Job 42: 1 – 2 Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”

It takes a while to grasp the concept that whatever outcome God has designed for every situation will eventually manifest in time. Civilizations come and go but God remains.

It was through the testing of his faith that Job really began to understand the nature of God. God was on Job’s side all the while during the destruction of his reputation, family and possessions. But even though he did not realize that at first, he resolved to be unshaken in his faith in God. He lost the support of his wife very early in the process when she saw what was happening to him.  My goodness, if you can’t depend on your spouse, who can you depend on? She said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die.” (Job 2:10) Then he was subjected to much scorn and ridicule even by well-meaning friends who could not begin to identify with his misery.

His friends were so like us, trying to make a case that Job’s calamity had come upon him because of some secret sin or failing on his part, and in essence he should stop fooling himself that he had the capacity to be righteous before God. In one such encounter with his friend Bildad, Job pushed back and let him know that he will never admit that he is right, and until he dies he will retain his integrity. He let Bildad know, “As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me to taste bitterness of soul, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit.”  (Job 27: 2- 4) Wow!

I found myself wondering whether I could have stood my ground like that with a friend, let alone a stranger. Could you? Job was willing to submit to the Almighty no matter what, even if he did not fully understand what was happening to him – “I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.” (Job 27:6). That’s faith!

God showed up in the end and clarified a lot of things for Job and that encounter changed his perspective forever. (See Chapters 38 – 41) He was also greatly rewarded for his steadfastness.  .  God would ask of each of us the pivotal question: “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?” Then “Let him who accuses God answer him!” (Job 40:2)

“It is my will that men should fear me and walk in my ways. It is not for men to question my grand designs, just to walk with me from day to day never doubting my care for those who have acknowledged me as Lord and God. I will undertake for them for so I have sworn by my own righteousness.