Job 11:7-8
“ Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?
“ They are high as the heavens, what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?
On face value, Zophar's questions here to Job seem appropriate and fair. Zophar, the third of Job's friends to speak, is harder than the other two in his counsel. But, these questions would be appropriate to ask in any situation. If it were not for Zophar's lack of tack and his limited mercy, you would be pleased to be confronted with such a theological quiz. Yet, when considered over the entire response of Zophar you catch a small amount of sarcasm in Zohar's voice. I am sure Zophar is trying to be theologically correct and is asking Job so that Job will know his place in this saga. Yet, asking the right questions in the wrong manner and spirit is not pleasing to God. Zophar is correct in that Job, nor me and you, can know or discover the depths of God. We do not know His unlimited power. Heaven and Hell can't contain Him. To this point, Zophar is a Seminar Theologian. To the point of the appropriateness of his questioning Job, Zophar falls quite short. We should be always ready to ask the deep and stretching questions about God and His Divine Character. However, when your friend is sitting in boils and bruises, we may want to be careful as to "how" we ask a question as much as "why" we ask a question. When in pain and difficulty we should be directed to dwell on the depths of God and the unlimited power He can use on our behalf. But, if we state it as a tool to whip our friend and not encourage him we do a disservice to the friend and The Lord.
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