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God’s Speech Towards Job
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God’s Speech Towards Job
Introduction
The Book of Job is filled with sadness. It is the story of a man who was upright before
God, but the devil used the opportunity to make him suffer. Job lost his property and his
children. All this happened to test his loyalty towards God. After losing all these, Job remained
faithful to God. However, he was filled with complaining. His friends tried to comfort him, but
he could not get comfort from what they were saying. In Job 16:1-5, Job tells the comforters that
he knows what they are saying, but he does not find them applicable (Worldwide Printing
Company, 2009, p. 486). After Job had complained for a while, God finally spoke. God's speech
makes Job repent, according to Job 42:6, even though God’s response was not an answer to the
challenges that Job had been going through. An analysis of Job's situation and God's speech
proves that God did not answer Job's question of suffering and justice, but it made Job conscious
of his situation as a man and repented towards God.
Analysis of Job’s Initial Speech
The poem in Job 3:1-10 shows the first instance that Job complains. In the previous
chapters, Job had been praising God and telling his wife how she was foolish for advising him to
curse God and die. He seemed to have his composure and accept the realities of what had
happened. However, in the poem, Job starts by cursing the day he was born, showing that he
does not appreciate it. By alluding to Genesis 1, Job shows how God had failed to maintain
order. In Genesis 1, God brings order to a chaotic world by chasing the darkness away when he
says, “Let there be light” (Worldwide Printing Company, 2009, p. 1). To show how chaotic his
life was, Job says, "Let there be darkness." The poem sets the theme for the rest of the book, in
which Job converses with his friends before God speaks. For example, in chapter 31, Job
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expresses how he has walked in integrity and how this should be a reason to guarantee him a
desirable life. In doing so, he is showing how God is failing in his responsibility. Finally, God
speaks.
God’s Speech
God’s response to Job is a comparison between God's greatness and man's minuteness. It
shows that God has a great understanding that man cannot comprehend. For example, in Job
38:4, God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare if you
have understanding” (Worldwide Printing Company, 2009, p. 500). Such a question shows the
limits that Job has and the limitlessness of God. By comparing God’s greatness to Job’s limited
nature, it brings out the idea that Job has no right to question God. Job had no idea of what God
did to ensure that the world came into order and became livable. Hence, he should understand
that God has allowed the challenges he is going through to come his way because God has a
reason behind it, even though God does not explain the reason to him.
God keeps asking Job questions to show him that there are a lot of situations that Job
does not control, but God does. For example, in verse 19 of chapter 38, God asks Job where the
way is where the light dwells. In verse 25, he asks Job about the person who sets up the path for
lightning to pass through. In verse 33, he asks Job whether he knows the ordinances of heaven.
Throughout chapters 38 and 39, God’s speech shows that there are a lot of situations over which
he is controlling at the same time and bringing balance to life. Job’s complaints before getting to
God’s answers insinuate that God has forsaken Job and is not in control. However, as one looks
at the situations that God controls, it becomes evident that nothing has passed God’s attention.
Job’s situation seems to be a small matter compared to the other situations.
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In chapter 40, God describes a sea creature called the Leviathan. He tells Job how great
the creature is such that when it sneezes, lights shine (Worldwide Printing Company, 2009, p.
502). Its breath lights up coals. Its heart is as hard as a millstone. With all this description, God
makes it evident to Job that the leviathan is not afraid of other creatures, and no man can subdue
it. Still, God shows that he is in full control of the leviathan. The comparison acts as proof that
God is the strongest being. The creature that causes fear to men because of its description is
subject to what God wants of it. Once again, God's response shows that he is great and
incomparable to man.
As seen through the responses that God makes, he does not speak about Job's suffering
and justice. The reader of the book has background information, knowing that the devil asked
God for permission to make Job suffer, and God granted him. The point was to test Job's loyalty.
God does not address this in his response to Job, and this is why one knows that God does not
answer Job. God takes a different approach to comparing what he can do and what man can do.
In doing so, God shows that he is too great for man to question him, and this satisfies Job's quest
to seek answers concerning the challenges he is going through. Job finally understands that
whatever happens, God is in control and does not need to be asked questions about the reasons
for man’s suffering.
Job’s response to what God says also acts as proof that God is addressing the differences
in power and not the existing suffering and injustice. In Job 40:4, Job says, “Behold, I am vile;
what shall I answer you?” (Worldwide Printing Company, 2009, p. 502). The statement shows
that Job has understood the differences in power between him and God and he now knows that
God is in control even when the situation does not seem like it. Hence, he ends up understanding
that God is not to be questioned. As much as God does not answer the questions that Job had
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concerning suffering and injustice, his response towards Job is essential in offering a perspective
that makes Job look at life differently. He stops seeing God as one who remains unconcerned
about man's life to one who is in full control and allows events to take place as he pleases.
Conclusion
The Book of Job is filled with sadness since it shows the suffering of a man who did not
do anything wrong to warrant the suffering. After Job complains for a while, God responds to
him. The poem in Job chapter 3 shows that Job does not believe God is observing order. When
God speaks, he does not address the issues of suffering and injustice that Job goes through.
Instead, he explains the differences in power between him and man, proving that there is so
much under his control that man does not need to worry about him being out of control. In the
end, Job appreciates that God is great and man is minute compared to God. Job becomes settled
after God answers him, agreeing that God should exercise his greatness.
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Reference
World Wide Printing Company. (2009). The Holy Bible.
