Job 21-24
The Battle
The second round of accusations against Job has been made by Job’s three friends, and in Chapter 21 Job begins his response. It is clear however, that these arguments are starting to have a negative effect on Job.
In 1 Corinthians 1 &2 Paul contrasts God’s wisdom with man’s wisdom. Paul says that God has a plan of salvation for this world that He is communicating to the world through the Apostles. The same will be true for the nation of Israel which was not a nation yet at the time of Job. God’s plan for Israel is that they will bring God’s Word to the world. God will bless them in the eyes of the world if they will obey His word. Of course Satan wants to stop God’s plan so he has attacked Job but that is only part of what he has done. Just as Satan argued with God in the opening chapters of this book, he is attacking Job through the “wisdom” of his friends. In all of this is the unseen plan of God.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” NASB
As we read this book we can see in Job what the nation of Israel and later the Church will be faced with. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. Like these three friends he wants to charge us with committing sins which he will use to condemn us. His relentless accusations are meant to wear us down as they were starting to do to Job.
The accusations against Job are that he has sinned against God and that is why all these things have happened to him. It is a cause and effect argument. Job points out however, the wicked seem to be blessed instead of suffering the consequences of their sins. Of course this is Satan’s tactic. If God is going to bless Israel as a result of following the Law, Satan will want to deny this by blessing his followers but his blessing will be deceptive and have eternal consequences.
Asaph, who wrote Psalm 73, was tempted with the same line of thinking Job was. Both observed that the wicked were doing just fine and Asaph said he almost slipped and abandoned his faith, that is, until he came to the sanctuary of God and understood their end.
In Chapter 23 we read that Job wants a hearing before God. He will get it but not for a few more chapters. Meanwhile we can learn much from this book. We need to remember that we have an enemy who will use any means he can to condemn us by bringing charges against us. When the accusations and doubts come against us, the weapon we have to do battle with is the truth. The truth is found in Romans 8:31-39.
Obey the Word and be blessed!
Pastor Dave