The last chapter of Job, the 42nd, is thrilling!
Its first 6 verses record Job’s last known words in the Book, in the Story.
One can just hear the Wisdom and Love as this special servant of the Lord speaks. And no surprise, he’s no longer talking to Eliphaz or Bildad or Zophar (having never spoken to Elihu) … rather, he’s talking to his God! The God to Whom he has held so tenaciously through all his ordeal!
Listen with me: “Then Job answered the Lord, and said, I KNOW that thou canst do every thing, and that NO THOUGHT can be withholden from thee. 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. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but NOW mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and REPENT in dust and ashes.” Job 42:1-6
There seem to be some things Job “knows” at the end of the Book … that he didn’t know at the beginning. Or didn’t know fully at the beginning! Things that were too “wonderful” (in Hebrew “pala,” often meaning “hard” to understand) for him! (It’s as if Job says, “I now know that Thou canst do everything!”) By the way, suffering always teaches the lowly child of God; rather, the Holy Spirit teaches through that suffering.
Job (unknowingly being the center of conflict between God and Satan) was “out of his league” when it comes to explaining his situation. He now believes God even “knew his thoughts” during that awful time! (“No thought can be withholden from Thee, Lord!”)
Listen also to Job’s finally satisfied yearning to see God, for God to appear in his case. “I have heard of thee, God, by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye SEETH thee.” Job begged and begged for God to answer him. And in the end (as always), he was granted MORE than he asked. God came to see Him!
Even if God has censured Job a bit, for his much talking without full knowledge, Job is still excited! Happy, simply because God has come! And I believe God is thrilled with His servant, too. Otherwise the Almighty just might not have visited Job … via that mighty whirlwind!
Then watch. “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job repenting? YES, all mature, growing Christians do! Paul often spoke of a “godly repentance,” mostly practiced by those closest to their Lord I suspect.
In reality, every time someone sees God he or she responds this way, in abject amazement.
Abraham did.
Daniel did.
Peter did.
John on the isle of Patmos did. (One example: “And when I saw Him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.” Revelation 1:17)
We shall too, some day!
I don’t mind telling you, Job has become one of my heroes!
Oh, how great a man of God he really was!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell