My dear sheep, Job is a challenging book for a variety of reasons. But after thirty-five chapters of seemingly confusing argumentation and debate between five different voices, God speaks and brings the "final word" on the matter. God brings to Job a barrage of questions. It all begins with the terrifying opening question of, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" From this point onwards, Job gets (what feels like) a verbal accosting.
In chapters 38-41, God brings some fifty odd questions and when you add on top of that the description, the statements, the challenges; it all becomes very overwhelming. Job's only response to any of this can be summarised in those words of Job, "I have uttered what I did not understand". (Job 42:3)
When you sit with Job and walk through the story, you can feel sorry for Job (and you probably should). However, something struck me today, the difference between our position and Job's. Job's only response to these questions, due to his limited understanding, was, "no". Yet, brothers and sisters, we have a very different perspective. We can say, "No, but my big brother did", and that makes all the difference in the world. To every question in Job 38-41, we can say, "My older brother did/was/does."
Isn't it a striking thought that the one through whom all things were made is our older brother? That he is pleased to call us his brothers and sisters! Its easy to take for granted the amazing perspective we have been granted to live in. This side of Christ we walk in a light that the saints of old longed to see.
Let me encourage you, this evening, sit down and read Job 38-41, and consider Jesus, the Author and Perfector of your faith, saying "YES" to each one. Then worship him and cry out, "That's MY brother!"
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