And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. (Job 42:7, KJV)
This is after the long dialogues between Job and his friends, and the final replies by God to Job. Simply put, we learn, directly from God, that Job's words were pleasing to Him. So we can happily read and accept the words out of Job's mouth as truthful, ready for our faith. Let me, then, quote a longer passage from Job's reply to one of His friend's remarks (what Job says here is almost too good to take out of context; please, also, read the context, ch 11:1-20, to get a even better understanding of Job's words):
So Job answered, saying:
Truly, you are the people,
And with you wisdom shall die!
However, I have heart understanding as well as you;
I am not falling behind you;
For who is there not knowing such things as these?
As the sport of his associates am I becoming,
Who was calling on Eloah, and He answered him,
Made sport of, though righteous and flawless.
Contempt for misfortune is in the reflections
of the self-satisfied one,
Readied for those of tottering feet.
The tents of devastators are at ease,
And for those disturbing El there is serenity,
For him who brings along an eloah in his hand. (Job 12:1-6, CV)
Isn't this exactly how it is around us? Those who live immorally, despising and not knowing God, they get on in live, they achieve things, they attain to a live that is more than desirable despite their destructive behavior in so many respects. They even tend to live in serenity. People may spit in the face of God, but still live a normal live without apparent difficulties. 'This is unjust', we may easily think, those of us who try to live a life of devoutness and piety. 'Why don't these godless ones perish, fall, or trip?' Amazingly, contrary to many an explanation for the reason of the behavior of such people, Job goes on:
Nevertheless, ask, I pray, one of the beasts,
and let it direct you,
And the flyer of the heavens, and let it tell you,
Or importune (ask pressingly) to the earth, and it shall direct you,
And let the fish of the sea recount it to you.
Who among all these does not know
That the hand of Eloah, it has done this?
In whose hand is the soul of every living creature
And the spirit in all flesh of man.
Does not the ear test declarations
As the palate tastes its food?
Does wisdom come with being hoary headed,
And understanding with length of days?
With Him are wisdom and mastery;
His are counsel and understanding.
If He demolishes, it shall not be rebuilt,
Or He locks up a man, it shall not be opened.
If he restrains the waters, they shall dry up,
Or He sends them forth, they shall overrun the earth.
With Him are strength and prosperity;
Both the erring one and the one causing error are His.
Causing counselors to go forth looted,
He also makes judges rave as fools.
He unlooses the disciplining authority of kings,
And He binds a belt about their waists.
Causing priests to go forth looted,
He also overthrows the well-established.
Putting away the eloquence of the sure,
He also takes away the discretion of elders.
Pouring out contempt on patrons,
He also makes the cordon of the mighty repressors
fall slack.
Exposing the deep things out of darkness,
He also brings forth the blackest shadow to light.
Making nations grow great, He also destroys them;
Spreading out nations, He also guides them away.
Putting away heart understanding from the heads
of the people of the earth,
He also causes them to stray in a wayless wasteland.
They grope in darkness with no light,
And He makes them stray like a drunkard. (Job 12:1-25, CV)
Evil or Darkness is accredited to God. The erring one and the on causing error are his. God is in charge! Glorious! He pursues a purpose with everything. He is in control of all creation, the complete physical and spiritual realm! He stirs His universe into the one direction, to reconcile all to Himself through Christ (Col 1:18-20), after He has lead it through confusion and evil! What is a better prerequisite for perfect bliss? Good is never appreciated without evil. Good cannot be experienced without evil!
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