The book of Job in the Bible was always challenging for me to read. 

Poor Job’s life falls to pieces seemingly because God wants to show Satan that Job is truly a faithful follower. He loses his livestock, his servants, and his children. He is covered with painful sores. His wife turns against him in these times of affliction.

When Job’s three friends come to visit and sit quietly with him for seven days and seven nights, just to comfort him, readers might think Job finally has someone on his side. But then his friends start to speak. Lines and lines of rebukes follow, and we find out these friends aren’t really in Job’s corner at all. A fourth friend even joins in near the end of the book, and though he rebukes Job’s other friends for their harshness, he goes on to rebuke Job himself.

It’s a lot of rebuking, and like I said, in the past that made it hard for me to get through.

But as I read through it this year with the Bible Recap, I started to see the book of Job in a new way. Job’s story can encourage us by exposing the profound and beautiful mystery of God’s character.

In chapter 38, God finally speaks. The rebukes are broken and God’s voice commands our attention. In verses 4-7, He asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”

And the questions go on. God asks Job where who shut up the sea behind doors, and if Job ever showed the dawn its place, and if Job has ever journeyed to the springs of the sea. He asks many other questions. But all of these questions go to make one point.

God is sovereign. And we can be encouraged that we will never understand His ways. God is just, but His justice isn’t as simple as Job’s friends wanted it to be. Just because bad things happened to Job, didn’t mean he had done something wrong to deserve it.

Bad things happen to people who love and follow God. And good things happen to people who don’t. There’s no science to it. The brokenness of this world is beyond human understanding.

But we find our comfort in the sovereignty of our God. He knows what He’s doing. God is not limited to human understanding—and isn’t that a relief! In Job 42:3, Job says, “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” And God seems to be pleased with Job’s response, because restoration follows.

Restoration of Job’s relationship with his friends. Restoration of Job’s life. Restoration of Job’s understanding of his Creator.

I’m so thankful God’s justice and mercy and power are beyond our understanding. We are so limited. We only see a tiny piece of the big picture. I’m thankful to serve a God who is sovereign over all.

Never forget, friend… you are onederfully created by that same God.

Love,
Becca