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.
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.

Job has been given quite the challenge here from God. Job had demanded an audience with God. He wanted to plead his case before Almighty God. However, when the LORD was finished with His rebuke of Job, Job had no desire to defend himself. He knew he had been wrong.
This is to be expected of any true child of God. When we finally realize Who God is, there is nothing we can say to defend ourselves. We can only worship and adore Him. We can admit failure and disrespect if need be, but we certainly cannot argue with God at all.
Job now publicly stated that he knew that God can do everything. He knew that God was Omniscient. There was nothing hidden from the LORD. Job did not understand all that had taken place, but now he understood that God knew all that had taken place. Job also understood that God did not need to answer to him for what He was doing.
Job also understood that he had been wrong to even think that God was in need of correction. We will see that his friends assumed knowledge greater than that of God, but Job should have known better. Job was not regretting this time with the LORD. He now understood that he needed every minute of it. He needed to be corrected and humbled.
The good news is that Job was willing to receive all that the LORD had for him. He was not overburdened. God had not gone too far. God knows all things and He knew exactly what He was doing. Job did not need to be lulled to sleep with some sweet lullaby. He needed to be confronted with the truth. He needed to snap out of his pity trip and he needed to see the importance of worshipping the true God.
In verse 4 Job admitted to the faulty demands that he had made. He now realized that they were such foolish statements. What right did he have to demand anything of the LORD. We can ask things of God. We are encouraged to ask things of God in Jesus’ name, if we are saved. The lost can ask forgiveness of sin and ask for salvation. The saved can come to God as Father and be blessed in communing with Him.
In verse 5 Job acknowledged that he had been taught about God in the past. He had heard wonderful things regarding God. He had been blessed with good teachers. However, the teaching he had received was just through his ears. His teachers had not been able to explain the greatness of God in the vivid manner that God did.
He now had seen the greatness of God by having God tell him about some of his Creation. Job had never bothered to take the time to meditate on the greatness of the LORD in this manner. It is important for us to see God’s work in His Word. We do not need visions. There are people who claim to have seen visions of God. They are deceived. However as we read God’s Word, we can get a picture of His greatness through His Creation.
We have noted before from Psalm 19 that the heavens declare the glory of God. We can see God’s greatness and His Omniscience, and His Omnipresence as we look into the sky. We do not need to see a vision of God. We just need to acknowledge His hand in so many things around us. We can see His mercy and grace when we see a person who truly gets saved. Many have tried to diminish that mercy and grace by the many false professions that are given. However, when we read of men like Saul (Paul), we are amazed to see how powerful God is in changing a wicked sinner into a humble servant. We can also see how God was able to instruct Paul in preparation for the ministry. All that Pharisaical junk needed to be discarded and correct doctrine and theology needed to be put in its place. God is such a good and effective teacher. Through the work of the Holy Spirit in his heart, Paul was fully convinced of Who Jesus Christ is. He had lived in defiance of Him in the past, but that was all gone. Paul could now teach and preach with such conviction that God could bless his words.
We can be fully persuaded of the truth as we humbly submit to God’s authority. When we are born again, that changes everything. The devil would want to downplay the significance of the new birth, but he is a liar and a murderer. Those who are saved do not need to bow to his whims. They need to pursue godliness and seek to be a blessing to others. As we humbly submit to God’s leading, we can testify of His greatness to others around us.
Job had been blessed even through his sufferings. He could appreciate God’s care for him now. He had been foolish in being so focused on his situation, that he lost sight of God’s greatness. Now that this was corrected, things would go different for him. Job had no further complaint against God. He knew better now. We need to come to that place. We have God’s Word. We can humble ourselves and know His greatness and serve Him faithfully and rejoice in His many blessings. As we do that we can be a help to others.
Job had been unable to help his three friends earlier. Now God could bless him in directing him to minister to their needs. They did not realize they had a need, but God certainly did. Job would now be given the privilege of interceding for them to this Almighty God. What a privilege indeed.
Pastor Bartel