Job 42:1-17

We close out the book of Job today with this epic disaster in Job’s life coming to an end with Job’s repentance, Job’s friends being rebuked by God and Job’s fortunes being restored to him once again.  God demonstrates that He is very much aware of all that has been said and done in this situation.  He has always been in control and has cared very deeply for Job in this time of great trial in his life.  Even though Job felt alone and abandoned by God; God was there all the time and actively working in his life for Job’s growth and ultimate good.  God is patient with us and understands our weaknesses, but He does require our repentance.  True repentance always leads to restoration of fellowship with the Lord.  We should not expect monetary rewards on this earth as an automatic result of repentance as happened to Job, but true repentance will always lead to eternal rewards in heaven.

JOB REPENTS BEFORE GOD: As Job has heard God’s demonstration of His greatness, his heart has been moved to recognize the foolishness of his complaints against God and his self-justification.  He concedes God’s authority to do as He sees fit in the world that He created.  Job admits that He had been ignorant of God’s ways and His greatness.   Job is embarrassed by his actions and attitudes before God.  He humbles himself, recognizes the greatness and glory of God and genuinely repents before God.  Every single one of us must come to this point in our lives where we recognize that we are small and God is great.  We must humble ourselves before the Lord and be ready to turn from our sin and ignorance of God and simply bow before Him in worship. 

GOD REBUKES JOB’S FRIENDS: God also has some very harsh words of correction for Job’s friends who thought that they knew all about God and His ways, but were mistaken.  Their words about God were not correct and they were being called on it now.  They too had to humble themselves by making sacrifices to God, humbling themselves before Job by asking him to pray for them.  God is ready and willing to forgive, but He does require that we recognize our sin before Him.  We must be very careful as to how we counsel those who are suffering and we must be very careful how we teach others about God.  We should not pretend to know what we do not understand and must be humble as we teach others.  God will judge every word that we speak.  It would be wise for us to listen more and talk less.

GOD RESTORES JOB’S FORTUNES: God did not allow the trials and sufferings of Job to go on forever.  Satan did not have free reign over the life of Job for an unlimited time.  God would not allow him to be tempted above his ability to withstand.  Once the trail was over, God stepped in and confronted Job with his errors to that he could grow closer to the Lord and then He blessed Job in amazing ways.  God used Job’s brothers to come and comfort him and even help to restore his wealth through gifts that they brought to him.  Job’s possessions were doubled; his ten children were replaced with another ten children that were a great blessing from the Lord.  I think it is interesting that he was given the same number of children as before, because in reality his children were never truly lost.  In eternity Job will enjoy fellowship with all twenty of his children.  Our possessions are temporary, but our children are eternal.  Job’s health was restored and he lived another 140 years and had amazing stories to tell his great grandchildren and their grandchildren.  God is faithful and will even use tragedy and our own sin to reveal Himself to us in a greater way.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!