The book of Job is an interesting book. It kicks off with Satan’s challenge to God regarding Job. God allows Satan to brutally sift Job, yet Job would not do or say anything about God. God does not speak any comfort to Job. In fact, God is silent until we get to chapter 37. Finally, God speaks from a whirlwind. Wow!! He offers no explanation for Job’s circumstances nor His own silence. In fact, He came like a machine gun with questions for Job. “Where were YOU when I established the Earth? Who fixed its dimensions? Who enclosed the sea behind doors?” For seventy-one verses, like a legal cross-examination, God reminds Job that there is only one God, and his name is not Job.
All that had happened to Job was for God’s glory. It demonstrated to that old devil that Job’s love and respect for God was not because of all the blessing. Job genuinely loved God and would not deny Him as Satan had said in his challenge. It was a lesson that every follower of Jesus should learn. God does not save us to make us happy. He saves us so that He can be glorified through our lives. It is His choice as to how that plays out. (See Ephesians 1:4-6)
Here in chapter thirty-eight, as God began to reveal His glory to Job, Job’s questions and concerns suddenly seemed irrelevant and insignificant. The Presence of the living God put everything into perspective.
Let this be your perspective, too. God chose you and called you to submit to the Lord Jesus. He bought you and redeemed you for HIS glory. He is far more concerned with your holiness than your happiness. That is not a popular message, but it IS truth. As you progress in personal holiness, you begin to act, speak, and think more like Jesus. (See Romans 8:28-29). You will know you are getting there when what really makes YOU happy is bring glory to God. (See Matthew 5:16)
