The taunts and accusations of Job’s three friends so provoked him that he answers them much in the same taunting manner. No doubt they deserved to be rebuked, but his way was not that of a man of faith. We are reminded of the scripture, “A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.
Job says, “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you.” He does not take the place of being superior to them, but adds, “yea, who knoweth not such things as these?” Any one with any acquaintance with God at all knew the things they were saying; they did not shed any light whatever on the hard question why a God-fearing man should come into such affliction. Job goes on: “I am as one mocked of his neighbor, who calleth upon God,” and He would answer him. It is nice to see that in the midst of all his discouragements he at times does rise above them and clings to the thought that God would answer him. There are things in God’s ways with man that he cannot understand, because after all man is only a creature, even though he be the highest order of the created things of this world. Faith would lead one to cling to the Lord, even though one does not understand. “He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.” His three friends were as men at ease; they were not in trouble like he, poor Job who felt he was ready to slip.
Job did not understand that God in His dealings with men often allows them to go on for what seems to man a long time, because God is long-suffering. Job did not realize this and in looking at the houses of robbers seemed to feel that God was indifferent to these things. But in Isaiah 55:88For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8) the Lord says: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Job then refers them to the things of creation and they would see how the hand of the Lord wrought in all these things. “Ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air and they shall tell thee.” The beasts and fowls knew more than they did: “and the fishes of the sea” which know not how to talk “shall declare unto thee.” They prey upon one another and the great devour the small. And so it is with men upon this earth, and the Lord allows it for a time. But there is a day of judgment coming when everything will be set right; righteousness suffers now, but in the millennium righteousness shall dwell in the earth.
Job goes on to mention how that God withholds the rain and the things dry up on the earth. But He also sends storms and the waters overturn everything in their path. Then he speaks of how God overturns governments and all connected with them, so that men grope in the dark and stagger like a drunken man. We see here how that though Job was discouraged, nevertheless when he considered all these things he realized that God was not indifferent. How often even now many get discouraged because their prayers seemingly go unanswered! But we see in the Old Testament how that certain ones were tried for a long time before their prayers were answered, and we are reminded of the scripture: “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Rom. 15:44For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4).
ML-03/20/1960