The “Why” is Finally Answered - Job 40-42

 Job 42:1-6 (ESV)

Job's Confession and Repentance

Then Job answered the LORD and said:

“I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

The book of Job has come to an end.   Job has been attacked by Satan (although Job will contribute the entire thing to God in Job 1:22 and Job 42:11).   Job has suffered.  His three friends have demeaned him and blamed him for the suffering.  Job has defended himself to them. But, Job also demanded an answer from God.  This has brought God to the interchange and God has told Job everything but a reason for his suffering.  God talked to Job about His greatness in the last few chapters.  But, he did not give Job an answer as to why the righteous suffer.   Job wanted one.  God withheld one.   What is Job’s response to God’s speaking of His greatness to Job and not responding to Job’s question?  In the above passage we read that Job stated, “I dispose myself and repent in dust and ashes.”    But, why did Job repent?  He was said to be righteous in the beginning.   Throughout the book he has maintained his righteousness.   So, why repent?   

Job’s repenting spirit has to do with his demand for an answer from God.  Throughout his responses to his three friends, Job has stated and even begged for an audience before God to find out the “why” of his suffering.   God does not give him one.   God instead tells Job how great He is and how awesome His creations are.   After hearing these things from God, Job repents.   He is repenting from his arrogance that he thinks he deserves an answer from God.   Job was acting “entitled” that he should/could have a reason sufficient to him for his suffering.   When He hears about the greatness and awesomeness of God, Job realizes that his desire to know something deep about God is not God’s plan for him.  His demand is out of his arrogance.   He states that in his questioning God he asked about things “too wonderful” for him to know.  

When we are in the midst of the most darkest moments of our lives we want to know the “why.”   We often demand to know the “why.”  Yet, in those moments the only truth we can know is that God is in control and has His purpose for us and His love for us in that purpose.   Job came to the realization that his suffering was a creation, an act of God, just as God created the beast He describes to Job in the previous chapters.   God is awesome and there are times in our lives we can never understand God’s movements in our lives, for our lives.  But, we can understand the “why” ... because God loves us and controls all things for His purpose, not ours.