Job 42

Job 42:1

JOB REPENTSNow notice the effect upon Job: Is that the kind of God you have? Can He do anything? There is the old saw about God: “Can God make a rock so big that He can’t lift it?” That is like the question to Mr. Milquetoast, “Are you still beating your wife?” You see, there is no answer because you are caught whether you answer it yes or no. The question about God has no answer because God never does anything foolish. He always does that which is in the context of His character. He is always true to Himself. So you cannot tell God to do something that He cannot do. Do you know why not? Because, my friend, you are in no position to do that. God is not your errand boy. God is not going to jump through any hoop just because you hold it up.

Job 42:3

Job admits he has been talking about things he doesn’t know anything about. That is the way it was with our bull sessions in the college dorm. We would finish studying at night and would meet in some room and say, “What are we going to talk about?” I used to say, “Let’s talk about something we don’t know anything about. Then the sky’s the limit. We can say anything we want to say.” This is what Job has been doing. He has been talking about things he knows nothing about. He talked about things too wonderful for him, which he knew not. He has been talking without knowledge.

Job 42:4

Now this man Job has a new conception of God. He is not in a position to question God in anything that He does. He is to trust Him. He is in a new relationship. First, Job saw himself as he really was, and he came into a new relationship with himself. He saw himself as vile; he abhorred himself. Now he sees himself in a new relationship to God. He repents in dust and ashes. Here are the steps of real repentance. This is the repentance that is in faith. First, you must see yourself as vile. Secondly, you must abhor yourself. Perhaps you have seen birds feeding on carrion in the wilderness. When you quit trusting yourself and quit trying to live on the old dead carcass of self and you turn to the living God, that is real repentance. What a wonderful thing it is! Job recognizes the sovereignty of God. He confesses his sin and repents. God has accomplished His purpose in the life of Job. Job evidently realizes that the reason God has permitted him to suffer is to bring him to repentance. He sees himself in the light of the presence of God. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1Jn_1:6-7).

Job 42:7

EPILOGUEFinally, we find that Job also comes to a new relationship with his friends. Instead of fighting against his friends or debating them, he is now going to pray for them. He is going to offer a sacrifice for them. We are not to argue religion today or to fight among ourselves. What is it that we are to do? Paul writes, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness …” (Gal_6:1). Job has a new relationship with himself, with God, and with his friends. Now God does something for Job.

Job 42:10

Now, how did God give Job twice as much? He used human means.

Job 42:11

This is the way he got started. These friends staked him to a new beginning and, believe me, Job was a good business man. God gave him twice as much as he had had at the very beginning.

Job 42:12

All of the animals were doubled. But it says here, “He had also seven sons and daughters.” Someone will say, “God didn’t double them.” Yes, He did. You see, Job did not lose those sons and daughters who died. They were still his. He was yet to be with them. He is with them today. We do not lose our loved ones in death. I have a little one up there. I used to tell people that I have two daughters, and they would look around and see only one. They would think there was something wrong with me. But, you see, I have one in heaven. Very frankly, I am not at all worried about my little one in heaven, I worry about the one on earth.

Job 42:14

Now, friend, if you have quite a few daughters in your family and you are trying to think of a new name, I have a suggestion for you. Jemima would not be so good to use because there is a pancake mix sold in the United States called “Aunt Jemima.” But how about Kerenhappuch? Wouldn’t you like that for a name for a little girl? Or do you like Kezia?

Job 42:16

We are told that after this Job lived 140 years. This puts him back in the age of the patriarchs. Even after all this had happened to him, he lived to see his sons and his sons’ sons, even four generations. When he died, he was old and full of days.