No 4  The First Book is for the Last People

I accept the old-school thought that Job was probably the 

first Bible book written. Being archaic does not discount its 

relevancy for today. The Book of Job has more to say about 

the universe than any other book in the Bible. It is followed 

closely by David’s Psalms. Both of these men were on a 

quest to find God. And in their search they discover more 

about the heavens, worlds, stars and constellations than the 

other writers combined. They discover how nature works and 

natural law guides. There is much space-age stuff in their 

books to compete with any marvelous comic book and 

today’s nether-world movies.

For Job, there was a lot of backward turning--to the “good 

ole days”--and how it used to be. But it may fairly be said 

that from the days of his calamities, Job spent a lot of time 

walking around in his future as well as he did looking in his 

past. We can do that as well. Time becomes inconspicuous 

when searching for God.

Looking for God 

Photo by Khamkéo Vilaysing on Unsplash

Earth becomes very small when looking throughout the 

universe for God. Job talked as readily about Arcturus, 

Pleiades, and Mazzaroth as he did sand, water and air. 

The immensities of the universe was the setting for Job’s 

search. Somewhere out there was God, and Job was 

determined to find Him (again). That word again (ending 

the last sentence) will have rich meaning as this study 

continues.

 

Sometimes it’s harder to find something you’ve lost the 

second time. Sometimes it’s easier. It’s either vastly harder 

or vastly easier, it seems. For Job it was harder. It usually is 

that way when you are hurting. Physically. Mentally. 

Spiritually. But he does find God!

The Last of Time

I am going to suggest that it will be harder for the people 

of the last days of time. Why? Because never a genera-

tion will hurt like that generation will hurt. Physically. 

Mentally. Spiritually. The depths of Job’s hurt, in his day, 

may be likened unto their hurt in the day coming. Theirs 

is also the generation that is least likely to look up and 

see the Big Dipper and to know the difference between a 

star and a planet in the night sky. And why in the world is 

there such a creature as a duckbill platypus and a dung 

beetle? 

Send questions and comments to Will Hardin at 

P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.

      

No 3  Triumphant (But with Questions)

Job came through his evil day in triumph. We joy in his restoration because such a restoration for him may be like ours someday. Hope. That’s what hope does in a soul. 

Yet Job will still die. His ten replacement children will die. His loving wife (who bore him twenty children) will die. (Yes, loving! Wait till we talk about Mrs. Job!) And all his descendants through time have died. Many of them may have experienced deep trials in their lives as did their ancestor Job.

But many unanswered questions lingered. Scars. How did Job deal with the loss of his first ten children? They were not loved less than the last ten. And with them were the faithful servants and hired hands. Their lives were cut off and their families were devastated by their losses as well.

A Type

As Job’s on-going life was a type, so the ending of his life may be a type. How his life ended (in triumph) only very faintly reminds us of the final restoration awaiting us. We have the hope of a complete restoration through the gospel of Jesus Christ, of which, Job’s temporal restoration will never compare.

If we could only ask our questions. And Job had questions. Amid all his many questions--the supreme question of all being--"why did all this happen to me?" As far as we know, Job never did have that question answered. And the beauty of the Book of Job is that having that question answered is not the important thing. His answers will come to him one day. Those answers will be given to him by God Himself. And those answers will thrill him. In the meantime, what thrilled Job’s heart was that his Redeemer lives and that one day he would be with Him.

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold (Job 19:25-27).

In God’s timing, Job will have answers, as we.

Therefore don’t judge anything prematurely, before the Lord comes, who will both bring to light what is hidden in darkness and reveal the intentions of the hearts. And then praise will come to each one from God (1 Cor 4:5 HCSB).

“The great plan of redemption results in fully bringing back the world into God’s favor. All that was lost by sin is restored. Not only man but the earth is redeemed, to be the eternal abode of the obedient. For six thousand years Satan has struggled to maintain possession of the earth. Now God’s original purpose in its creation is accomplished. ‘The saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’ Daniel 7:18.” ---Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 342.

Questions about our lives, and how God has led us will be answered. It may, however, take a while. For the redeemed in heaven--“much of their time will be employed in searching out the mysteries of redemption. And throughout the whole stretch of eternity, this subject will be continually opening to their minds.” ---Ellen G. White, Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, March 9, 1886.

Are you waiting to have God personally answer your questions for you?

Opening Image by  Arek Socha from Pixabay

Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.

No 2  Why Study the Book of Job?

The study of the Book of Job is my personal encounter with God--as the Book itself--is the story of Job’s encounter with God. From nothingness, emptiness, loneliness and despair, Job rose to the highest level of experience in the things of God that he had ever known. And, mind you, before the calamities of the evil day, Job had one mighty experience to begin with! His starting point was higher than that at which many people end. And as his became even supremely higher--that is what I want for myself. I want to know God as well as I may ever know Him in this life.

My study of the Book of Job is therefore spiritually motivated. I am not a theologian. I am not skilled in Biblical languages. Sometimes I can barely even hold my own in a friendly discussion with well-meaning and every-day students of the Bible. But I do have a pastor’s heart and the nurse in me says “I care.”

I can lay hold of the goal to know God as well as Job came to know God because his story tells me how that may be accomplished. What he learned, I may learn. What he came to know, I may know. This is God’s purpose for the whole Bible itself. This is how the Bible works! This is what the Bible is for!

Job Struggled on the Inside

While his physical condition could have been readily observed by anyone standing around him, his spiritual struggle was open only to spiritual discernment aided by the push of the Holy Spirit in that direction. Even his three friends never saw it, and they were intimately involved in it. In fact, their contribution to Job’s spiritual development grew out of the lack of their own spiritual development. They never saw it with their eyes. They never felt it in their souls.

They Never Knew

My friends around me will never know the depths of my own spiritual struggles because I will never reveal such to them. Job did. His telling of them, makes me stronger for the knowing of them. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar never became stronger. Why? They were not following him. They were trying to lead him. Their goal was not spiritual discernment. Their goal was to “hold the fort--give no ground--and take captives.” And, ultimately, they lost the battle. They were themselves taken captive, so to speak.

Was Job withholding that which would have made them better believers? Probably not. Job didn’t even know what he was holding or what he was giving away. Every day of his trial was a struggle just to maintain. His growth was not even and smooth--it was torturous. He did not know where he was tending. It truly was a struggle! Job was not giving Bible studies along the way--He was a Bible study along the way!

Do you want such a rich experience in the things of God as Job came to know?

Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359