The Almighty God

"Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him. therefore trust thou in him." Job 35:14

"He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom." Job 36:4 & 5

After Job's three well-known 'friends' are done speaking, and Job is once again baffled by his circumstances and unanswered questions we see Elihu come on the scene. Elihu is a younger acquaintance of Job's. In chapters 32 -37 he stands up for God, so to speak. He paves the way for Job to hear and understand what God would be saying to Him in the following chapers. As Job listens he is reminded that even though we cannot see God, nor feel him we can trust in God because His justice is true and right. God knows all, his knowledge and understanding is perfect. This is the God we must trust our lives to amidst our pain. Elihu reminds Job of the many things that God does which we are in no way capable of doing. As Job sits there listening his heart is agreeing with Elihu, but he is still caught up in a whirlwind of emotions and grief. I can imagine his head is saying, "God, I really need some answers." And his heart saying, "Just trust, He is the Almighty God, the One who's in charge.

In this whirlwind, we find God comes, or should we say God, who had been there all the time, begins to speak. (chapter 38) God didn't say, "You know Job, you've been going through a lot. I have felt so sorry for you. And I'm here to fix your problems." God begins by telling him to be a man. Then in essence God says, "I have questions for you, I want you to answer." These question helped Job to realize the vastness of God. Some of these questions went like this? Where wast thou when I laid the foundation of the earth? (38:4) Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days? (38:12) Canst thou send lightnings? (38:35) Who hath put wisdom in the inward part? or who hath given understanding to the heart?" (38:36) We could go on and on with a myriad of questions. Questions that were asked to bring Job to a deeper depth in his relationship with God. God wanted Job to learn who He was. In so doing, a trust far deeper than Job had known would be developed. I can imagine Job sitting there in the dirt, with his head bowed. As he hears God ask these questions one after another, a sense of unworthiness comes over him. He begins to think, "Who am I to question God? I just need to keep my mouth shut." (see 40:3) Then God once again says to Job, "Gird up thy loins now like a man:" (40:7) The questions continue. When God is finished speaking, a deeper understanding of God is within the heart of Job. In chapter 42 Job says, " I know that thou canst do every thing...mine eye seeth thee,..I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (42:2, 5. 6) Job humbled himself and repented of his complaining attitude and presumptuous questions toward God. He realized that though trials may come, God doeth all things well. Job gave to God his troubled heart, his complaints and his grief and in its place he grasped the thought that the Almighty God was worth trusting without question.
This renewed trust and hope in God brought on a deeper acceptance from God, Himself. "my servant Job...him will I accept." (42:8) "The Lord also accepted Job. And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends." (42:9 & 10)

Throughout the trials and problems in our lives let us renew our trust and hope in the God who will take us through, no matter the size of our mountain. Let us minister to others by touching heaven's throne for them. The bonds of our captivity will soon be loosed, all praise to the Almighty God!