God answers Job with questions

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CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,265
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#1
How did God answer Job? What is the connection between what Job said and how God answered him? What was God trying to say through all the questions?
 
Dec 12, 2013
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#2
One of my favorite questions....Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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#3
God answered Job in almost the same way Paul answered the obvious question that comes up when His sovereign election is brought up:

One of you will say to me:
“Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?

(Romans 9:19)

to wit: Paul doesn't answer this question, at least not at all directly - he instead replies rhetorically, saying "
does not the Potter have right" to do with the clay as He purposes?

i say this is the same answer that God gives Job, and surely Paul knew well what is written about Job:

But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God?
(Romans 9:20)​

the lesson is "
fear God" and walk humbly in His sight.
we ((contrary to the world's opinion)) do not have the supposed '
right' to question and demand answers from Him to our satisfaction: that's a vanity that's ignorant at best, incredibly disrespectful at worst.
 

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#4
How did God answer Job? What is the connection between what Job said and how God answered him? What was God trying to say through all the questions?

Not what God was trying to say, but what God did say! I'm GOD! Job?....YOU?....Are not! "If not?...then Answer ME, if thous hast understanding! (crickets)
 

oldhermit

Senior Member
Jul 28, 2012
9,142
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Alabama
#5
How did God answer Job? What is the connection between what Job said and how God answered him? What was God trying to say through all the questions?
That God does not owe man an explanation for why he does things or why he allows evil things to happen to the righteous, nor does man have the right to question God about these things.
 

CherieR

Senior Member
May 6, 2017
2,265
1,419
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#6
That God does not owe man an explanation for why he does things or why he allows evil things to happen to the righteous, nor does man have the right to question God about these things.
It makes sense that God does not owe us an explanation as to why he does things or allows evil to happen. He is God, we are not. Who are we to question his judgements? One may very well lay out a case against God but just imagine God laying out his case against us! I would not want God to lay out a case against me. Thankfully Jesus died for our sins and rose again that we don't have to fear when God judges the world.
 

Zmouth

Senior Member
Nov 21, 2012
3,391
134
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#7
How did God answer Job? What is the connection between what Job said and how God answered him? What was God trying to say through all the questions?
The LORD is referenced in the seventh verse of Job 2 and not again until the first verse of Job 38.

[SUP]1[/SUP] Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
[SUP]2[/SUP] Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

Ever consider that the LORD was asking who Elihu was? And that Elihu words were without knowledge?

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. Job 2:11

As the scriptures proceed, each of the three responded to Job and Job answered them back.

1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Job 32

So where did Elihu and Satan go...
 
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M

Miri

Guest
#8
One thing God showed me about Job, it was a partnership for our benefit.
We need to read it and learn from it.

It is also highly likely Job was alive at a time when there was still people/generations
around within living memory of the flood.
Their concept of God and His power and awesomeness would have been very apparent
and fresh in the minds of people. However while Job remembered the awesome
power of God, his friends didn't.

This will blow your mind too see these verses.

Job 19:23-26 NKJV
[23] "Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!
[24] That they were engraved on a rock With an iron pen and lead, forever!
[25] For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;
[26] And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,


Well God certainly answered that prayer! That was the intention all along!
Job is an amazing book to read, anyone in difficulty should read Job. The final
chapters are the grand finale.
 
M

Miri

Guest
#9
How did God answer Job? What is the connection between what Job said and how God answered him? What was God trying to say through all the questions?

Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV
[8] "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says
the LORD. [9] "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My
ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

:)
 

Nehemiah6

Senior Member
Jul 18, 2017
24,167
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#10
So where did Elihu and Satan go...
Not sure how you introduced Elihu into this discussion. Here are the three friends of Job (Job 2:11)

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him...

And they were forgiven when Job prayed for them (Job 42:9,10):

So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job. And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

As to Satan, he was allowed to roam the earth, and continues to do so until God deals with him in judgment.

Getting back to the OP, we see that in the way God answered Job, He made it clear that he is the Sovereign LORD God and answerable to no man. But He also revealed His glory to Job, and Job finally understood how great He is.
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
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#11
28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,
and to depart from evil is understanding' (Job 28:28).


Job said that this is what God said to man
and there is no record of this being said in Genesis (which is the
primary biblical book with information prior to the story of Job),



this verse proves that God spoke to humankind prior to Moses
in at least one way that was not recorded in Genesis.
 

prove-all

Senior Member
May 16, 2014
5,977
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#12
28 This also would be an iniquity deserving of judgement,
For I would have denied God who is above (Job 31:28).



If there were no commandments in effect, how could denying
God be an iniquity deserving of judgement?
 

NayborBear

Banned Serpent Seed Heresy
#13
That God does not owe man an explanation for why he does things or why he allows evil things to happen to the righteous, nor does man have the right to question God about these things.
You are quite correct O.H.! Yet? If one keeps "pressing on?", The level, and levels of understanding, one gains/gleans along the way (spiritual growth and maturation)? Would be very similar, to what an old war hardened veteran would answer the new recruit when asked what the "battlefield" is like! "Son?', he would say, "It's really something you have to experience, to even come to "grips" with!" "As I could attempt to describe in words, from now, til the cows come home, and I would barely scratch the surface." Yet, when veterans talk with each other? There is no explanation necessary!"


In like manner? If one wants to know? ASK! If one really wants to know? Ask stubbornly! If, at ANY point along this line of questioning, one comes to "a", or "the" point, that one doesn't want to inquire any further? Then "suck it up, buttercup, and take what comes!"