Job 21 – 31

One great constant in the sentiments expressed by all of the people in the book of Job is that people are messed up. Whether wrongs committed by omission, such as failing to give water to the thirsty or bread to the hungry, or overt wrongs, such as stealing land and livestock, the human capacity for evil is well-established in history. The Law of Moses is essentially telling folks to love and respect God and do right by other people. Why is something so simply stated so hard to practice with consistency?

This great failing of people is not without consequence. The perfect fellowship of Creator and Creature in Creation was shattered by this failing. Separation from the holy God is the consequence of unholy lives. This is mankind’s greatest problem, and we are incapable of solving it.

Dominion and fear are with God; he makes peace in his high heaven. Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise? How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes; how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!

Job 25:2-6

Maggots and worms? Are we that bad? In comparison to Yahweh Elohim we are. These questions put forth the grand dilemma, “How can this be fixed?” Job and his friends do a great job accurately addressing the problem, but they never quite get to the solution. Partly because the thoughts of God have not yet been fully revealed and partly because they are simply focused on the problem itself – the failings of men – and not looking for the ultimate solution.

Even though he is upright and blameless, much of Job’s defense is I haven’t earned this calamity. The implied solution is living right. It misses the point that Job was not blameless because he was right; he was blameless because he was right with God. Missing this point renders the problem unsolvable for all time.

The solution does not lie with people; it has always been in the hands, heart and mind of God. Amazingly, the problem did not even catch God by surprise; He knew it was coming when He gave us free will. Only with this clarified can we see the wondrous plan of God to redeem us from sin …Yahweh did not strive to find a solution, He IS the solution.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!