Job is left speechless: Job 40:2-5

"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it." (Job 40:2)

God demands a response from Job. Job had allowed his pain to harden his heart, causing him to scoff at the things of God and to be critical of those around him. He had lost sight of mercy and grace. When he looked at others, the first thing he saw was their faults. He became an expert at finding fault with everyone else, even with God, but never with himself. Every one was wrong except himself. Fault finding causes us to see the worst in others. We expect to see faults in others, and we are rarely disappointed. Fault finding comes from a heart of self righteousness, not from a heart of love. Paul said that love "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." (1 Corinthians 13:7) Love looks for the best in others, believes in the hope of God for others, and protects relationships during difficult times. In all cases, love is better than fault finding.

"Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; even twice, and I will add nothing more." (Job 40:4-5)

Job finds himself speechless. He has already said too much. Job now knows that there is nothing more to say. What more can he say? What more can he add?

So what has changed Job. Just the other day he was boasting in his self righteousness. His speech was arrogant, boastful, and confident. He was so bold as to even challenge God. He so wanted his day in court with God and, now that it came, he is speechless. What happened to change Job? He encountered God! He had a revelation of God, of His greatness, and of His love and care for mankind, and this revelation changed him instantly and completely. One minute he was a boastful, arrogant, self righteous man, and the next minute he was a humble and speechless man. All because of a revelation of God. There has been times in my life when I knew that my emotions and feelings were not right, but I felt powerless to change them. All my wisdom and will were unable to change how I thought and felt. What I needed was an encounter with God. It is only by seeking the face of God, and finding Him, that we can be changed on the inside. Jesus told us that all who seek, find. If we seek God in our time of need, we will find Him, if we seek Him with our whole hearts. In our lives, there is no substitute for the person and presence of God. May we never cease to seek Him.

David Robison