Know About God or Know God?

Job 22-25

As I continue to read through the book of Job, I am aware that I cannot just casually read what is said and believe it. My mind is constantly reminded that both Job and his friends get rebuked when God finally has a say.

Why were they rebuked? Was it what they said, or the spirit in which they said it? Was it because they were all genuinely trying to figure out what went wrong, or because they were each trying to prove their own spiritual superiority?

Here is what I know from the end of the story: Job 42.7 says:

After the Lord had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. [Job 42.7]

So, Job's three friends did not speak accurately about God.

But Job did?? Let's back up...

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. [Job 38.1-3]

If Job spoke accurately about God and God asked Job earlier, "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?" then how can "such ignorant words" and "speaking accurately" both describe Job?

Perhaps Job's dual identity is not so much "dual" as it is changed... Between Job 38.1-3 and Job 42.7 we find a recognizable change of heart in Job:

Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” [Job 42.1-6]

So, it appears God immediately recognized Job's genuine repentance and told him to pray for his friends.

Stay with me here - this is important. Job, just like his friends, was all caught up in foolish and argumentative talk - way too much talk. God confronted (boy, did He confront) Job and Job confessed his error and repented. But Job's fortunes were not restored until Job interceded for his unrepentant friends.

Here is possibly the difference in knowing God or just knowing about God... We have no record that Job was required to offer sacrifices, but his friends were required to do so. Furthermore, we have no record that Job's friends confessed and repented, but simply did what they were told to do (offer sacrifices - Job 42.9). God acquitted Job's friends because they offered sacrifices and Job prayed for them. But God forgave Job because he confessed his sin and repented. God's forgiveness manifested in Job being restored to better-then-before conditions.

Just some thoughts...

Father, the book of Job really tests my attention to what I am reading! Help me to understand - hep me to be slow to speak but quick to listen ...to You. I want to be even quicker with confession and repentance. I want to know You more.