Reflections on Job 42

 Job 42 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Job said:
   
2. No one can oppose you, because you have the power to do what you want.
   
3. You asked why I talk so much when I know so little. I have talked about things that are far beyond my understanding.
   
4. You told me to listen and answer your questions.
   
5. I heard about you from others; now I have seen you with my own eyes.
   
6. That's why I hate myself and sit here in dust and ashes to show my sorrow.
   
7. The LORD said to Eliphaz: What my servant Job has said about me is true, but I am angry at you and your two friends for not telling the truth.
   
8. So I want you to go over to Job and offer seven bulls and seven goats on an altar as a sacrifice to please me. After this, Job will pray, and I will agree not to punish you for your foolishness.
   
9. Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar obeyed the LORD, and he answered Job's prayer.
   
10. After Job had prayed for his three friends, the LORD made Job twice as rich as he had been before.
    
11. Then Job gave a feast for his brothers and sisters and for his old friends. They expressed their sorrow for the suffering the LORD had brought on him, and they each gave Job some silver and a gold ring.
    
12. The LORD now blessed Job more than ever; he gave him fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand pair of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.
    
13. In addition to seven sons, Job had three daughters,
    
14. whose names were Jemimah, Keziah, and Keren Happuch.
    
15. They were the most beautiful women in that part of the world, and Job gave them shares of his property, along with their brothers.
    
16. Job lived for another one hundred forty years--long enough to see his great-grandchildren have children of their own--
    
17. and when he finally died, he was very old.

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When God finished reminding Job of His own greatness and Job's insignificance by comparison, Job repented. He first acknowledged God's greatness and then confessed of his ignorance in speaking of things he didn't understand. He spoke of things about which he had only heard. But now, in his confrontation with God, he knew of God firsthand. Now he knew for certain of God's greatness. He now took back his words spoken in ignorance and repented of them.

God also had words for the three friends, and they were not words of commendation. He was angry with them for failing to speak the truth about God. They had misrepresented Him. But He did commend Job because he did speak truthfully about God. God does not relate to man in a contractual way as the friends inferred. According to them God blessed those who were good and punished those who were not - without fail. Love between God and man was not a factor. Nor does God want people to relate to Him only for what they can receive from Him. He wants us to trust Him and worship Him regardless of circumstances trusting that He is worthy of our trust and worship at all times.

The friends had taken a position of piety and superiority with Job, but in the end, God gave them their comeuppance. Besides telling them of His anger with them, he required from them a burnt offering and that Job serve as a mediator on their behalf to pray for them. After Job prayed for them God did not deal with them "as your folly deserves."

The chapter and book conclude with an accounting of Job's restoration. His health and wealth were restored with a doubling of his wealth. His family was restored in that he had 10 additional children born to him with seven sons and three daughters. And, his friends were restored to him. But that was not all. He was also given longevity of life. Jewish tradition says he was 70 years old at the time of his losses. Following his losses, God gave him 140 more years of life to enjoy his regained wealth and family. He lived long enough to see his grandchildren to the fourth generation.