Read the Passage: Job 38-41

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Job 38-41

God’s Questions (38:1–40:2)

Given the robust debate between Job and his friends over the past thirty-five chapters, it is easy to forget that God last spoke in Job 2:3 when He drew Satan’s attention to Job, referring to Job as “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 2:3). Throughout this book, Job has asked God many questions related to suffering (cf. Job 3:11, 23), justice (cf. Job 10:3; 21:7), life and death (cf. Job 14:14; 23:3), God’s plans (cf. Job 7:21; 13:23), and his desire for an audience with God (cf. Job 7:17–18; 10:3). Yet, now in Job 38–41, rather than addressing each of Job’s questions, God declared, “I will question you, and you shall answer Me” (Job 38:3). God then proceeds to ask Job over seventy rhetorical questions that were designed adjust Job’s perspective. Observe that God’s covenant name Yahweh is used in Job 38:1, but it was absent from Job 3–37.

Note the following observations about God’s interrogation of Job in Job 38:1–41:34. First, in these chapters God never discloses to Job the reason for his suffering. Indeed, God never mentions the dialogue between Himself and Satan, God does not answer any of the questions that Job asked of Him, nor did God let Job know that his suffering would serve as an example, to be recorded in the pages of Scripture, that would encourage countless others throughout history. Second, God’s methodology was simply to ask Job questions that highlight the fact that He is the Creator and Job is part of the creation. The intent of these questions is not to belittle or to discourage Job, but to communicate that in the midst of suffering, the correct path is not to accuse or to abandon God, but to trust and to obey God. Trusting God in the midst of trials can be harder than enduring suffering.

While God’s rhetorical questions are designed to adjust Job’s perspective, note that in these four chapters, God did not charge Job with any particular sin—other than being ignorant or “darkening counsel by [speaking] works without knowledge” (Job 38:2). This is significant, for while Job was considered to be “blameless” (Job 2:3)—in the sense that he had been imputed with Christ’s righteousness—he was still a man who regularly sinned. Indeed, in this book several of Job’s sins and shortcomings are evident, such as: pride and self-righteousness (cf. Job 3:1; 27:6; 40:8; 41:34; 42:1–6), a love of ease and self-confidence (cf. Job 3:26; 16:12; 29:18), sarcasm and self-pity (cf. Job 10:20–22), self-loathing and a disregard for his own life (cf. Job 3:1; 7:15–16), as well as an incomplete view of God Himself (cf. Job 9:21–24; 7:20; 23:8–9; 29:2–6; 30:20–33).

Job’s Reply (40:3–5)

God’s initial volley of questions to Job was effective, as Job’s brief response was simply, “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” In short, Job realized the error of insisting that God explain Himself by detailing the reasons for Job’s suffering. Job came to understand that the most important question is not, “Why do the righteous suffer?” Rather, it is, “Does man serve a God worthy enough for whom to suffer?” James’ brief comments on the book of Job are helpful as he later writes that the book of Job was written to show that perseverance in a time of suffering can lead to a display of God’s mercy and compassion (cf. Jas. 5:11). Indeed, mercy and compassion are evident in that God did not charge Job with sin, but restored that which Job had lost.

God’s Response (40:6–41:34)

Given Job’s recognition of his error in the midst of suffering, it is easy to overlook the fact that Satan’s prediction of Job’s apostasy was incorrect. Recall that on two occasions Satan claimed that Job’s devotion to God was the result of God’s blessing of Job. Satan said that if God removed His protection from Job, “He will surely curse You to Your face” (Job. 1:11; 2:5). While Job was a sinner and surely did act unjustly toward God, Job did not abandon God, nor did Job curse God—even though his wife encouraged him to do so (cf. Job 2:9)! After Job admitted his guilt in Job 40:3–5, we might expect that God would forgive and restore him. Yet, as is recorded in Job 40:6–41:34, God posed another series of questions to Job. Whereas God’s first group of question focused on the creation of the world, the second group of questions concern two great creatures within the world.

Application Questions:

1. Is it ever acceptable to ask God questions (cf. Jer. 33:3; Matt. 7:7–8)? What are some things that God invites us to ask of Him?
2. Throughout this book did Job sin by questioning of God? What did God mean in describing Job as blameless?
3. How does God view the unconfessed sins that believers commit after they have come to faith in Christ?
4. How has your understanding of God’s character changed as you’ve matured in your Christian faith?
5. Are behemoth (cf. Job 40:15–24) and leviathan (cf. Job 41:1–34) real creatures that currently roam the earth?