Job's Confession

“Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.” (Job 42:3 AV)

 

At first glance, it appears Job’s last words to the LORD may seem a bit forward.  This is not the case.  The above question and following statement are not a challenge to the LORD.  Job would not be so forward as to take on God.  Job is asking a rhetorical question to himself.  The answer is God.  God hides counsel from mankind without the ability of man to know it.  This is the premise of the statement that follows.  If God hides His counsel from the ability of man to know it, then it would stand to reason that Job could not understand the counsels of God and these counsels are too wonderful for him to even know them.  In short, this question and statement above is Job’s confession of God’s sovereignty and his submission to it.  This was exactly God’s argument with Job.  He is God and has the right to do as He pleases.  Mankind has no right to demand God justify His actions.  No matter what it meant to Job, practically speaking, God has a right to allow these circumstances upon Job for His own purposes and ends. 

Who hasn’t heard of a celebrity auction?  You know, the auction where a group of men or celebrities are auctioned off for a cause and the winner of the auction gets to enjoy a date with their prize.  In High School, the fundraiser was auctioning off teenagers to adults who would use them for labor around the home.  Or whatever task they so choose.  Once purchased, the teenager had little or no input into what that day, weekend, or month might entail.  If their patron wanted the leaves raked, that is what he or she did.  If they wanted their dog walked, then down the block they went.  If the windows needed scrapping, calking, and painting, then to the hardware store for supplies they went; returning to labor for their patron.  Garage cleaning, pool cleaning, room organizing, etc.  The task did not matter because that young man or woman was laboring for their charity or school.  As long as the term was in force, the patron could pretty much demand anything ethical or legal for the young laborer to do.  The attitude of the young person was the greatest mirror into his or her maturity.  How they responded to every demand could tell a lot about their character and personal growth.  Having been that young person, I can attest it is not easy.  I was asked to do some pretty disgusting things.  As much as I would have liked to protest, I had no standing.  As long as my patron was donating to the school, scout troop, or other cause, I was theirs to command.

God had Job’s fear and obedience.  But fear and obedience are not necessarily surrendering.  What Job learned was a harsh but needful lesson.  He learned that God can do whatever He pleases and we are supposed to accept it.  We are to accept it without complaint or rejection.  We are to accept it even if we cannot see a purpose to it.  We are to accept it even though it might come at a great cost.  God is sovereign.  He is the Creator.  As such, He has the right of ownership and no matter what He chooses to do, He has every right to do.  There is a part of us that bristles at this truth.  We like to think we are self-determined.  We like to think we have the liberty that no one can challenge.  That might be true when compared to other men, but it is not true when we consider God.  Whether we like it or not, God can and does either cause or allow all things and we have no right to envoke ‘fairness’ on God.  If He chooses a great loss for me, He has every right.  If He chooses to bless then gratitude is in order.  No matter what God chooses, He is right.  Period!  And I have no right to demand of God a reason as to why He does what He does or chooses not to do what He does not do.