Obviously God’s orderly creation is provided for and well cared for; yet Job thought God’s cosmic plan was arbitrary and that He lacked control, provision, and care." -BKC
Interesting that now days, the scientific community is so hostile to the idea of God and view Him as apart from the amazing creation He made. Instead, they focus on the marvels of the creation, apart from any creator. They focus on controlling and regulating and mimicking God's hand in things (cloning, controlling reproduction through abortion, genetic engineering of crops). Surely history is a mix of man trying to control/harness nature for his purposes and the Lord gave man dominion over the earth. But we are not to view creation as apart from Him. It is an expression of His, a grand expression, that can give us much insight into His character if we allow it to.
Christians nowdays feel (at least I do) that we have to approach "science" with great caution and constant commentary about how it "might not have happened the way" they describe or by poking holes in the scientific communities theories. I wish that the relationship was symbiotic and not hostile. Sad.
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