God Is God And You Are Not – Part 1 (Job 38:1-40:5 ...

God Is God And You Are Not ? Part 1 (Job 38:1-40:5 November 20, 2016)

On Monday, I stood and watched a tiny little coffin lowered into the ground ? Alfie Brave Cotton. I asked Tim and Naomi if I could share a few thoughts I had at that time. I looked at the pain in Tim and Naomi. I looked at the pain in those who stood there. I knew the pain I felt. The death of this precious little one made no sense to me ? or to anyone who was there. No matter how I tried ? I simply could not understand how this was good, right and just. This side of heaven ? I know I will never understand. But ... what I have come to realize is that there is a sense in which I don't need to understand to find peace. This morning and next week, we come to a passage that shows us how to finally deal with the confusion and pain of this fallen world. We are coming towards the end of the book of Job. We have seen that from chapter 3 onwards ? Job has repeatedly asked:

Why? When you go back and analyse all of Job's questions ? he is really asking two related questions. When you read chapters 3-31 ? Job pulls no punches. He is clear ? in his opinion ? this universe is poorly run ... God! I shudder to even read how brazen Job is. First he asks:

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How can You be good if evil is unrestrained?

God how can You be good and yet allow evil and suffering in the world?

The mark of a good government is whether it restrains evil.

So, the mark of whether God is good is if He restrains evil and its consequences.

Job is certain ? evil in this world is unrestrained ? and that is God's fault.

In chapter 3 ? Job accuses God of allowing children to be born into a fallen world where they suffer.

In chapter 9 ? Job accuses God of creating a world in which natural disasters happen.

In chapter 12 ? Job accuses God of running the universe poorly. In verse 9 ? he says ? the hand of the Lord does these things. If there are droughts or floods ? God did it. He raises up Kings ? good and bad ? so bad Kings are God's fault. In verse 22 he says God brings deep darkness to light which is a way of saying ? since God is sovereign He must take the responsibility for evil in the world.

When a child dies of malaria, when an earthquake decimates a village, when a bride gets cancer ? God ? the One who runs the universe ? He has to ultimately take the responsibility.

The second question Job asks is this:

How can You be just if evil is unrestrained?

How You be just and let drug dealers live in luxury and allow children to die in agony?

Job 21:7?13:

Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power? Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them. Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. ... They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.

Many wicked have great lives and You let them God.

Job 24:1:

Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?

Why aren't lightning bolts falling from heaven to blast the evildoers to bits?

In chapter 24 Job lists a litany of sins evil men commit.

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Moving landmarks to steal flocks. Stealing the donkeys of orphans and the oxen of widows. Pushing the poor off roads. While evil men grow rich off the labour of the poor ? the poor are hungry and lie shivering and naked in the cold. They have no homes or worldly goods. And ? verse 12 ? God does not intervene to correct this evil. He continues. Evil men flaunt the laws of God. They murder the poor and needy, they steal, they commit adultery saying ? God does not see me. They have no fear of punishment. They wrong the barren, childless woman and do no good to the widow. And God prolongs their life. God makes them secure. Then Job proclaims ? if it is not so ? if I am wrong ? who will prove me a liar? Wow! This is almost akin to the atheist who stands in the town square and cries out ? God I don't believe You are there ? but if I am wrong ? strike me dead! Job feels quite confident that no one can deny these facts. I cringe at Job's words ? and yet ? which of us has not found ourselves suffering deeply and just wanting God to explain Himself? Be careful what you ask for. Job wanted God to answer him. Again and again Job complained that the heavens were silent ? that God did not speak ? that God did not appear to account for His poor governance of the universe and the manifest injustices that occur. Job wanted his day in court where all the facts of his case were laid out. Job 9:19:

If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him? I just need an audience with God.

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In Job 10 he pleads again and again to be allowed to bring his case to God. Job 13:3:

I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. Job ends his speeches in chapter 31. In Job 31:35 he says:

Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) This is my signature ? this sums me up ? I want God to answer me! A couple of points here. Part of me just shudders at these words. But remember, Job is a godly man. God Himself tells us that Job is blameless, upright, fearing God and turning from evil. Job's view of the world is rocked so badly ? the godliest man of his day accuses God of running the world poorly and injustice. I don't want to excuse Job ? but I do want to say ? have a little grace with fellow believers. Suffering and pain can make us say and do some very poor things ? not just to God but to those we love and minister with. And ? I want you to notice how hard-hearted and stiff-necked this godly man was. He is crying out ? answer me! God did. Elihu a prophet of God ? speaking the words of God comes to Job. This prophet is burning with anger at Job for justifying himself rather than God. He also says ? Job ? you are wrong ? God has already spoken to you ? your suffering is the voice of God to teach you some very profound truths. Elihu even told Job what those truths were: Suffering has a purpose such as pointing us to our need of a Saviour Suffering in the world NEVER makes God unjust Suffering is not always punishment from God

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Suffering does not mean God does not care You could sum up the message of Elihu like this:

Let God Be God Elihu finished his speech at the end of Job 37. The last words of Elihu are these:

Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit. Fear him Job. Do not be wise in your own conceit. But Elihu's words are met with silence. Job did not repent in dust and ashes. Job was not happy enough with the voice of God from a prophet. Job still wanted to hear from God Himself. Today we see that Job does hear from God. But, this encounter is not at all what Job envisioned. God gives two speeches. The first speech ? the one we look at this morning says this:

Trust that God controls every part of His creation ? including evil ? and works it for good. As we begin, remember that Job has not moved one iota from his position in Job 23:3? 7:

Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know

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