Job's understanding and trust in God (Lessons from Job - Final)

Psalms 119:130 

“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” 

The Word of God, as far as the context allows, must be taken literally. The failure to accept the word of God literally is the reason why many Christians have a feeble understanding of God and they miss out on the joy of being a Christian.  As a result, the account of Daniel in the lion’s den becomes a children’s story; the coming of the Lord is simply a placebo. Church attendance to them is a chore and unknowingly, they may have become agnostics.  

Job's understanding and trust in God

The book of Job was probably written much earlier than Genesis. Although Genesis covers events from the beginnings, the book of Job may have existed during the era when the events at the Tower of Babel took place. The mention of prehistoric creatures like unicorns (Job 39:9) and dinosaurs (Job 41:1, 19) are evidence of it being written much earlier. The extinction of these great creatures was likely caused by the climatic changes in the world after the great flood as the earth was no longer conducive for their existence. 

Before misfortunes befall Job, he was a prominent person in his community and famously known as the greatest man in the east. Amidst Job’s wisdom and charity, he was well-respected that even the aged stood up and princes withheld their speeches when he was present (Job 29: 4-17). Job trusted in God and was bestowed great spiritual and physical understanding.

Spiritual Understanding – My Redeemer lives

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 

Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Job’s understanding of his Redeemer must be nothing less than God’s revelation to Job through the Spirit of God. In the above passage, we have the mention of the Redeemer – our Lord Jesus Christ – who will be present at the end of the ages. Job was also given the knowledge of the bodily resurrection of himself. Today, we are given additional revelation that when the Lord Jesus returns, believers who are presently living on earth will also be resurrected in the flesh and likewise see God in heaven (1 Cor 15:52-53). 

Physical Understanding  – God hung the world on nothing

Job 26:7  He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

In this modern era, where space has been vastly explored, there exists ignorant or maybe stubborn people who cling on to the flat-earth conspiracy theory. More than 3000 years ago, Job was given information by God that the earth is hung on nothing. Ancient men in their natural self would not be able to conceive of this idea. The philosophical Greeks in the latter years speculated that Atlas (a mythical Titan god) carried the earth on his shoulder! How could Job living much earlier than the Greek philosophers understand the world was suspended on nothing? God must have revealed this fact to him.  In addition to this knowledge, I believe God gave Job other physical understanding such as animal husbandry, management skills and various talents. 

God gave  Job spiritual and physical understanding so that he can be a good and wise servant for Him. It is no wonder that with God’s endowment of these qualities in Job, he is therefore known as the greatest man in the east (Job 1:3).

The people of the world also desire to acquire the wisdom and knowledge of Job. It is no secret that the best employers in the world are always on the lookout for people who have these qualities. Parents invest sacrificially for their children’s education so that they can acquire such knowledge, talent and skills. Unfortunately, without seeking God as their guide, their efforts are like someone who is chasing the wind. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 2:11 put it succinctly:

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

I can say with some experience that human efforts only produce mediocre results. Even if it is a great result, what will be the final outcome if a person has not believed God? What does he have? Horatius Bonar’s hymn “No blood no altar now” summed it aptly in the fifth verse: 

Tis no poor with’ring wreath of earth, 

Man’s prize in mortal strife. 

The subject of trust in God

Job’s trust in God is very well articulated in his own words:

Job 13:15            Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.

We must be reminded that this statement was made not in times of prosperity but when Job was devastated economically, socially, medically and psychologically. God must be very pleased with the faith of His servant.

All of us have much to learn from Job. His problems make ours look so small, yet our faith in God becomes easily rattled when we encounter challenges. I believe Job’s absolute trust in God is the reason why such great understanding was bestowed to him. I have mentioned in my earlier article that Job was not absolutely perfect – but when he was teetering on the brink of breaking down mentally and physically, his faith prevailed over his despondency.

I want to have this understanding

If you desire to have Job’s great understanding, you have made the right choice! The question will be: “Will God grant me such understanding and blessings like Job?” The answer is “yes”! However, every person who desires God’s understandings and blessings must first cultivate the following attributes:

a) Eschewal of evil

In Job 1:1, it is mentioned that he eschewed or avoided evil. God can only impart His knowledge to someone that eschew evil. In Proverb 28:5, “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.” Those that have propensities for evil will not be given much understanding. The epistle to the Romans in chapter 1:18-22 reminds mankind to avoid all forms of unrighteousness; otherwise, their hearts will be darkened and be deprived of knowledge.

b) Trust in God’s goodness and provisions

Job’s absolute trust in God was the reason why he was blessed with an exceptional level of understanding. Whether we read the Bible, embark on a course of study or do our business, we need God’s help and guidance. Daniel, another wise man mentioned in the Bible, sought help from God when he was confronted with a difficult problem and finally emerged victorious. We have much to learn in Daniel’s declaration, “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.” (Daniel 2:23)

c) Believe God literally

It is important for us to believe the subject of God in a literal manner. The meaning of literal is ‘reproduced word for word.’ For example, when the Bible says God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day, we take a day as a day and not interpret that a day is a period of time. 

Job believed God’s existence literally. In the following verses, he explained the existence of God through the things God has created (Paul gave the same teachings in Roman 1:20): 

Job 12:7  But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: 

Job 12:8  Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. 

Job 12:9  Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

We must believe God literally when we seek Him to give us understanding. When we come to church,  we must faithfully believe that He is there with us (Matthew 18:20).  He is literally in our midst although we do not see Him physically.

Believing God’s words literally will strengthen our faith in God. In Psalms 119:130 the psalmist says: “The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.” 

The Word of God, as far as the context allows, must be taken literally. Job believes every one of God’s words imparted to him and we should likewise emulate the testimony of Job. Living in the realm of gravity, he may have found it difficult to comprehend when God said, “He hung the world on nothing”. Also, with his limited knowledge of the Redeemer, Job might not know the significance of the person being the ‘Living Redeemer’ and who this Redeemer is. However, he believed it word-for-word and was not ashamed to teach the same. 

The failure to accept the word of God literally is the reason why many Christians have a feeble understanding of God and they miss out on the joy of being a Christian.  As a result,  the account of Daniel in the lion’s den becomes a children’s story; the coming of the Lord is simply a placebo. Church attendance to them is a chore and unknowingly, they may have become agnostics.  

In the concluding series of Lessons from Job, I hope the teachings will help every Christian enjoy the blessings of trusting God whole-heartedly. God is ever ready to give us good understanding of His ways. He gives liberally not only to Job – but to every one of us. 

Let us meditate upon this verse for this week: 

2 Timothy 2:7  Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

With God’s blessings,

CL

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