Job

Job Chapter 42

Job's Confession and Repentance

• Job 42:1  Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 
• 2  I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. 
• 3  Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. 

Job is quick to answer the Lord and say the words which he has been speaking were without true knowledge. He received all the Lord spoke to him. He did not reject any correction or words that God spoke. He believed and He received. This brings cleansing, renewing, refreshing and victory.

• Job 42:4  Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. 
• 5  I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. 
• 6  Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 

When our repentance is genuine and with all our hearts, God forgives immediately. This is what God looks for. He prefers to save than judge but when we judge ourselves and receive His correction, He immediately hears. He wants to save more than we want to be saved. God is everylasting, good and perfect.

The Lord Rebukes Job's Friends

• Job 42:7  And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 
• 8  Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. 
• 9  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. 

The Lord vindicates Job but rebukes his three friends. He seems to ignore the youngest one that spoke last which was Elihu. We don't know why that is unless it is because of his youth. The Lord tells Eliphaz, Bildad andZophar to offer burnt offerings and Job will pray for them. They didn't speak things about God right. All their condemnation was for nothing. All it did was make Job feel worse. This is why we need to seek God and pray diligently before we go visit someone that is sick and suffering. We should desire to speak the words of God, not our own assumption.

This happened years before Jesus Christ came to make the final offering for sin. His own body. So the animal sacrifices were an act of faith pointing toward that time when their sins would be paid for in full. They were saved by faith looking forward to God's final plan of salvation, while we in modern times look back to the time when Jesus paid for the sins of the world. However, it only counts for those that believe and receive His salvation.

The Lord Restores Job's Fortunes

• Job 42:10  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 far as the wealth Job had before, it was doubled. Job praying for his friends also was a way for Job to forgive them for their unkind condemning words. God always requires us to forgive those that do us wrong since He is willing to forgive us for our sins. Notice that Job's friends responded to the voice and correction of God. This is something to rejoice for when we finally see the end of Job's suffering and see the mercy and grace of God. God wants to save rather than destroy. He wants us to make things right with Him and receive His way of salvation. We do not have to be lost. Jesus came to save all that will receive Him. Look to Jesus and all things are made new. Old things have passed away.

• 2Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

God has something better for us now and in eternity, if we stop what we are doing and just come to Him for salvation. We may suffer loss of friends, family and such but we gain eternal life. We may suffer things in this life but our eternity is secure and forever. No one can take that away from us.

• Matthew 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 

This life is short. Eternity is forever.

• Job 42:11  Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 

His kin folk and other friends came then and rejoiced in his healing and restoration, giving them money. This was a happy time of rejoicing for precious Job.

• Job 42:12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 

This is how God is when He restores. The end of Job's life was greater than before all this happened.

• Job 42:13  He had also seven sons and three daughters. 

He had more children. I realize that doesn't take the place of the ones that died but it helps Job to see that God has everything under control. He gave Job a whole new beginning.

• Job 42:14  And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. 
• 15  And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 
• 16  After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. 
• 17  So Job died, being old and full of days. 

He lived a long life enjoying his kids, and grandkids four generations later. When God blesses, He blesses. Wow. We who believe will probably meet Job in the future along with David, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, John and many others. DC

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