Job's Confession Reveals All

Then Job replied to the LORD, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.” [Job 40.3-5]

In order to understand the story of Job, this passage is critical.

Without God's rebuke and then Job's recorded repentance, the story of Job mostly makes no sense as a 'story.' However, with Job 40.3-5, we may gain some understanding of all that precedes it. Job's confession reveals all.

Whether or not a person ever gains thorough understanding of the book of Job, we can know this: Job confessed to saying too much after he was confronted by God. In other words, ever though God praised Job as upright to Satan, He still rebuke Job and Job repented. How can this be?

Consider this: Yes, God praised Job to Satan. However, (particularly) since iniquity was found in Job, we must reconcile this discrepancy. It would appear God was using sarcasm on Satan just as He used sarcasm with Job...

But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced! [God addressing Job in Job 38.21 (clearly sarcasm)]

In fact, every time God asked anyone a question in the Bible (Satan included) IT WAS NOT BECAUSE GOD DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER! This fact makes a significant difference in how we understand any conversation in which God asks a question.

How anyone ever concludes that the book of Job is about God inflicting random curses on someone as if just to prove He can, is beyond me. Any unbiased effort to read and understand the book of Job in its entirety clearly reveals that Job had selfish pride in his heart even in all the good that he did. Job's confession in the verses of Job 40.3-5 therefore are pivotal.

Father, help us all to consider Job's story with all You are in mind.