HIGHER-FIRE digest 382 (WoF)

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Hi Dave,

Let me say first of all, this is great!  The book of Job has long been one
of my favorites, and the way the discussion has been handled is tremendous.

I could address each of the scriptures that you quoted, but it would be
useless, I basically agree. (with the exception of 1:21).

I never meant to say that Job did not blame God at times, only that this was
not the source of his problems.  The reason that Job struggled with what was
going on was because he was ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT GOD COULD HAVE STOPPED
IT.  Job's reasoning, I believe, (not necessarily correct) was that if God
could have stopped it, then God must have allowed it, therefore God caused it.

The deliverance that Job found in chapter 42, the returning of prosperity,
(BTW did you look that up about the turning of captivity of Job, just
curious) was brought about by his confession of the sovereignty of God and
his declaration that he doesn't always know why God does the things that he
does.

Listen to the words of Job 42:1-6(NIV)

1) Then Job replied to the Lord:
2) I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3) You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me
to know.

Let me quote  42:3 also from the Living Bible, ( I recognize it is only a
paraphrase, please don't throw rocks at me :-) )

LIVING BIBLE JOB 42:3

You ask who it is who has so foolishly denied your providence.  It is I. I
was talking about things I knew nothing about and did not understand, things
far too wonderful for me.

Back to the NIV

4)"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you
shall answer me.'
5) My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
6) Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.

It was Job's decision to allow God to be God that brought Job his answer.
In other words, I don't know why this happening, don't know when it is going
to stop, but I do know my God.  Then Job spoke of his deepening relationship
to God, "My ears heard but now my eyes have seen."

I think Job's plight was similiar to that of John the Baptist in the prison.
(Subject for another time) when Jesus answer to him was,

"Blessed is he who is not offended in me."

God Bless you for listening.

Respectfully submitted,

Andy (let God be God) Gossett