Job 40-42 | The Ownership of God

When hard things happen to us, as they did to Job, we have a tendency to re-evaluate God. We put Him on the scales and measure the Almighty. Most of us, with our small minds, limited views, and weak theology come to the conclusion that the problem is with God. That He is not doing things properly.

“If WE were God,” we proudly reason, “we would treat people differently. We surely wouldn’t cause or allow what God has allowed in this world. And, particularly, in our lives.” We come to the conclusion that God is not fair or right or good and surely not be trusted. And, the reason we come to these erroneous thoughts is because we think we are the final evaluators of what is fair and right and good.

This is called pride.

This was Job’s problem. He began to question God and ask Him, “Why are You not doing things the right way, i.e., the way I would do them?”

OUR ACCUSATIONS OF GOD

We are NOT GOD. This is the source of all our errors. We forget who we are accusing.

“Now gird up your loins like a man; I will ask you, and you instruct Me. Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified? (Job 40:7-8)

We want to be justified in our thinking, so we condemn God for what He is doing. God answers Job in Job 36-42 by reminding Him that man is not the author and owner of this world. God is. He is not in debt to us (to do things as we think He should); we are in eternal debt to Him.

THE OWNER AND OVERSEER OF EVERYTHING

“Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine.” (Job 41:11)

God owns everything and oversees everything. Everything we have has been given to us by God. Even though we may not understand why the sovereign God would do things with this world and our lives as He does, (even allowing Satan to cause suffering and evil), we must never let our questions lower our view of Him.

God knows what He is about and one day this will all be made perfectly clear. At that time, we will be ashamed of our arrogance that led us to such erroneous assumptions. Every man who has come to humble peace with God understands this.

David embraced God’s sovereignty. This is why He was a man after God’s own heart.

10 So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever.

11 “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

12 “Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.

13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.

14 “But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. (1 Chronicles 29)

Jesus’ brother, James, would later remind us of God’s ownership--that God was the source of everything valuable that we have or know.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. (James 1:17-18).

Paul later echoed this.

“If everything you have is something you’ve received, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:7)

God is not a debtor to us. We are a debtor to Him. Forever. God knows what He is doing with us and around us and with His world. He does not even owe us an explanation, although He often condescends to give us one.

JOB’S REPENTANCE

The end of this incredible exchange with God was a fresh revelation of God to Job that humbled him.

“I have declared that which I did not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I did not know … I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:3-6)

God understands our limitations and meets us in grace where we are. But we must not keep trying to make God in our image. We must pursue Him until we see Him as he really is—not as we want Him to be. When we do, our hearts will be humbled and satisfied. We will be at rest with God’s sovereignty and God will be pleased by our faith.