JOB LESSON 1: Job Did Not Sin, Yet God Lambasted Him!

I am not sure how many Bible scholars observed this but I really have not seen any writings nor discussions on this obvious fact found in Job chapters 32 all the way to chapter 41, TEN HUGE CHAPTERS of scolding, reprimanding, rebuking, chastising, lambasting criticisms, and YET, the Bible declares JOB DID NOT SIN!!! Read Job 23 and analyze Job's theology and it is SPOT ON!

Interestingly, Job's three friends were rebuked because almost all their theological arguments were based on the absolute sovereignty of God and the utter unrighteousness of man from a human viewpoint (read Job 42:7; Job 25)! (Hmmm, sounds quite familiar? I might have another blog on this to detail this theology and see if it is similar to the one prevailing today), and GOD CONSIDERED THAT SIN! WOW! In fact, God threatened to punish them unless Job prayed for them. This also means that their repentance should include revising their theology!

The following discussion focuses entirely on the Biblical reasons why Job was given a mouthful by both Elihu and God Himself; BUT, for whatever divine reason, God did not consider sinful. After we discuss these, we will make our observations which might as well be regarded as conclusions or "lessons learned" from this epic book regarding how God views sin, doubt, persistence, even stubbornness and those things which do offend God but which God, nonetheless, DOES NOT CONSIDER AS SIN.

Job 32:2 summarizes why Job was rebuked, in fact, harshly. "...he justified himself rather than God". To paraphrase this down to earth, Job believe that he had correct and righteous arguments against what God was doing in his life and he was basically implying that there was something unfair about God's dealings with him. Herein is what I think is not sin: If our human conclusions are logical and common sense based on the totality of our perceptions, God faults us but MAY NOT consider it sin. The reason could be simply that Job was using his God-given brain to process what was happening to him based on what he knew about God and his current circumstances. This is a far cry from preachers who believe "we can never question God!" Oh, YES, we can, at least to a limited extent.

But Job "justified himself rather than God", and he did this in different flavors.

1. Job 33:9-11. The first flavor of Job's fault was to think that God was not listening to his prayers and pleas. Job claimed, "‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me. Behold, he finds occasions against me, he counts me as his enemy, he puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths.’" To this Elihu counters, "Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man.". Elihu continues to explain that God does listen and communicates back in different ways, "though man does not perceive it (v.33:14)" In verses 19 to 28, God uses pain, sickness and suffering to communicate with us and yes, we fail to perceive that message! v.33:29 emphasizes that God communicates his message not just once but repeatedly, and we still fail to realize that is God's message at that moment.
2. Job 34:9 - Elihu states the second flavor of Job's fault. Job has basically said, " ‘It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God.’" What this statement means is that man's faithfulness seems useless since God would not treat him differently than if he were not faithful. This is another angle on Job's "justifying himself". In verses 5-6, Elihu rephrases what Job previously claimed, "‘I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’" Note that Job never meant to claim that he was sinless or faultless. He simply meant from the overall context, "What is my fault or sin that I deserved this?". Elihu's response is lengthy but loaded with substance:
a. v.12 - "God will not do wickedly". v.14-15 says that if God wanted to "all flesh would perish together and man would return to dust." But God exercises grace and he does not do it like he did during the Great Flood.
b. v.12 - "The Almighty will not pervert justice". God governs the world with justice and righteous judgment (v.16-30). The application of this biblically is NOT that God gave Job what he deserved (in terms of judgment) but that God DID NOT give Job what he deserves (in terms of judgment).
c. v. 31-33 - Elihu adds an interesting point about God's judgment. When man repents of a sin and changes his way, he should not expect God's consequence to change. If he does not like what God dispenses after he has repented, God will not be moved to change the consequence either. Elihu ends the chapter by accusing Job of borderline rebellion added to "his sin" and Job's "sin" was talking too much against God's dispensations.
3. v.35:3 - "What advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?". The third flavor of Job's fault was concluding that if God's dispensation for him was such as his present circumstances, he might as well have just sinned (and he would really deserve what God did to him).  Elihu replies that sinning against God does not accomplish anything against God, and if he is righteous, there is actually nothing that he has given to God that would change God. "God does not hear an empty cry (from a heart that is not humble), nor does the Almighty regard it. (v.12-13)" He accuses Job of wanting to get an audience with God but with pride in his heart. Elihu even ends the chapter by telling Job that the only reason Job keeps on getting on his soapbox is because "...his anger does not punish, and he does not take much not of transgression (v.15)" Elihu now declares the very reason that God will reprimand Job later, "he multiplies words without knowledge (v.16)". In other words, Job talked too much. It is not a sin to talk, or even talk too much but it may deserve censure. Elihu proceeds to diagnose Job's problem, that of focusing on his circumstances instead of the immutable character of God:
a. v.36:5 - "God does not despise any and is mighty in the magnitude of his understanding." 
b. v.36:6-16 - God does care for the afflicted and dispenses justice rightfully
c. v.36:24-37:24 - "Remember to extol his (God's) work". Job should focus on the positive things God has done. Count your blessings!
d. v.36:21 - Elihu's DIRE WARNING on Job. Job might choose to sin rather than endure his affliction. The words of Elihu are past tense but the context seems to show that Job had not yet sinned but was on the brink of it. Wow! Aren't we all guilty of this? We choose to get angry because someone offended us instead of forgive and just suffer the offense! And we have the gall to call ourselves "sons of God", what an insult to God! But Job did not sin yet, so Elihu warns him appropriately. Great counseling!
4. v.38:2 - This time, the Lord himself scolds Job and declares that his fault is darkening "counsel without knowledge" or distorting truth based on ignorance or incomplete knowledge; making conclusions about God without knowing God, the fourth flavor of Job's fault. Hmmm, many theologians are guilty of this. Which is why they come up with pictures of God that distort his true character. (Read my blog on the hypocrisy of God as painted by these so-called scholars or theologians in The Case Against the Hyper-Omniscience of God). These theologians are guilty of creating idols (caricatures of God) and mislead many Christians to worship them. God proceeds, in chapters 38 and 39, to ask Job if he knows more than God or if he is wiser than God, a rhetorical question with an obvious answer, of course.
5. v.40:8 - "Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?" The final flavor of Job's fault: The Lord asks another rhetorical question: Will you make me look bad so you can look good? Wow! Another offense that even many Christians commit! When we say that the other person is more sinful than us does not excuse our own sin. We know how bad we are, but so that it may not be obvious, we make other people look worse. As far as our relationship with God is concerned, we tend to say to God, "Lord, if I were you, I would have done this. Why did you do otherwise?" Isn't this something we tend to say whenever our prayers get the opposite answers? Yes, we are as guilty as Job and need to be censured by God.  God proceeds to show in chapters 40 and 41, the principle that he started in chapters 38 and 39, that God is very detailed, very meticulous in his designs and care for his creation, that no detail escapes his attention. This means that God considered every detail of Job's faith and plight when he allowed Satan to harm Job. That is a hard pill to swallow indeed, especially for those who have lost loved ones prematurely. But such principle is great comfort when understood and appreciated fully.

Job 42:1-6 illustrates why God was so forgiving of Job's faults: Job had a great heart for God. He demonstrated this in the starting chapters of the book and confirms it in the final chapters. Amidst Job's questions, he had a humble heart ready to confess and repent for any fault he has committed or omitted. This is the same reason centuries later that God calls David a man after his own heart. He had the same heart that Job had as demonstrated in Psalm 51 after he committed many grave sins.