Structure: D (38:1-42:6) Job and God

After Elihu has spoken, the LORD (Heb. YHWH) addresses Job. Job, who saw himself justified, who boasted of his own righteousness and would answer God at any time (cf. Job 31:35-37). This Job is now facing the Almighty.

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm, and said, Who is he that darkeneth counsel with words without knowledge? Gird up thy loins like a man. Then I will ask thee, and thou shalt teach me! Where were you when I founded the earth?”
Job 38:1-4

When God speaks, it sounds different. God is not talking about Job. God speaks only of Himself in these chapters. Job is challenged to face God. It is a direct and personal encounter. This is about reality, no longer about one’s own thoughts.

“And the LORD answered Job, and said, With the Almighty will the reprover reprove? He that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the LORD, and said, Behold, I am too small! What can I say to you? I put my hand upon my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; and twice, and I will not do it again.”

Hi 40:1-5

In his first response, Job becomes silent before God. He comes down from his arrogance to the ground of reality. This is not the end, but the condition for God to reveal Himself to Job. It is the first step.

After God spoke again, Job’s life changed. His view of this world was no longer the same. He says:

“Then Job answered the Lord and said: I know that thou art able to do all things, and that no purpose can be denied thee. “Who then darkens counsel with words without knowledge?” Truly, I have spoken what I do not understand, things too wonderful for me to comprehend! “Hear now, I will speak; I will ask you, and you teach me!” I had heard of you by hearsay, but now my eye has seen you. Therefore I pronounce myself guilty1 and repent in dust and ashes!”
Hi 42:1-6

Here we hear Job echoing the statements of God from Job 38, and taking a stand on them.

Job has finally arrived at the divine reality. Job confesses: “I have known” and “By hearsay I had heard of you, but now my eye has seen you”. Job has arrived on the ground of divine and human reality. It is a reality he could not have imagined for himself.

What does this reality look like? God is greater than man. The immediate presence of God changed Job’s life. Instead of knowing God “by hearsay,” Job has come to a real encounter with God. What is astonishing is that Job did not do this on his own initiative. Even today, we should not lean on ourselves, but can trust Him to work into our lives as well (Phil 2:13).

All the speeches and events have led up to this moment. Only where all religious talk falls silent, where man stands at the end of his possibilities, can God speak. When Job begins to incorporate the lesson into his life and prays for his friends, God also concretely turns Job’s fortunes around (Job 42:10-17). It is a blessed outcome:

“Of Job’s endurance you have heard, and the end of the Lord you have seen, that the Lord is full of intimate compassion and is merciful.”
Jas 5:11