Conclusion of Job--Job 42:7-17

The Book of Job concludes with a very important Epilogue, recorded in Job 42:7-17. This little section falls into two parts.

I. Yahweh Reprimands Job's Friends and Restores Job. Job 42:7-9.
a. After Yahweh delivered his two speeches and Job responded by admitting that Yahweh won the debate (Job 38:1-40:5) and repenting of sinning against Yahweh in rebuking God for being unjust and challenging God to meet Job in a fair court trial (Job 40:6-42:6), Yahweh turns to speak with Job's three friends. (Verse 7a).
b. Yahweh rebukes Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar because they have not spoken of Yahweh what is right as Job has. Verse 7b. This certainly does not mean that Yahweh is conceding that Job is right and God is wrong. NO!!! Look at the text!!! The contrast here is between Job and Job's three friends. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar tenaciously held on to their traditions, especially the belief that "all righteous people prosper and all wicked people suffer." They refused to think, to reason, to change, to empathize with others. In contrast to this, Job dared to think, to reason, to change. In the process, Job thought and said many things that are wrong. But, in the eyes of God, this was good BECAUSE Job was "thinking through" one of the most difficult and serious issues of life: Why do people suffer? AND, Will a human being FEAR GOD when all the arguments are against doing this? God wants people to think, not to cling to old traditions and beliefs and ideas. THEN, God can change each and every one of us to be more like God wants us to be.
c. Yahweh then calls Job's three friends to brings appropriate sacrifices to God, and then Job will pray for them and Yahweh will accept their prayers. Job's friends obey, and Yahweh accepts Job's prayer. Verses 8-9.

II. Yahweh Restores Job's Fortunes. Job 42:10-17.
a. When Job struggled through his spiritual issues, repented, and prayed in behalf of his friends, Yahweh "restored Job's fortunes" and gave Job twice as much as he had before the afflictions hit. Job's brothers and sisters and all who had known him came and showed Job sympathy and comforted him over his suffering. Yahweh gave Job twice as much of his possessions that he had before, and gave Job seven sons and three daughters: Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren-happuch. Job gave his children a rich inheritance. Verses 10-15.
b. After this, Job lived 140 years in addition to his prior 60 years, indicating he was approximately 200 years of age. He enjoyed four generations, and died in a good old age. Verses 16-17.

Often, struggles in life are very valuable and fulfilling. They prepare us for life and for eternity. The story of Job gives us insights and encouragement.

How are YOU doing in YOUR life? Share YOUR experiences with others. Let me hear from YOU. Next, we will turn to a series in the Book of Amos. I hope this will be uplifting to all of YOU.

John Willis

God's Second Speech--Job 40:6-42:6--Part 2--The Crocodile

God's second "parade" animal is the "Leviathan," which most likely is the crocodile. As in the case of the hippopotamus (see Job 40:15-24), God challenges Job to meet the crocodile in a "hand to hand" combat in preparation for encountering the CREATOR of all these creatures in the World Heavy Weight Boxing Match on earth. This second portion of God's second speech appears in Job 41:1-42:6, and fall into two parts.

I. The Crocodile [Leviathan]--Job 41:1-34.
a. God again raises embarrassing questions to Job. Job, can you catch a crocodile with a fishhook? Can you put a rope in the nose of the crocodile and lead it around like someone leads a dog around? Will the crocodile make supplications and speak soft words to a human being out of fear for a human being? Will a crocodile become your servant? Will you play with a crocodile, or put it on a leash so your children can play with it? Will merchants bargain over a crocodile? Can you harpoon or spear this creature? All of these possibilities are absurd. Hence God invites Job:
"Lay hands on it;
Think of the battle; you will not do it again!" (verse 8).
The point is very clear!!! Job cannot defeat a crocodile, SO how absurd is it for Job or any human being to confront God!!! And yet, this is precisely what Job tried to do throughout his speeches. (Verses 1-11).
b. God now describes the crocodile in detail. Its limbs are strong, it has a splendid frame, when it acts, there is "terror all around," its back is fully protected, its look and movements are awesome. (Verses 12-29).
c. When the crocodile moves in the swamp, it moves swiftly, leaving a shining wake behind it. (Verses 30-32).
d. According, God concludes:
"On earth it [the crocodile] has no equal,
a creature without fear.
It surveys everything that is LOFTY;
it is king over ALL THAT ARE PROUD." (Verses 33-34).
Just like Elihu, God emphasizes that THE problem of human beings is PRIDE, SELF-CENTEREDNESS, INGRATITUDE.

II. Job responds brief to God's second speech. Job 42:1-6. This response falls into two parts.
a. Job confesses that God "can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Then Job quotes his own words in verse 3a, and admits: "Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Verses 1-3).
b. Then Job again quotes his own words in verse 4a, and then responds in verses 5-6:
"I had heard of you [Yahweh] by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself in dust and ashes."

In recent years, scholars have sought five different interpretations of the last line--see Carol A. Newsom in the New Interpreter's Bible on Job, volume IV (1996), page 629. I invite the reader to examine these nuances.

In light of the overall context and the entire thrust of the Book of Job, it seems clear that Job here repents of his sins uttered in his speeches against God, challenging God to meet Job in a fair court trial. As suggested early in our journey through this Book, Job lost his wealth, his health, and his wisdom=his fear of God.

But now we discover that this is important. Often we need to lose our faith--in order to receive from God a much deeper faith. This is that happened to Job. For myself, God has changed him completely around through my life. I am an entirely different person from what I was 60 years ago, 50 years ago, 40 years ago, 30 years ago, etc. God TRANSFORMS people. This is what life is all about. I am so glad that God continually changes my beliefs, my ideas, my traditions, my whole life.

What about YOU? How has God changed YOUR life? Share your thoughts with others. Let me hear from YOU. I need all the help I can get.

John Willis

God Can Move the Mountains

This paragraph appears in Matthew 17:14-20 [It is also in Mark 9:14-29 and Luke 9:37-43a]:

"When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, 'Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; he often falls into the fire and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.' Jesus answered, 'You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you? Bring him here to me.' And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, 'Why could we not cast it out?' He said to them, 'Because of your little faith. For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move; and NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU.'"

Unfortunately, most of us do not have this kind of faith or belief or trust in God. Why don't you try this out today, and just see what happens? God can move mountains: your fears, your anxieties, your temptations, your sins, your failures, your reversals, your losses. God can move mountains.

A few years ago, a wonderful composer wrote the song: "Mighty to Save." I hope this will encourage YOU today.

Verse 1:
Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall of me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations

Verse 2:
So take as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Chorus:
Savior, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of Salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

Bridge:
Shine your light
And let the whole world see
We're singing
For the glory of the risen King, Jesus.

Sing and pray and ponder this song. God will lift your spirit. Share this song with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis

God's Second Speech--Job 40:6-42:6--Part 1--The Hippopotamus

Job has just conceded that God had won the debate hands down. NOW, God moves forward to win JOB. God's Second Speech falls into three parts, and Job follows with a brief response. This covers Job 40:6-42:6. In this blog, we will discuss the first two segments: Job 40:6-14 and Job 40:15-24.

I. God invites Job to sit on God's throne and be "God for a day" in order to show God how God should deal with people, especially "proud" people [note especially verses 11-12]. Job 40:6-14.
a. God begins his second speech exactly like he began his first speech [see
Job 38:1-3]. Since it is inappropriate for a human being to challenge God to meet a human being in a court trial or in any other situation, God declares that God will question Job [any human being] and then Job [any human being] can respond. Verses 6-7
b. God asks JOB: Are YOU in any type of circumstances to argue that God is wrong and Job has the right to condemn God? Is Job God? Can Job rival God? Such an idea is absurd and totally inappropriate. Verses 8-9. And yet, this is precisely what Job claimed in his speeches. Remember Job 9:13-13; 23:3-12 and often.
c. God now invites Job to put on "God's clothes" to assume this position to rule the world, especially to chastise the "proud." Verses 10-13. Many years ago, there was a program on radio called "Queen for a day." Each day, the coordinators of this program found a women somewhere in the United States and honor her to be queen for a day. When I think of this program, I think of God's invitation to make Job "God for a day." I am afraid that many of us in our heart of hearts think that if we were just God, we would rule the world correctly. Job himself had made that identical proposal as recorded in Job 24:1-12. A parent, a teacher, a senator is constantly the object of criticism from children, students, the public and assume: "If I were
this person, I would do much better. Now, Job has his chance, but he does not respond.
d. God concludes: If you [Job] just showed me [God] how to deal with people, especially "proud" people, I would "take my hat off to you [Job]" and acknowledge that you are right and I am wrong. Verse 14. Of course, this is absurd, and Job never responds.

II. God now parades two of his creatures. The idea here is: God has challenged Job to meet God in a heavy weight boxing match. God agrees, but first, Job must demonstrate his ability to compete by defeating two of God's creatures. Surely, they are inferior to the Creator Himself, God. God first describes the Behemoth, which is probably the Hippopotamus. Job 40:15-24.
a. First, God reminds Job that God "made" [created] the hippopotamus just like God "made" Job and every human being and all creatures. Verse 15.
b. God emphasizes the "strength" and "power" of the hippopotamus. Verses 16-18.
c. The hippopotamus is "the first of the great acts of God," not that God created the hippopotamus first chronologically, but in the sense that the hippopotamus is one of God's most powerful creatures. No human being can compete with the hippopotamus in a "boxing match." "ONLY its MAKER [God] can approach it with the sword." Verse 19.
d. The hippopotamus runs free in the fields and near the rivers, and essentially is in control of his world. No human being would dream of trying to take the hippopotamus with hooks or piece its nose with a snare. This would bring disaster for the human attacker. Verses 20-24.

What are YOUR insights about this first two segments of God's second speech? Would YOU like to be God for a day? Share YOUR thoughts with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis

Deep In the Heart of Texas

Since I was born and raised in Texas, I appreciate songs that portray some of the rugged edges of life in the West. All states have wonderful songs, and I plan to say a little about many of these in time.

One song in Texas that I have love all my life is: "The Stars at Night." You probably know this song. If not, here it is:

The stars at night
Are big and bright,
Deep in the heart of Texas.
The prairie sky
Is wide and high,
Deep in the heart of Texas.

The sage in bloom
Is like perfume,
Deep in the heart of Texas.
Reminds me of
The one I love,
Deep in the heart of Texas.

The stars at night
Are big and bright,
Deep in the heart of Texas.
The prairie sky
Is wide and high,
Deep in the heart of Texas.

The coyotes wail
Along the trail,
Deep in the heart of Texas.
The rabbits rush
Around the brush,
Deep in the heart of Texas.

The cowboys cry, "Ki-yip-pee-yi,"
Deep in the heart of Texas.
The dogies bawl
And bawl and bawl
Deep in the heart of Texas.

The themes: the stars at night, the prairie sky, sage in bloom, the one I love, coyotes wailing, rabbits rushing, cowboys crying out, and dogies bawling are part of country life in Texas--and actually in other states as well. These ideas keep us close to the land, to daily activities, to the presence of God in what many think of "small things."

I hope this song will touch YOUR heart is some unexpected way. Share YOUR favorite song with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis

God's First Speech--Job 38:1-40:5--Part 3--God's Incomprehensible Birds

In God's First Speech, God concludes by parading three birds which he created. One again, God's point is that no human being can explain why each type of bird has its specific characteristics or how one can control that bird. God alone can do this. This portion of God's First Speech appears in Job 38:41; 39:13-18, 26-30. After this, God makes a concluding remark to Job (Job 40:1-2), and Job gives a very brief response (Job 40:3-5).

I. The Raven. Job 38:41. The raven survives only by seeking, attacking, and eating its prey--usually a rat or a small rabbit or some other type of rodent. The raven does this without any help by human beings. Yet, the raven survives and flourishes. Why is this? Because God has created the raven in just this way. No human being can explain the characteristics of a raven, nor can they control the raven.

II. The Ostrich. Job 39:13-18. It seems that an ostrich could never survive, yet it does and does this quite well.
a. The adult ostriches lay eggs on the ground, and then essentially abandon their young. Yet, the young gives birth, grows, and survives. Verses 13-17.
b. Once the ostrich becomes an adult, it runs swiftly and powerfully, and out maneuvers a horse. Verse 18.
An ostrich is quite different from a raven. But the ostrich does very well. Why is this? Because God has made the ostrich with just these characteristics. No human being can explain why the ostrich acts as it does. Nor can a human being control an ostrich.

III. The Hawk and the Eagle. Job 39:26-30. The hawk and the eagle fly high above the earth. It lives in rocky terrain and makes its nest there. The eye of the hawk and and eagle is very keen. It can see a prey at a very long distance. It swoops down swiftly, catches the prey, and brings it back to its young in the nest. Why is this? Because God has made the hawk and the eagle with these precise abilities and skills and characteristics. Human beings cannot make this happen, nor can they control these powerful creatures.

IV. After Yahweh's First long Speech, Yahweh asks Job pointedly:
"Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?" Job 40:1-2.
As we have discusses throughout Job's speeches, Job often "finds fault" with God, accuses Job of making Job suffer without just cause, and challenges God to meet Job in a fair court trial. Now, Yahweh appears and reprimands Job for his ignorance and lack of the knowledge of God.

V. Job responds briefly and humbly:
"See I am of small account;
what shall I answer you [Yahweh]?
I have spoken once, and I will not answer,
twice, but will proceed no further." (Job 40:3-5).
Remember that Job had claimed that IF God would just appear and give Job a chance to defend himself: "I would fill my mouth with arguments" (Job 23:4). However, when God appears and speaks, Job has absolutely nothing to say. Job concedes that God WINS THE DEBATE--hands down!!!
Why doesn't the Book of Job end at this point--at Job 40:5? What follows gives the answer to this. God is not interesting in WINNING ARGUMENTS, but in WINNING PEOPLE!!!
There is a tremendous for all of us today. Many assume that "true religion" or "Christianity" is based on "correct arguments." The Bible teaches that this as far from the truth as possible. God is interesting in transforming hearts. And thus, God now turns to his Second Speech.

Stay with us!!! What are YOUR insights about God's First Speech? Share YOUR ideas with your community, your church, your family, your friends. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis

Armistice Day

War is always horrible. For various reasons, tribes, peoples, nations engage in war against other tribes, peoples, nations. We all desire peace. But war is a reality, and thus we have to deal with this reality as best we can.

For people in the United States of America, we recognize Remembrance Day or Armistice Day every year on 11 November. Initially, this commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiegne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Fron, which occurred at 11:00 a. m.--the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.

Italy commemorates the day of the Armistice of Villa Giusti on 4 November. Poland calls this day Polish Independence Day. After World War II, the name of this holiday was changed to Veterans Day in the USA and to Remembrance Day in countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Armistice Day continues to be an official holiday in France and in Belgium, known in Belgium as the Day of Peace in the Flanders Fields.

Many people throughout the world take a two-minute time of silence at 11:00 a. m. as a sign of respect for the approximately 20 million people who died in the war. Beginning in 1939, the United Kingdom moved the two-minute silence to the Sunday nearest 11 November in order not to interfere with wartime productions.

Here in Abilene, Dyess Airforce Base, ACU, and other locations throughout this city commemorated Armistice Day this year. Our young people honor older people who gave their lives in military positions around the world. Evelyn and I and 37 ACU students spent a day at Normandy, where we viewed the crosses honoring those who had died in the war. These are sobering times.

We pray for peace. And we honor those who enable us to live in relative peace right now. I for one do not take for granted all the sacrifices people contribute to defending promoting this and other nations. I hope YOU share these sentiments.

What are YOUR experiences? What are YOUR thoughts? Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis

God's First Speech--Job 38:1-40:5--Part 2--God's Incomprehensible Animals

After God presents some of his inanimate creations on the universe and on planet earth, God next discusses five animals which he has created. Job 38:39-40; 39:1-12, 19-25 describes these five animals. In each case, God makes two major points:
A. Human beings cannot do the feats of these creatures.
B. Human beings cannot control or invent the activities or practices of these creatures.
Here are this discussion of these five animals.

I. The Lion. Job 38:39-40. God challenges any human being to hunt and kill and eat the prey of a lion as it crouches in its den or lair. How humorous to think of a human being running after a gazelle, jump on its back, bite its jugular vein, tear the animal apart, drag it to its den, and eat its raw. It is unthinkable that a human being would do such a thing, but this is vital to the survival of a lion. God's work is amazing. God does these things without human aid.

II. The Mountain Goat. Job 39:1-4. God challenges the conception, gestation, birth, and upbringing of a mountain goat. All this happens in the wild apart from human beings, yet their young grow up and become strong, and in time become independent from their forebears. God is marvelous. God does these things without human aid.

III. The Wild Ass. Job 39:5-8. God challenges the customary activities of the wild ass. The wild ass is born in the wild, grows up, and lives independently and very well. It avoids the city and refuses to allow a human being ride on his back. It eats pasture on the mountains and in the fields. God does wondrous things. God does these things without human aid.

IV. The Wild Ox. Job 39:9-12. God challenges the temper of the wild ox. No human being dare attempt to tame the wild ox or make it work in the field like a domesticated ox or mule. How humorous to think that a wild ox would spend the night in the crib of a human being. No human being could possible harness and drive a wild ox. The temper of the wild ox will not allow this. God is wise and powerful. God does these things without human aid.

V. The Horse. Job 39:19-25. God challenges the skill and dexterity of a horse. It would be preposterous to think of a human being ride on a hippopotamus or a rhinoceros or a crocodile. But a horse is "made" for riding and battle in war. A human being mounts on a horse, and with training, trains the horse to do marvelous feats and lead armies into battle and engage in competitive races and numerous others things. God's creation is captivating. God does these things without human aid.

Job does not respond to God's challenges. It is obvious to everyone that human beings cannot do any of these things, yet God does these things regularly. SO, how can any human being be in a position to question God's work in dealing with human suffering. Job's criticisms of God are completely inappropriate. And God makes this very clear by raising all these questions having to do with God's creative work throughout the universe and on earth.

What are YOUR thoughts about these five creations of God? How do YOU react to God's treatment of Job's complaints throughout Job's speeches? Share YOUR ideas with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis

Open My Eyes

One of the numerous prayers found in Psalm 119 appears in verse 18:
"Open my eyes, so that I may see
wondrous things out of your law."

Such a prayer assumes that we are blind spiritually. We SEE much physically, but spiritually we are often blind. The whole account about the man born blind related in John 9 essentially deals with the problem of "blindness" and "seeing." The man born blind was blind "physically," BUT the Pharisees who rebuked Jesus for opening the eyes of this man could see physically, but in reality they were blind spiritually.

This chapter ends with these words in John 11:35-43:
"Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, 'Do you believe in the Son of Man?' He answered, 'And who is he, sir?' Tell me, so that I may believe in him,' Jesus said to him, 'You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.' He said, 'Lord," I believe. And he worshipped him. Jesus said, 'I came into this world for judgment so that hose who do not SEE may SEE, and those who do SEE may become BLIND.' Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, 'Surely we are not BLIND, are we?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were BLIND, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We SEE,' your sin remains."

In 1895, Clara H Scott wrote a song conveying this thought:

First Stanza: Open my eyes, that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp, and set me free.

Second Stanza: Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

Third Stanza: Open my mouth, and let me bear
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart, and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see:
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Savior divine!

I hope these thoughts lift YOUR heart. Share YOUR thoughts with others. Let me hear from YOU.

John Willis