Re: “A Question We’ve All Asked”
“The Book of Job is an example of the difference between Union and Fellowship. Job’s righteousness made him proud, a sin in God’s eyes. When Satan asked to torment him, God had to agree in spite of the fact that Job was one of the most righteous men on Earth, because he hadn’t confessed his sin. As long as Job relied on his own righteousness he was vulnerable to attack, and none of his complaints could change that, even though he remained a child of God. When he confessed, God put a stop to the torment and restored him. The lesson Job learned through his ordeal (and that we’re supposed to learn as well according to Romans 15:4) is that when we justify ourselves, we condemn God. Whenever we start thinking that we don’t deserve something bad that’s happening to us, we in effect accuse God of being unjust. It’s part of our human nature to look outside of ourselves for the blame, but it delays our reconciliation with God.”
It is a really good article but I am confused with the part that I have copied above.
I don’t see where Job did anything as of a sin when God let Satan put him through these trials and test. When I read the first part of Job it says that Job was blameless and upright and later when Satan use the first attack in verse 22 it says Job did not sin or accuse God of wrong. I see later in the story where Job may have gotten into self righteousness but as for that being the reason for the attack in the first place I see that is not the case. Can you show me where you see that this was what transpired to start the attacks on Job?
God is sovereign, so He can do anything He wants. But He’s also just and fair, so He won’t do anything without cause. His character would not permit Him to arbitrarily put Job (or anyone else for that matter) through all that suffering just to prove a point with Satan. Remember, He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. Although it’s not mentioned in the beginning, the fact that Job’s self-righteousness emerged later on is an indication that it was there from the start. Yes he refused to curse God, but by saying that he didn’t deserve to be afflicted he in effect called God unjust. And that’s the main point of the book. Whenever we justify ourselves we condemn God.