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The final chapters of Job are a depiction of the true meaning of the book of Job. Certainly there are elements from the entire book which one can learn from, but the final chapters show God’s hand at work in the life of Job, calling him to Himself not just for righteousness, but for faithfulness. God first rebukes Job, then Job responds in faith and as a result, Job is restored to the blessing of God.
God rebukes Job first by pointing out his wrongdoing and then by contrasting his power with the humble existence of man. God tells Job that he is foolish because he makes judgment without knowledge (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.2). God then contrasts Himself and His power with Job when He asks if Job ever commanded the sun to rise and fall (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.12) and if he is able to judge the wicked versus the righteous (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.13). God asks if he is able to give wisdom (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38.36). Job would know that these things are characteristics only of God because he has an apparent upbringing that has trained him to understand the law.
It is revealed that regardless of his perceived righteousness and adherence to commands, Job lacks true faith. He says that he has heard with his ears, suggesting that he has been told the law, but now he has seen with his eyes. Job now is able to see God in creation and working in his own life (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 42.5). Before this revelation he had a faith of works, which was dead (The MacArthur Study Bible, James 2:17). It is not that he was in sin in some way or another, as suggested by his friends, which caused him to lose everything and become sick; rather he did not recognize God’s salvation and therefore would perish eternally.
Job confesses his sins and repents (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 42.6). The confession comes in the word “retract”. The purpose of confession is to acknowledge before God that you recognize His definition of sin and acknowledge your participation in it. In retracting his challenge against God, Job meets this standard for confession. Repentance takes place as well, which is a statement that Job not only recognizes his fault, but that he will make every effort to not do it again. Job is then restored to the blessings of God through this demonstration of faith (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 42.10-17).
The greatest theme throughout Job is that everything that happens is God’s work in Job. From the beginning God removes His blessings from Job (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 1,2). The bulk of the story is Job trying to figure out why he has been forsaken by God. Then God rebukes Job for questioning His majesty and authority and wisdom (The MacArthur Study Bible, Job 38). The whole point of the story comes about when God challenges Job to repent. At this point, Job had the choice to either accept God at His word or to walk away, assuming that his own perspective was right. He acted in faith and chose forgiveness and repentance and restoration to the blessings of God.
Works Cited
The MacArthur Study Bible: Updated New American Standard Translation. MacArthur: Thomas Nelson
Inc., 2006.
God at Work in Job
