Rule #1: God Is Always Right

Then Job spoke again: “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. I would lay out my case and present my arguments. Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. [Job 23.1-7] 

...Says Job.

But God definitely did not see it that way evidenced in His lengthy and harsh rebuttal to Job (Job 38.1 - 40.2, 40.6 - 41.34).

So, after God's serious rebuke of Job, leading to Job's humble repentance for what he said, how is it that God then declared the following about what Job said?

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]

If we are going to believe something, should it not be one way or the other? What are we to believe about Job?

Perhaps the better question should be, "What are we to believe about God?"

If we attempt to understand what took place between Job and God in human understanding, the matter discussed here is inconsistent at best (again, in human understanding). However, if we do our best to see this situation from God's perspective, it is a different story - The Story of Redemption...

Yes, Job said some uninformed things. Yes, God rebuked Job seriously. Yes, Job repented. And, yes, God accepted Job's repentance and forgave him. 

How much did God forgive Job? He forgave Job everything. In fact, at that very moment God intentionally erased His own memory of all that Job had said wrong. So clear of Job's foolish talk was God's memory that He told Eliphas the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has."

Now, that's forgiveness. Now, that's God. Now, that's Jesus Christ. 

Why do I say "Jesus Christ" above? Because only Job was intent to talk directly to God - which is the Way of Jesus Christ. Job's friends spoke about God, but not to God. Consequently, God completely and thoroughly forgave Job based on his repentant confession to Him. In contrast, Even though Job's friends were evidently right there with Job when God spoke to him, they remained silent. Job's friends were only made right through the priestly intercession of Job. They did not confess their sins (speaking accurately of God) as did Job.

Admittedly, as I began to write this article, I became frustrated with the events presented as if there existed a huge inconsistency that God needed to reconcile. However, as I remembered what angry young Elihu said (not one of Job's three friends), the Holy Spirit helped me to think differently:

No one can tell him [God] what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’ [Job 36.23]

So... 

Rule #1: God is always right.

Rule #2: Should God be wrong, see Rule #1. 

Only in full submission to Him can our understanding of God and His Kingdom begin. Any trace of pride and arrogance yields confusion (at best) and full rejection of God (at worst). 

Father, I am ashamed of how much I have been like Job. And yet, I want to be like Job accurately confessing my foolish pride in repentance - I know Jesus has made it possible. You are indeed always right and I intend to remember that - regardless of my circumstances. So be it.