The Contentions of the Book of Job
During a time of great suffering, Job fell into deep despair. Job was an upright man who feared God and turned from evil (1:1). But in his despair, Job began to contend with God and questioned why God allowed such suffering to come to his life. He said, “I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me” (10:2).
His friends also contended with him. They thought they knew the answers to why Job was suffering. They were convinced that he must have sinned in some way and was being judged by God. In many ways, Job’s friends had good theology. They understood truths about God and His ways. However, they misapplied those truths, prejudging Job’s sufferings, and as a result earned the title of miserable comforters (16:2). Those of us who know the truth need to seek wisdom about how to apply it to ourselves first lest we become like Job’s friends.
After a period of contending with his friends, and feeling like God was contending with him, Job eventually found comfort. But the comfort that he found didn’t come from having the questions that confounded him answered. Job’s comfort came not from being given a good reasons for his sufferings, but from being given a greater revelation of His God. When God revealed Himself to Job, He didn’t answer the why, He showed Him the who (38:5). In his time of suffering, knowing the “who” without the “why” was enough for Job (42:1-6). To Job, who felt that God was contending with him, God said, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?” (40:2). After being reminded of the greatness of God, Job ceased to demand answers. Instead, he surrendered to the will of God even though he did not fully understand it.
Unlike Job, we have the benefit of knowing what was happening behind the scenes between God and Satan. Satan was also attempting to contend with God. But it’s important that we don’t misapply or misunderstand what was actually taking place in the spiritual realm in Job’s day. Although Satan was contending with God, it wasn’t a competition. In other words, it was not a contest between rivals. God has no rivals or equals. Satan didn’t incite God to do something against God’s will. God started the conversation and pointed out to Satan that Job was a God-fearing man (1:6-12; 2:1-6). Knowing the kind of upright man that Job was, God permitted Satan to put Job’s faith to the test. Satan’s contention was that Job only reverenced God because God blessed him with wealth and prosperity. In other words, Satan was saying to God, Job only serves you for what you do for him, not for who you are.
Today, we call a rich older man who lavishes gifts on a young woman in return for her company or sexual favors a sugar daddy. The young woman is not with him because she loves him. She’s with him because she loves his material riches. This was Satan’s contention also. Job doesn’t want your rule, he just wants your riches. Knowing that’s what Satan would think or say, God allowed him to put his contention to the test. And in the end, Job’s faith in God proved that Satan’s contention was wrong. During a time of great suffering, Job, before the presence of God, demonstrated that he trusted the rule of God, and treasured the presence of God more than earthly riches.
Concerning the saints of old, who endured great suffering for the cause of Christ, the author of Hebrews wrote, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38). The words, "of whom the world was not worthy'" means that the world does not deserve the gift of these suffering Christians. How are these suffering saints a gift to the world? As John Piper explained, “The answer lies in their faith. These all were “commended through their faith” (v. 39). That is, they were approved by God. Their suffering was not owing to lack of faith. Rather, the worth of their suffering lay precisely in their faith. How so? Notice in Hebrews 11 that sometimes God works miracles of rescue through suffering (Hebrews 11:27-35a). And sometimes he gives the faith to endure misery and death (Hebrews 11:35b-39).
The common denominator in the faith that escapes and the faith that endures is that God is treasured above liberty and life. The one who escapes says, “Jesus is better than what I gain.” The one who dies says, “Jesus is better than what I lose.” That is the essence of faith: Jesus is trusted and valued above all. That is why these suffering Christians-especially suffering missionaries-are a gift to the world. Their Jesus-sustained suffering embodies the gospel truth that Jesus is more valuable than all that life can give and all that death can take. What a vivid proclamation of the cross! This truth is the most precious gift that a Christian can give to the world. The world does not deserve it. “Of whom the world was not worthy.” But we give it anyway. I pray that you will have an all-satisfying faith in Jesus when the time comes to give the gift of suffering to the world.”
Now, what Job’s faith demonstrated is the main theological message of the book of Job: The glory of God is seen best in our lives when we seek God for God and find our all in Him, especially in difficult times. Or like John Piper puts it, “God is most glorified in us when we’re most satisfied in Him.” Pandemic times call for contagious Christians to spread the hope and love of Jesus.
In light of the main theological message of the book of Job, let me ask you, do you feel like God is contending with you? Sometimes God will reveal the why. There could be something specific He’s dealing with you about. In the Apostle Paul’s case, his thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, kept him humble and dependent upon God’s grace (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
Like Job, there may not be a specific “why” to your suffering that God reveals to you, like he did with Paul. It may be that God wants to reveal more of who He is in your life. Whatever God is doing, don’t contend with God. Surrender to His rule and seek for His will to be done in your life as it is in heaven.
Let me suggest to you also that Satan has a contention with you. Like Job, his contention with you is that you don’t seek God for God. And if you do seek God, you do so more for earthly riches than His heavenly rule. Is Satan right or wrong about you? Can God trust that your faith and your prayer life will prove the devil wrong and bring glory to Jesus? Remember, Jesus taught us to pray, "your kingdom come…” (Matthew 6:10). When you pray to God, "your kingdom come," are you primarily thinking about His riches or His rule?
When we pray to God, as Jesus intended, we’re not seeking first God’s kingdom riches, we are seeking first God’s kingdom rule. When we seek God’s kingdom rule first, He will gladly entrust to us His kingdom riches so that we might accomplish His kingdom agenda.
Blessings,
Pastor Marco
His friends also contended with him. They thought they knew the answers to why Job was suffering. They were convinced that he must have sinned in some way and was being judged by God. In many ways, Job’s friends had good theology. They understood truths about God and His ways. However, they misapplied those truths, prejudging Job’s sufferings, and as a result earned the title of miserable comforters (16:2). Those of us who know the truth need to seek wisdom about how to apply it to ourselves first lest we become like Job’s friends.
After a period of contending with his friends, and feeling like God was contending with him, Job eventually found comfort. But the comfort that he found didn’t come from having the questions that confounded him answered. Job’s comfort came not from being given a good reasons for his sufferings, but from being given a greater revelation of His God. When God revealed Himself to Job, He didn’t answer the why, He showed Him the who (38:5). In his time of suffering, knowing the “who” without the “why” was enough for Job (42:1-6). To Job, who felt that God was contending with him, God said, “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?” (40:2). After being reminded of the greatness of God, Job ceased to demand answers. Instead, he surrendered to the will of God even though he did not fully understand it.
Unlike Job, we have the benefit of knowing what was happening behind the scenes between God and Satan. Satan was also attempting to contend with God. But it’s important that we don’t misapply or misunderstand what was actually taking place in the spiritual realm in Job’s day. Although Satan was contending with God, it wasn’t a competition. In other words, it was not a contest between rivals. God has no rivals or equals. Satan didn’t incite God to do something against God’s will. God started the conversation and pointed out to Satan that Job was a God-fearing man (1:6-12; 2:1-6). Knowing the kind of upright man that Job was, God permitted Satan to put Job’s faith to the test. Satan’s contention was that Job only reverenced God because God blessed him with wealth and prosperity. In other words, Satan was saying to God, Job only serves you for what you do for him, not for who you are.
Today, we call a rich older man who lavishes gifts on a young woman in return for her company or sexual favors a sugar daddy. The young woman is not with him because she loves him. She’s with him because she loves his material riches. This was Satan’s contention also. Job doesn’t want your rule, he just wants your riches. Knowing that’s what Satan would think or say, God allowed him to put his contention to the test. And in the end, Job’s faith in God proved that Satan’s contention was wrong. During a time of great suffering, Job, before the presence of God, demonstrated that he trusted the rule of God, and treasured the presence of God more than earthly riches.
Concerning the saints of old, who endured great suffering for the cause of Christ, the author of Hebrews wrote, “of whom the world was not worthy” (Hebrews 11:38). The words, "of whom the world was not worthy'" means that the world does not deserve the gift of these suffering Christians. How are these suffering saints a gift to the world? As John Piper explained, “The answer lies in their faith. These all were “commended through their faith” (v. 39). That is, they were approved by God. Their suffering was not owing to lack of faith. Rather, the worth of their suffering lay precisely in their faith. How so? Notice in Hebrews 11 that sometimes God works miracles of rescue through suffering (Hebrews 11:27-35a). And sometimes he gives the faith to endure misery and death (Hebrews 11:35b-39).
The common denominator in the faith that escapes and the faith that endures is that God is treasured above liberty and life. The one who escapes says, “Jesus is better than what I gain.” The one who dies says, “Jesus is better than what I lose.” That is the essence of faith: Jesus is trusted and valued above all. That is why these suffering Christians-especially suffering missionaries-are a gift to the world. Their Jesus-sustained suffering embodies the gospel truth that Jesus is more valuable than all that life can give and all that death can take. What a vivid proclamation of the cross! This truth is the most precious gift that a Christian can give to the world. The world does not deserve it. “Of whom the world was not worthy.” But we give it anyway. I pray that you will have an all-satisfying faith in Jesus when the time comes to give the gift of suffering to the world.”
Now, what Job’s faith demonstrated is the main theological message of the book of Job: The glory of God is seen best in our lives when we seek God for God and find our all in Him, especially in difficult times. Or like John Piper puts it, “God is most glorified in us when we’re most satisfied in Him.” Pandemic times call for contagious Christians to spread the hope and love of Jesus.
In light of the main theological message of the book of Job, let me ask you, do you feel like God is contending with you? Sometimes God will reveal the why. There could be something specific He’s dealing with you about. In the Apostle Paul’s case, his thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, kept him humble and dependent upon God’s grace (2 Cor. 12:7-10).
Like Job, there may not be a specific “why” to your suffering that God reveals to you, like he did with Paul. It may be that God wants to reveal more of who He is in your life. Whatever God is doing, don’t contend with God. Surrender to His rule and seek for His will to be done in your life as it is in heaven.
Let me suggest to you also that Satan has a contention with you. Like Job, his contention with you is that you don’t seek God for God. And if you do seek God, you do so more for earthly riches than His heavenly rule. Is Satan right or wrong about you? Can God trust that your faith and your prayer life will prove the devil wrong and bring glory to Jesus? Remember, Jesus taught us to pray, "your kingdom come…” (Matthew 6:10). When you pray to God, "your kingdom come," are you primarily thinking about His riches or His rule?
When we pray to God, as Jesus intended, we’re not seeking first God’s kingdom riches, we are seeking first God’s kingdom rule. When we seek God’s kingdom rule first, He will gladly entrust to us His kingdom riches so that we might accomplish His kingdom agenda.
Blessings,
Pastor Marco