Job 19-22
Why do the wicked continue to live, growing old and becoming powerful? Their children are established while they are still alive, and their descendants, before their eyes.
Job 21:7-8
Required Reading
Devotional
Until this point, Job’s friends have gone through great lengths to describe how destruction comes upon the wicked. All the things that Job has been experiencing have been likened to the fate of wicked people who don’t know God. In Chapter 12, Job offers a different perspective. Rightfully, he has pointed out that not all evil people perish quickly. Wicked people also live long lives with many children, riches and fame. Job points out that some people die well-fed with no worries while other people die in anguish. Wicked noblemen have grand processionals at their funerals and die with lots of honor. Therefore, disaster is not the only fate of the wicked while here on earth. Likewise, riches and comfort are not guaranteed to the righteous.
Job sheds light on an interesting debate. Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people? On the contrary, why do bad things happen to good people? We discussed some of this on day 27. This whole story of Job is about bad things that had happened to the best man who was living on the earth at that time. It is something that neither Job nor his friends witnessed before. It is only because of Job’s certainty of his innocence that there was even a debate. Most individuals, including Job, would have agreed that bad things happen when you’re wicked.
To some extent, this idea of a quid pro quo, systematic relationship with the Lord has merit. Yet, there are plenty of examples that go against this. In biblical history, we see people like King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon rise to unrivaled power. Yet, he was wicked. Thankfully, we have the books of the major prophets to give us insight that God was using King Nebuchadnezzar as a tool to exercise judgment upon the Isrealites. We don’t get that insight for everyone in the world. Fast forward to more recent history. Why did God allow someone like Adolf Hitler to overtake Germany and oppress the Jews again? Why did God allow the trans-atlantic slave trade to occur? While millions of Jews and Africans were suffering, many evil people sat at home and sipped their tea in peace.
Why, Lord? These are the mysteries of the Almighty, Sovereign God that we serve. No one can answer this question, better than God Himself:
Just as Job had no idea about the conversation that God had with satan, we have no idea what is happening in the spiritual realm. Even prophets like Daniel and John who received glimpses of the spiritual realm did not understand what they were seeing even while they watched the events of the unseen. God has so much knowledge and understanding. He has reasons for everything He does or allows. Whether we can see it or not, God operates out of his nature of love.
Although so much disaster came upon Job, he still knew God was his Redeemer. God was his only hope. He acknowledges that God could bring this wrath and God could take it away. God can harm and heal.
This is humility. This is righteousness. Honoring the Lord, in spite of the affliction being faced. In the midst of the suffering, with no relief in sight, time after time, Job still gives God reverence.
In reading the entire Old Testament this year, our desire is for you to get to know who God is. We want you to study and learn God’s character. Once we understand who God is, our viewpoint on our suffering changes. Once we come to an understanding of God’s sovereignty, we can humbly accept that there are some questions we can’t understand the answer to. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, it becomes easier to trust God during the difficult times.
Lastly, in learning about God’s character, know that we have a God who exercises justice. We won’t discuss it today, but God rewards his righteous people with salvation. Those who accept Jesus will live forever with God in heaven with eternal riches. The righteous who suffer now on earth, won’t suffer forever. Jesus gives us a great parable describing this in Luke 16:19-31. Check it out for yourself.
Job sheds light on an interesting debate. Why does God allow good things to happen to bad people? On the contrary, why do bad things happen to good people? We discussed some of this on day 27. This whole story of Job is about bad things that had happened to the best man who was living on the earth at that time. It is something that neither Job nor his friends witnessed before. It is only because of Job’s certainty of his innocence that there was even a debate. Most individuals, including Job, would have agreed that bad things happen when you’re wicked.
To some extent, this idea of a quid pro quo, systematic relationship with the Lord has merit. Yet, there are plenty of examples that go against this. In biblical history, we see people like King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon rise to unrivaled power. Yet, he was wicked. Thankfully, we have the books of the major prophets to give us insight that God was using King Nebuchadnezzar as a tool to exercise judgment upon the Isrealites. We don’t get that insight for everyone in the world. Fast forward to more recent history. Why did God allow someone like Adolf Hitler to overtake Germany and oppress the Jews again? Why did God allow the trans-atlantic slave trade to occur? While millions of Jews and Africans were suffering, many evil people sat at home and sipped their tea in peace.
Why, Lord? These are the mysteries of the Almighty, Sovereign God that we serve. No one can answer this question, better than God Himself:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 CSB
Just as Job had no idea about the conversation that God had with satan, we have no idea what is happening in the spiritual realm. Even prophets like Daniel and John who received glimpses of the spiritual realm did not understand what they were seeing even while they watched the events of the unseen. God has so much knowledge and understanding. He has reasons for everything He does or allows. Whether we can see it or not, God operates out of his nature of love.
Although so much disaster came upon Job, he still knew God was his Redeemer. God was his only hope. He acknowledges that God could bring this wrath and God could take it away. God can harm and heal.
“But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh. I will see him myself; my eyes will look at him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me.” Job 19:25-27 CSB
This is humility. This is righteousness. Honoring the Lord, in spite of the affliction being faced. In the midst of the suffering, with no relief in sight, time after time, Job still gives God reverence.
In reading the entire Old Testament this year, our desire is for you to get to know who God is. We want you to study and learn God’s character. Once we understand who God is, our viewpoint on our suffering changes. Once we come to an understanding of God’s sovereignty, we can humbly accept that there are some questions we can’t understand the answer to. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, it becomes easier to trust God during the difficult times.
Lastly, in learning about God’s character, know that we have a God who exercises justice. We won’t discuss it today, but God rewards his righteous people with salvation. Those who accept Jesus will live forever with God in heaven with eternal riches. The righteous who suffer now on earth, won’t suffer forever. Jesus gives us a great parable describing this in Luke 16:19-31. Check it out for yourself.
Reflection Questions
- Have you witnessed good things happen to bad people or bad things happen to good people?
- What questions do you have for God that you haven’t received answers to? Can you rest in your uncertainty knowing that God is good in his nature?
- Did you read Jesus’s parable of Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16? What do you think about the depiction of eternal life for the wicked versus the righteous?
Go Deeper
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Recommended Videos (Job)
The Bible Project
The Book of Job
Eyewitness Bible
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