114. Hast Thou an Arm Like God

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Hymns: RHC 547 O That Will be Glory 532 Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us 542 Saved by Grace

Job 40:1-14

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. 6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? 9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together; andbind their faces in secret. 14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

Hast Thou an Arm Like God

OUTLINE

  • Audacity/Haughtiness/Silence (v1-2)
  • Awakened/Humiliated/Sobered (v3-5)
  • Awed and Abased/Humbled/Silenced (v6-14)

INTRODUCTION

Are we unhappy with the way God run the world? You might have your own thoughts how the world can be a better place and therefore finds fault with God and articulates it in frustration in the midst of your trial, especially how in times of pain and suffering in the course of your afflictions.

For Job, God has taken away many endeared persons (children, servants, friends) and possessions (sheep, camel, cattle, houses), position (esteemed among men, young and old), physically shattered (a ruined health with severe boils on his body). He is now childless, bankrupt, despised among men and facing a precarious death sentence of ill health that renders him in a state of paralysis not knowing what is next!

Is there a purpose for Job’s affliction? What then is the purpose? Is it possible to find out? How should Job respond in the midst of his afflictions? He has been discomforited, unhappy, complaining and uncomfortable. He was not restful, resting in God’s providence but challenging God asking him to take him away so that he will not have to suffer any more. He felt that he has reached the limit of his endurance and he was ready to capitulate.

There was a purpose to Job’s affliction. It was a spiritual conflict that began brewing in heaven when the evil one challenged God concerning Job’s loyalty toward God. For Job, he was not aware from beginning to end concerning the purpose of this conflict. Would it have been easier for him if Job had knew the purpose of his trial? At least, he was not kept in the dark and he could rightly vindicate himself in the sight of his friends. But it was not so. This is the nature of spiritual conflict. It is not disclosed to the believer. He has to exercise faith in God to trust Him even though he cannot understand why he has to suffer so much!

This was Job’s reflection in the midst of his trial. He maintained his innocence, defending his integrity before his friends in their accusations concerning his secret sins.

Job 10:7 (KJV) Thou knowest that I am not wicked; and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Job 16:17 (KJV) Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure.

Job 16:21 (KJV) O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Job 23:4-7 (KJV) I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me. Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.

Job 27:5 (KJV) God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

Job 31:31-37 (KJV) If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door? Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me. I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

Job 40:2 (KJV) Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

This we saw, how Job’s faith shone through – Job 13:15 (KJV) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

He testified in the midst of uncertainty concerning the truth of the resurrection in the final consummation – Job 19:25-28 (KJV) 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, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?

He saw rightly that his trial was to purify his soul – Job 23:10 (KJV) But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

As the psalmist declared in Psalm 23:4 (KJV) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

As Solomon rightly pointed out in Proverbs 14:32 (KJV) The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

As the Apostle Paul puts it in the midst of his trial to still trust God in fulfilling His purpose for His glory – Romans 8:38-39 (KJV) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lord expressed the purpose of Paul call to salvation and service when He said in Acts 9:15-16 (KJV) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.  So the Apostle Paul was able to testify in Philippians 1:20 (KJV) According to my earnest expectation and myhope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. Philippians 1:21 (KJV) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

May God’s people learn to wait and be still and silent before Him in our trial – Psalm 62:8 (KJV) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

  •  Audacity/Haughtiness/Silence (v1-2)

1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said, 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Verse 2 To strive with the Almighty literally “as one who reproves or as a faultfinder” translted as “instruct”, to reprove God, let him answer Him.

God puts Job in his place, puts man in his place as a creature in the sight of his Almighty Creator – Isaiah 40:13-14 (KJV) Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? As the Apostle Paul rightly puts it 1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJV) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Also, in Romans 11:34 (KJV) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?

What was the mind of Christ? It was a mind of humble submission to the Father’s will.

Philippians 2:5-8 (KJV) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

At Gethsemane, our Lord submitted to the Father’s will to go even to the cross – Luke 22:40-44 (KJV) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

What was the purpose of Christ’s suffering? It was to bring to many forlorn sinners to redemption for the glory of God!

For Job, his sufferings as he thought were unbearable, he fretted:

Job 7:11 (KJV) Therefore I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 21:2-4 (KJV) Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?

Job 10:1 (KJV) My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

Job 3:20-23 (KJV) Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures; Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave? Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?

Job 6:8-9 (KJV) Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for! Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!

Job 14:13 (KJV) O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me!

  • Awakening/Humilated/Sobered (v3-5)

3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. 5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Job’s relpy to God was a silent reply that he is not worthy at all before God. The word “vile” means “to be slight, be small, of little account, be light, be of little account”. He makes a comparsion between himself and God and realize that he is “of little account”. We notice that Job is still not completely surrendered to God.

We may realize that Job was a great man before his affliction. He did not realize fully that his “greatness” was the auspices of God. Still, he bathe in his past glory! Man in his self-conceit not willing to admit that he owed everything to his Creator. He still defended himself. Now he realizes that he has to stop! He admits in self-abasement – I will proceed no further.

God has allowed him to suffer. Job has to learn to trust God in those unanswered questions of life. It is God who creates and sustains him. 

It was an awakening. He realized that he had no case before God. 

And yet as we think concerning the 

  • Awed and Abased/Humbled/Silenced (v6-14)

6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?

Recall Elihu pointing out to Job in Job 35:1-3 (KJV) Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

And the comment:

Does Righteousness Pay?

1 Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? 3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? 

Suffering can cause a person to be shaken to make light of eternal blessings and to wallow in present sufferings. 

The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 3:8-11 (KJV) Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

There is a spiritual and eternal weight to his faith that enables Him to despise his present suffering and shame.

The resurrection of Christ giving victory to all men over sin and death was the Apostle’s hope and anchor. God granted Him the grace to suffer for His Name’s sake.

The writer of Hebrews gave this encouragement to believers to look to Jesus and be not dismayed as the race gets very tough and challenging.

Hebrews 12:1-13 (KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave themreverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Job is charged with renouncing the peace and joy that comes with sins forgiven when we allow our suffering to take away the eternal peace and joy that God has bestowed to believers in Christ.

God’s Perspective (Job 35:4-8)

4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 

Man’s righteousness is for man’s profit. In fact, a high price was paid through the death of His Son to purchase our redemption. God Himself had to bear the brunt of our wrongdoing. God cares immensely our well-being. We are made in the image of God. Only men are made in the image of God. Our unrighteousness and sin do not affect God’s holiness, He cannot be tainted by our sins. Rather, He was pleased to reach out to us, sinners, consigned to eternal judgment in hell fire, so that He may save us from eternal destruction which the Bible calls the second death.

Revelation 20:6 (KJV) Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This present life’s suffering will be past when eternity begins in Christ.

Revelation 21:3-4 (KJV) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Job is not just of failing to understanding God’s wise ways of governing the universe but of seeking to put God on trial, to condemn God in order to justify himself. [Christopher Ash]

9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him? 10 Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty. 11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him. 12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place. 13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret. 14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.

Instead of God defending Himself of His judgments and actions by going over His goverance of the world, as is expected in a human trial, God challenges Job to have a go himself at being the judge of all the earth. Job is asked if he is able to take God’s place in doing that? He does so by a beautiful rich irony in v10-14.  [Christopher Ash]

Job is asked to adorn himself with the royal robes of a judge and do the work! Job did not understand what it means to conquer and subdue evil. It necessitates God sending His only begotten Son to suffer for sin, the just for the unjust – 1 Peter 3:18 (KJV) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 

Can Job solve the problem of evil in this world? He could not! Only God could and He did! What a Saviour! What great love! The infinite suffering that we could not suffer, Jesus did on our behalf. Who are we to complain about suffering having been so gloriously saved for the heaven to come? Let us think this thought when we are tempted to complain in our trials. To God be the glory. Amen.