Day 3: Job 35-42; Genesis 12-21

Today we finish Job and return to Genesis.

Job

Elihu’s rebuke continues in chapters 35-37. The rebuke is stirring, provoking, and humbling for Job (and me too), but it is overshadowed by God’s very own rebuke, which covers chapters 38-41. Both rebukes are interesting and affecting, but Elihu’s rebuke is very much a warm-up for God’s main attraction. As you know, the book concludes with Job apologizing (“[T]herefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”, he says in 42:6), with Job’s friends repenting, and with God restoring Job’s fortunes.

Memorable Quote

Job is full of notable quotables. Here is just one from today’s selection:

• 34:6-7 (ESV)
  
  

  If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?
  
  And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?
  
  If you are righteous, what do you give to him?
  
  Or what does he receive from your hand?
  
  Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself,
  
  and your righteousness a son of man.

Comments on the Entire Book

Many of the comments I’ve seen on Job make similar statements. Now that I’ve taken in the book for myself, here are my thoughts on some of the statements I’ve heard.

“Job is a book about suffering.” Absolutely, the theme of suffering stands tall in Job. However, I am more effected by the theme of God’s goodness and man’s foolishness/silliness/pride.

“Job does not solve the problem of suffering.” A couple years ago, Bart Ehrman popularized this view. My knee-jerk reaction to this is to disagree, although I might be able to concede parts of his argument. Based on my reading, I would say that Job does indeed address the problem of suffering: Suffering comes from Satan; goodness, relief, and blessing comes from God. (Interestingly, Job created much of his own suffering by assuming that God was the cause of his problems; perhaps this shadows man’s keen ability to create trouble for himself.)

“Job did not sin throughout his suffering.” I’ve heard variants of this since I was kid. I may be missing something, but I disagree (for now) for a few reasons:

• First, Job’s attitude is in the dumps. There are moments where he is angry or frustrated without sinning, but there are other moments where his pride and his “I don’t deserve this!” attitude are too much.
• Second, as 42:6 says, Job repents. Why would he repent if he hadn’t sinned?
• Third, both Elihu and God rebuke job. Why would they rebuke him if he hadn’t sinned?

Genesis

Chapter 12 introduces us to Abram (Abraham). He answers God’s call to move away from home; he divides the land with Lot, who chooses the lovely but deceptive land of Sodom and Gomorrah; he eventually receives a son, Isaac, from his old wife Sarai (Sarah).

A Couple Themes

• Blessings. God offers Abram what will become a Bible-long blessing of a “great nation” in 12:2. After defeating Chedorlaomer, Abraham receives a blessing from King Melchizedek of Salem (14:19); you’ll remember that Jesus was “after the order of Melchizedek”. God offers Sarah the blessing of a son (17:16), a blessing to which Abraham upon hearing “fell on his face and laughed” (17:17).
• Covenants. God offers Abram a lot of land in a covenant (15:17). He later offers an “everlasting covenant” (17:7) signified by circumcision (17:10-14)  that assures Abram that he will “be the father of a multitude of nations” (17:2). Finally, Abraham made a covenant of peace with Abimelech (21:27).

A Few Interesting Things

• Abraham’s laughing. He laughs when God tells him that Sarah will have a child (17:17), and he laughs when God tells him he’ll forever bless his multitude of offspring. In both cases, Abraham is actually laughing at God. Eek.
• Abraham’s half-truths. In dealing with Abimelech, abraham tells Abimelech that Sarah is his sister, not his wife (20:2), so that no one would sleep with her. Abimelech discovers the lie and insists that Abraham and his descendants not deal falsely with him again (21:22-24).
• Sodom and Gomorrah. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah is unsettling and disturbing. Abraham’s convincing of God to spare the cities if 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, and then finally just 10 people are found faithful there is interesting (18:27-33); the subsequent destruction of the city demonstrates the city’s horrible condition. The rescue of Lot and his family (19:1-11) is dramatic and haunting; I was particularly disturbed by the men of the city trying to break into Lot’s house to capture the angels.

[Via http://whatireadintheoldtestament.wordpress.com]

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