Then Job answered the Lord and said:
² “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
³ ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
⁴ ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
⁵ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
⁶ therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

1) The book of Job tells the story of Job being afflicted by Satan and losing everything—his wealth and possessions, his children, even his health. Though Job knows that he has done nothing wrong, he gets terrible advice from some friends, and starts to question God. Then beginning in chapter 38, the LORD speaks to Job with four chapters of rhetorical questions and challenges that put Job in his place—God is God, and Job is not. The verses we’re studying today are Job’s response to what God has just said.

2) If you look at a print version of the Bible, or on esvbible.org, there are tiny letters scattered throughout the verses that indicate cross references—other places in the Bible that are similar or somehow connected to the verse you’re reading. Cross references to these quotes show us that Job is quoting what God said to him in 38:2-3 and 40:7. Job is acknowledging that God knows infinitely more than him, and that he was foolish to question God.

3) We know that God is spirit (he doesn’t have a body), and no one has ever seen God. So this verse is not to be taken literally. When Job says that before, he had heard God, but now he sees Him, he is indicating that his understanding of God has grown and deepened and become clearer.

4) Job’s response to the infinite power, knowledge, and holiness of God is repentance and humility. “Despising” himself here means that he is humble before God, not that he is in some kind of self-loathing depression

1) Sometimes, we all need a reminder that God is God and we are not. Read Job chapters 38-41 just to drive that truth home. Ask Him to reveal areas in your life where you may be holding on to control, or maybe you’re frustrated because you can see that you don’t have the control you wish you had. Recognizing this and acknowledging God for who He is, like Job did, brings freedom and peace deeper than we can comprehend. Our God is so gracious!

2) We can rest in the knowledge that God is infinite, and we are finite. Though we want to have all the answers, it is enough to know that God sees the big picture and we can trust in His infinite knowledge and goodness toward us. Nothing we walk through is without purpose. There is no pain, no frustration, no hurt, and no loss outside of God’s ability to use it. The Almighty wastes nothing and takes every situation to turn our hearts ever more so towards His own that we might see how priceless and treasured He is! We are desperate without Him and everything is meaningless without His presence!

3) What circumstances in my life have caused me, like Job, to see God more clearly? Don’t skip to the next question – take a minute now to think or write down some areas you’re thinking about right now. How has God shown you more of Himself through those situations? Maybe you haven’t seen Him before in those dark moments, but He was there, waiting and holding you, shaping you to see Him and trust Him.

4) God, I acknowledge that you are the Creator, and I am the creation; you are the Potter, I am the clay. I repent of the foolishness that makes me think I am wiser than you. Please remind me of your infinite power, knowledge, and glory when I am tempted to forget.

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We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
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