Job 23:11-14, “For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny.”
We see the character of God throughout the book of Job, yet Job was never told God’s motives for his suffering. Trust and time spent with God is how we will get to know God better, as Job did. We may not understand the why, but we get to understand the who – the great I AM better.
The omnipotence of God is shown in Job 23. Despite the suffering Job was going through, he maintained that God is able to do anything consistent with His desires, as God is sovereign. The doctrine of God’s omnipotence teaches us that any power we have is derived from the sovereign God, the source of all power. Job firmly acknowledged that God is able to bring about what we need and has complete knowledge of everything, pointing to His omniscience. But we should not measure our circumstances by our own goodness or God’s. Sometimes they are related, but not always, as was the case with Job, because our feelings will often lead us astray.
“The reality Job brings to light is that our lot in life isn’t a good barometer for the state of our heart. Good things do happen to wicked people, and it doesn’t seem fair.” Tara-Leigh Cobble, The Bible Recap, page 34. So how should we look at ourselves and others when going through trials? Eliphaz, Job’s friend, was a poor example of one of his counselors. He lacked humility in his words to Job, thinks he knows it all, and states in Job 22:21, “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.” Eliphaz based his opinions on the general assumption that Job needed to repent of some sin. His advice did not explain Job’s circumstances and was taken out of context. His words were not “apples of gold” in any encouragement for Job and had limitations of human understanding in assuming that troubles are a sure sign of God’s judgment, as Job’s other friends did as well in their harshness to Job.
The way we respond to our personal struggles shows our attitude towards God. Job shows us his attitude in these verses in response to Eliphaz’s wrong judgment of why he was going through these trials. Questions about God, life, and justice are not as simple as Eliphaz and his other friends assumed. Job’s life, as he states in verse 11, was one of faithfulness to God. Psalm 17:5 is how he lived, “My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you.” Job’s response to Eliphaz in verse 10 shows us his steadfastness in his faith in God despite his circumstances as he declares, “But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”
In our struggles, as we see Job had through no fault of his own, we have to trust God’s character. Satan tried to drive a wedge between Job and God by a lie – that God’s governing of the world was not just and good. However, Satan had to ask permission of God to take Job’s wealth, children, and health away. He cannot exceed the limits that God sets. God is sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. God never faces any of the limitations we face. He is wise and understands what is wrong and what we need.
God knew the backstory of Job’s trials but never explained it to Job. Despite this, Job never gave up on God. He never placed his hope on material possessions or personal success. God understood Job when none of his friends did, and Job pointed to God as the source of all wisdom. Job didn’t know the backstory, yet in his heart, he knew God controlled his destiny. Walk closely with God daily, talk to Him, and acknowledge God’s sovereignty – ultimate control over your life. Trust God for who He is for He is providentially working in all things for His glory!
Listen to Phil Wickham – “God I’m Just Grateful”