All There Is To Know About God

“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? [Job 11.7]

Now, there are a couple of good questions!

Let's just get right to the point, the answer to both questions above is, "No."

For me or anyone else to understand all there is to know about Job's story, let alone about God, is just fantasy. However, this should never discourage anyone who would understand Job's story and follow God from seeking to know all they can about God through Job's story. What this will result in is different people understanding Job's story at different levels. The layers and depth of Job's story are undeniable. However, this does not change the character and intent of Almighty God. We must remain established that God's truth is absolute!

The prudent reader of Job will remain mindful that Job's story is not just about Job! Everything that happened to Job was resultant to a couple of encounters between God and Satan. In these encounters both God's character and Satan's character are on display. Likewise, a heavenly hierarchy is revealed as Satan clearly answers to God. 

Although in human understanding it appears God asked Satan a question for information, it should be understood that All-Knowing (Omniscient) God never asks anyone a question He does not already know the answer to! In His infinite Superiority over Satan, God's question to (not omniscient) Satan was not for God's information, but intended purely to point out Satan's oversight regarding Job (no different than God's calling out "Where are you?" to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - God had not misplaced His created beings, God's question made them know they had in fact admitted their disobedience and guilt in hiding themselves from God).

Pursuing this knowledge further, it should be understood that Omniscient God spoke to Satan in terms of his (not omniscient) perception of Job: 

Then the LORD asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” [Job 1.8]

This is precisely how (not omniscient) Satan saw Job. But, as we learn all through the Bible, God's limitless knowledge could see something Satan could not - God could see Job's heart that NO ONE else could see. Job's heart had concealed deep within it a nasty arrogant pride visible only to God - and God alone knew that pride needed to be dealt with.

So, while we toil away at understanding the banter between Job and his friends, it is of no real benefit if we fail to understand the back story of God's and Satan's encounter leading up to Job's troubles. 

If we can see it, the overriding problem throughout the book of Job is pride. It started with Satan presenting himself to God as if he had been doing his job, but had not - he incorrectly assumed that Job was untouchable all the while knowing full well he (Satan) had successfully established sin in the heart of man when Adam and Eve fell victim to his deception. The story continued as Job and his friends expressed various levels of pride in their escalating verbal exchanges. Yes, there were some truths presented, but there were also some statements made of undeniable error - the very same tactic Satan used in the Garden of Eden. Imagine that.

So...

“Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? [Job 11.7]

The answer remains, "No." However, in the time we have on earth, we can indeed learn. We can indeed (and should) seek God and His truth in everything. 

Job's story serves as a test. The more we understand God in all His fulness as revealed in His Word, the more we can methodically explore and understand the layers of Job's story. The one thing we must not overlook though is the underlying warning against pride found from beginning to end of Job's story. If, at any moment, we allow pride to come in our understanding of Job, we must consider Satan's pride of thinking he knew all there was to know about God! We must consider Job's pride of thinking he knew all there was to know about God. We must consider Job's friend's pride of thinking they knew all there was to know about God. We must remain mindful in all that Job and his friends said that Job ultimately had to repent and that Job had to intercede (seek forgiveness) for his friends.

It seems prudent at this point to do everything within our capacity to humble ourselves before God. It would seem wise to remain repentant at all times because our genetic make-up always gravitates toward sin. Our inherent bent on sin always begins with pride. Thank God we are no longer required to offer sacrifices because Jesus Christ paid that debt, but the responsibility to humble ourselves, repent and believe in Christ remains. 

Job's story serves to prove how much God's hates pride. It also serves to document the confusion and turmoil resultant when truth and error are blended. Thank God for the story of Job for it compels not only the ignorant but also the learned to avoid pride.

Father, thank You for Job's story. Forgive me for ever thinking I know all there is to know about it. I cannot solve Your mysteries. Nor can I discover everything about You. If I learn nothing of Job's story but to remain humble and repentant, that is enough. So be it.