Many times we're able to say to other people with problems, "Start seeing the glass as half full, be grateful just to be alive, look at the bright side," and other nice phrases to try to encourage them. Sometimes these people know that we're just trying to be kind and sometimes they actually resent all those phrases because they know that no one understands how they really feel.
Three friends of Job traveled to his home and sat and mourned with him for seven days and nights. They respectfully didn't say anything until Job spoke first. Once Job began to speak, they each one by one tried to offer him advice or offer reasons for his troubles. They showed good friendship by their presence but none of their words were helpful or welcome.
Job responded to his three friends in Job 21:34
34 “How can your empty clichés comfort me?
All your explanations are lies!”
Everyone talks about Job, how he remained faithful during his difficulties and how he received double for all he lost at the end, yet we smooth over the fact that Job actually complained. His losses were real: all of his children killed at once, all of his livestock destroyed or stolen, the deterioration of his health, and the ruination of his reputation. It is true that Job never lost his unshakable faith in the goodness of God or faith in his own integrity, but it's a false notion to say that he never complained.
It is a fact that Job's initial reaction to the news that all the oxen and donkeys were raided, all the sheep were burned, all the camels were taken, and a strong wind knocked down the house killing his children was to fall to the ground and worship.
Job "fell to the ground and worshipped, saying, The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, Blessed by the Name of The LORD." (Job 1:20-22)
When Job was afflicted in his body, his wife said, why don't you curse God and die. Job responded,
"You speak as one of the foolish women speaks, Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10)
In spite of the two verses of faith outlined above, Job did complain. It's like knowing what is right to say and think, yet at the same time feeling like our problems are so unfair.
When Job's three friends heard of his troubles they came and sat on the ground with him for a week. "After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth." Not only did Job lament the day he was born, he also complained about the unfairness of life, how the ungodly seemed to prosper. In chapter 21, Job laments,
7 “Why do the wicked prosper,
growing old and powerful?
8 They live to see their children grow up and settle down,
and they enjoy their grandchildren.
9 Their homes are safe from every fear,
and God does not punish them.
10 Their bulls never fail to breed.
Their cows bear calves and never miscarry.(Job 21:7-10)
He continues in chapter 21:
23 One person dies in prosperity,
completely comfortable and secure,
24 the picture of good health,
vigorous and fit.
25 Another person dies in bitter poverty,
never having tasted the good life.
26 But both are buried in the same dust,
both eaten by the same maggots. (Job 21:23-26)
In chapter 14, below, he even questions the importance of human life, saying there is more hope for a tree than for man:
7 “Even a tree has more hope!
If it is cut down, it will sprout again
and grow new branches.
8 Though its roots have grown old in the earth
and its stump decays,
9 at the scent of water it will bud
and sprout again like a new seedling. (Job 14:7-9)
Is this not complaining? But thank God that even in all Job's complaining, he knew that God was still in control and still majestic and that he (Job) had not sinned against God and he was still secure in his own integrity.
In Job 13:15-16 he says, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation."
In Job 19:25 he says, "For I know that my redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God."
This recalls what David wrote in Psalms 17:15
15 Because I am righteous, I will see you.
When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.
and what John the Apostle wrote in I John 3:2
2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
Job did not have a bible to read, there was no way he had received his faith from the written Word. Yet he knew prophetically that he would see God in the end. In Job 19: 23, he actually said, "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!"There is no way he could have known that his words would be inscribed in a book for us! Job also wished that he had a mediator, saying,
"Oh that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!' (Job 16:21) Praise God that we have a mediator: The Lord Jesus Christ! Hebrews 7: 23-25 tells us that Jesus will always intercede on our behalf:
23 There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. 24 But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. 25 Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. (Hebrews 7:23-25)
and Romans 8:34 tells us 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us."
Though he was without a mediator, Job asserted his own righteousness, saying,
10 “But he knows where I am going.
And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.
11 For I have stayed on God’s paths;
I have followed his ways and not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from his commands,
but have treasured his words more than daily food." (Job 23:10-12)
The words Job treasured were not in the bible that we know today. It's possible that Job could have heard the spoken words of the Law, which were read aloud to the people by priests. Certainly, the birth, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ had not yet occurred so Job must have looked to God's creation for his knowledge of God's majesty. Some of the most beautiful passages in the bible concerning the creation are in the book of Job:
7 God stretches the northern sky over empty space
and hangs the earth on nothing.
8 He wraps the rain in his thick clouds,
and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
9 He covers the face of the moon,
shrouding it with his clouds.
10 He created the horizon when he separated the waters;
he set the boundary between day and night.
11 The foundations of heaven tremble;
they shudder at his rebuke.
12 By his power the sea grew calm.
By his skill he crushed the great sea monster.
13 His Spirit made the heavens beautiful,
and his power pierced the gliding serpent.
14 These are just the beginning of all that he does,
merely a whisper of his power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?”(Job 26:7-14)
At the end of Job 31, Job's conversations with his three friends is over, and a younger man named Elihu, respectfully submitted his opinions to the discourse. Elihu, unfortunately also blames Job for contending with God.
In chapters 38- 41, The LORD himself challenges Job with hard questions. Is this a response to Job's complaints? Also, since Job's knowledge of the majesty of God seemed to stem from his observation of the natural world God created, these questions are based on the creation itself. Some of the questions The LORD asked Job are:
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job 38:4)
"Who shut in the sea with doors?" (Job 38:8)
"Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know it's place?"
(Job 38:12)
"Who is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded me that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine." (Job 41:10-11)
After hearing God question him that way, Job immediately repented. God told Job's three friends that they had not spoken of Him what was right, as His servant Job had. He instructed the friends to prepare burnt offerings and Job would pray for them! (Job 42:8)
The LORD restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends! (Job 42:10) The LORD gave Job twice as many herds as he had before and blessed him with seven more sons and three more daughters. Job 42:11 says that, "all Job's siblings and acquaintances came to visit and they each brought Job a piece of silver and a gold ring." Job 42:16 says, "Job lived 140 years and saw four generations of children and grandchildren."
Yes, his latter days were better than his former days, but it must have been hard to trust what the end would bring. Although he voiced his complaints during his trials, he never let go of the fact he was righteous before God and that God was still worth trusting!
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