Job 11 – 12
Today we are looking at God in two different ways, one as a punisher and the other as all powerful. Zophar is convinced that Job is deserving of the pain as show in verses 4-6 :
4 For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,
and I am clean in God’s eyes.’
5 But oh, that God would speak
and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
For he is manifold in understanding.
Many times we are pure in doctrine and things suck, not because of God or Satan but because of situations. The Law is there to help smooth out life, but not make it easy. This notion that somehow God will make our lives easy and worry free if we follow Him has become wrong doctrine many teach.
Quickly look at David, there was a time he had it all and life was “easy”, but that was only when he slacked off. To get into that position of power he had to risk his life and fight a mighty warrior who was quite large. He was pursued by Saul and lived in caves before taking the helm. As leader he fought many battles and it was only until he wrongly slipped into an “easy” life that things fell apart.
I sometimes think my father has it right, still working full time at 80. He could slip into an “easy” life since he has been responsible his entire life, but feels a duty to help this nation by ensuring the Marine F-18 pilots remain sharp. I hope I can find purpose and need when I am 80. Anyway my point is maybe we are not meant to retire into the “good life” but remain in the trenches to not slip into death.
No the next chapter is Job’s view on God as a sovereign being who does as He wishes. He knows that although his life prior was nice, it’s God’s to do with as He wishes. He realizes that God is everything and controls everything as seen in verses 13 & 14:
13 “With God are wisdom and might;
he has counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears down, none can rebuild;
if he shuts a man in, none can open.
Now often what we think is God doing things to torment us, is just life. Sure God set the world and created everything. But He may be more “hands off” than we think. We live in a world that is most of the time operating as designed when it comes to nature. And the messes we create are a result of “the fall” and man’s ability to “step in it” with ease.
God has the power verses 24 & 25 show:
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.
But I don’t believe He uses us as His puppets. No we just mess things up on our own! And often just get sucked into others doing wrong without God influencing the outcome. Hence where the Law comes in, if we follow it as God’s instructions and not His judging decree, we will be able to handle the storms in life easier.