I've had you on my mind a thousand years
To thank you someday for the way you helped me
Establish once for all the principle
There's no connection human can reason out
Between their just deserts and what they get.
Virtue may fail and wickedness succeed.
Twas a great demonstration we put on.

A Masque of Reason, by Robert Frost, in which he imagines God speaking to Job

One of the great things about the Bible is how a book, passage, or verse you’ve read many times can suddenly speak to you in a fresh new way. Today, I was reading about Job and thought I’d share one of those “aha” moments with you. (By the way, I hope you’ve spent time in God’s Word today.)

I think one of the reasons Job is the oldest book in the Bible is because it has been needed the longest. The problem of the righteous suffering has troubled the minds of men throughout history. It begins by giving the reader a behind-the-curtain view of Satan’s challenge to God, asserting that the only reason Job maintained his integrity was because God shielded him from harm and blessed him with great wealth. Take that away, and “he will curse you to your face.” (Job 1:11)

You know the story: God permitted the devil to take everything away from Job who fell prostrate before God and worshiped saying, “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Satan ups the ante saying, “stretch out your hand and touch his bone and flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” (Job 2:5) God accepts the challenge and Job passes the test, retaining his integrity.

The rest of the book involves three fair-weather friends who come to comfort Job and end up accusing him of hidden sin which, they assume, is the reason behind Job’s pain and suffering. Job, however, never confesses to any such thing but declares his innocence and demands that God give him his day in court to protest his unjust affliction.

In the end, God shows up and batters Job and his friends with a barrage of rhetorical questions designed to establish the Lord’s sovereignty over all things. In the presence of his Creator Job wilts saying, “I have uttered what I did not understand…I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:3,6)

The “Aha” Moment

It was at this point the book spoke to me in revelation fresh from heaven’s oven: Why did Job need to repent? He had consistently declared his innocence and maintained his integrity throughout the entire book. God even rebuked his friends for their error in accusing Job falsely. Then why would Job need to repent in dust and ashes?

Job’s problem wasn’t some moral failure or some horrible hidden iniquity in his life, but rather a failure to trust God amid his suffering. What God wanted from Job, and what he wants from you and me, is trust, not questions. I have no idea what valley you may be walking through at this moment, but I do know that God has a reason for it. When you cannot track his hand, you must trust his heart. God never disclosed what happen behind the heavenly curtain. He simply reminded Job of his rule over creation in benevolent providence, and in light of that divine truth expects us to trust him.

I would also point out that God rewarded Job’s faithfulness and greatly blessed him abundantly with great riches and honor. However, we cannot and should not expect the Lord to do the same for us or suppose that he owes us anything for our faithfulness. Rather, the takeaway is that eventually God will rectify every injustice and “work all things together for good for those called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Little did Job know how his great ordeal would encourage and inspire millions. He couldn’t see that far ahead, and neither can we. But rest assured, he will make everything right, either in time or eternity.