Job, a righteous man, had been blessed abundantly by God with a large family, livestock and much wealth. One day, Satan appeared before God and said that Job was only serving Him because of all the blessings. “Take it all away, and he will curse you,” Satan mocked. God permitted him to attack Job in every way possible, except that he could not take his life.
Thus, Job’s suffering began. Satan took away his children, livestock, servants, health, wealth and even his reputation as an honorable man. Despite his tremendous suffering, “Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:22 NIV1984).
Instead of offering comfort to their hurting friend, Zophar, Eliphaz and Bildad, accused Job of unreconciled sin in his life. While he didn’t understand the reason for his suffering, he knew that no adversity could touch him without God’s permission. His friends thought they were speaking for God, but their counseling was without knowledge. They knew nothing about what God does or doesn’t do. To show the weakness of their arguments, Job began speaking of God’s incredible knowledge and power.
In verses Job 26:6-11, Job describes God’s great power. “Death is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered. He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight. He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it. He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.” Who can understand such things?
Job adds, “And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who can understand the thunder of his power?” (26:14). Job understood that there was far more to know about God than he, or anyone else, was capable of comprehending. In the end, God revealed to Job even more of His unfathomable ways. The questions he asked were eye-opening and humbling. He realized that his understanding of God’s power extended no further than the outer edges, and even that was weak at best.
In humble acknowledgement, “Job replied to the Lord: I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1-6). The three friends also learned a valuable lesson. As for Job, his faith was rewarded. The “Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first…” (Job 42:12). God’s ultimate power and glory triumphed over Satan’s evil and futile plan.
We can learn from Job’s experience. Awestricken at God’s handiwork, we, too, only see an exceedingly small portion of His power, just the outer fringe. Our knowledge of God’s ways is like a drop of water in a vast ocean. One day, however, we will see all His power in motion, and what a day it will be!
We know that we cannot speak for God regarding why He allows certain things to happen in one’s life. Like Job, may our own faith never cease to trust in an all-knowing and all-powerful God.
