What Price Justification?

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: "Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?" 

 --Job 40:6, 8  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on September 9, 2013 of Proverbs 3:19-26; 1 Timothy 1; Job 38:31-40:14.

After Elihu rebuked Job and his friends, God broke His silence to finally address Job. In His first response to this man who would try to justify himself before God, the Lord poses a series of more than 70 questions, questions Job could never answer, questions designed to show him just how ignorant he is of the ways of God, the knowledge and understanding of God. How utterly absurd it is, God incredulously muses, that the creature should criticize the Creator. If Job cannot understand simple things, like snow and hail, wind and rain, lightning and frost and ice, how could he possibly comprehend how everything works together? And if he can't grasp how things fit into the mosaic of the universe, how can he expect to direct it, to determine what should be done and when? God possesses all the knowledge Job lacks.

At the end of this lengthy speech God challenges Job to continue contending against Him, to keep on finding fault with how God carries on the business of the cosmos. He dares Job to rebuke Him, to refute His argument. Job wisely refuses to take the bait. He seems humbled when he responds, "I am vile, I am insignificant. Once I questioned You, but no longer. You've put me in my place." Humbled, sure.  Who wouldn't be if the God of all creation came down on us, chastising us? But was Job repentant as well? Apparently God didn't think so, as He continued pressing His case.

God spoke to Job out of the whirlwind, from the midst of the storm. As we are shown toward the end of this book, Job's three friends (and presumably Elihu as well) were present and allowed to hear God's voice as He rebuked Job, but for now His comments were directed only to the one who tried to justify himself. And His first questions hit right to the heart of the matter: if we would somehow think, like Job evidenced and the Lord knew he thought, to put ourselves in the position of God, by doing so we would be canceling out everything He has ever done. If we can do all He does, know all He knows, then all His great works would be for naught because we could do them too. So He asks the pointed question: Would we be willing to condemn Him, for condemnation would surely be the result of this, just so that we can be justified? Just what price are we willing to pay for justification? No, this could never happen for we could never be God. But God knows our heart, and will convict us for what He sees there if we think to elevate ourselves, just as He did Job. Is it worth it, God asks, to be justified by any means, even if we have to do it for ourselves? Fortunately for us, we don't really have to do that. Our heavenly Father gave us just what we need for justification. He sent to us His only Son, Jesus, so that we might be justified in Him. All we have to do is trust in Jesus, and show ourselves worthy by our belief and our faith. Amen.

God in heaven, we could never do all the wondrous things You do, never know all that You know. And because of our great sin, we could also never be reunited with You, never be able to justify ourselves before You. You saw our great need and sent Your Son to us, who loves us even in our sin. Thank You, Father, for providing us a Redeemer. In the blessed name of our Savior Jesus we pray. Amen.