Job 42:10-17 comments: the end of Job

10 ¶  And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. 11  Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold. 12  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. 13  He had also seven sons and three daughters. 14  And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch. 15  And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren. 16  After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons’ sons, even four generations. 17  So Job died, being old and full of days.

So, the Book of Job is ended. As many believe, this is the book of the Bible that was actually written first and the Hebrews would have had this before they had the writings of Moses, the first five books of the Bible called the Pentateuch.

When Job prayed for his friends God restored twice of the things he had lost. His family and friends who were standing aloof from him came to his home and broke bread with him and gave him money, lamenting what had happened to him at the hand of God. Job was wealthier than he had been before and he had an abundant family although one can be certain the new children did not take replace in Job’s heart those who had died but were loved as much. Notice that only the daughters are named and that they received an inheritance as their brothers did. Job then lived to be a very old man, seeing several generations of his family living on the earth and I presume, seeing his deceased children in Heaven with God Himself.

There are many possible ways to study Job; from the point of view of science, of prophecy, and of historical context. All of these things are interesting and tickle the ears of Christians who hear them. There have been many books about Job from different points of view. I chose to underscore that which I think will help most Christians in their daily lives. Understanding God’s sovereignty and His hand in every detail of life and existence is of fundamental importance. Paying attention to what He is saying through the circumstances of life is something we often do not do. God, right out of the gate, tells us, His people, that bad things will happen to good people and they may never know why they happened on this earth. The reason may have nothing to do with anything they have specifically done wrong. But, don’t worry, He’s got it all under control, every moment of time is in His hands. Don’t presume that you know things you do not and do not offer advice out of ignorance or self-righteous presumption. Paul tells Christians in the context of the joy and the suffering of others;

Romans 12:15  Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

What God expects from Christians is not hard to understand. It is hard to do. Job, in his fit of self-righteousness, gave us a very important point to understand and to attain unto and to wrap our mind around.

Job 13:15a  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him...

A resurrection is coming, as Job himself was aware.

Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

What we are called to do, as Christians, in regard to Christ and our expectations of His imminent return is very simple and clear.

Titus 2:11 ¶  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ...