我們已看過約伯的朋友說些甚麼，以及約伯怎樣一一回應，還有以利戶的觀點。接著又怎樣呢？約伯不僅要聽到人的說話，他更要聽到神的聲音。終於，神在祂的時間和以祂的方式向他說話。神似乎沒有理會以利戶，到最後祂也訓斥約伯的三個朋友；但如今，祂卻直接向約伯說話。有趣的是，神沒有告訴約伯，他之所以受苦，是因為受到撒但的攻擊；祂並沒有解釋約伯為何受苦。然而，祂卻向約伯顯示祂的能力和智慧，以致約伯終於謙卑下來，默然無聲。

神向約伯提出了57個問題；每一個問題都顯示出神的偉大。神要對約伯說：「約伯，我如果能夠做成這一切，而且我也確實做成了，難道你不認為你可以信靠我嗎？難道你不相信我知道自己要做甚麼嗎？」

神接著便論及大自然和生命本身的奧祕。最後在第四十章，神挑戰約伯（1至2節），約伯卻無話可說了。神其實是要問他：「約伯，我既然能夠做到這一切，你現在是否要試驗我，或是要教我怎樣做呢？」神一直質問約伯，直至約伯在神面前完全謙卑下來（四十二1-6）。他開始從一個新的角度來明白神的主權，甚至是神的恩典。

當我們經歷試煉的時候，同樣可以親身領悟到這個真理。撒但可以給我們的生活帶來試探，而且也不會解決問題；然而，神卻會在祂的時間並用祂的方式，幫助我們解困。神的恩典足夠我們用，我們可以從一次又一次的事例中證明這點。神一直與約伯同在，而且一直沒有改變對約伯的看法。神在四十二章7至9節曾經四次稱約伯是「我的僕人」。

最後，神將一件新的工作交給約伯，就是為他的朋友祈禱。然後神給予約伯新的財富，使他在地上的財富比前加增一倍，還再賜他七個兒子和三個女兒。換言之，他現在總共有十四個兒子和六個女兒，一半在地上，另一半在天上。

最後，但願約伯的經歷成為我們的借鑑，讓我們知道，盡管有撒旦的攻擊，神的能力和恩典必保守我們。感謝神將《約伯記》賜給我們。

Day 30

GOD’S ANSWER TO JOB’S SUFFERINGS

Job 38: 1-11

1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

2 “Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

3 Now prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors,
When it burst forth and issued from the womb;

9 When I made the clouds its garment,
And thick darkness its swaddling band;

10 When I fixed My limit for it,
And set bars and doors;

11 When I said,
‘This far you may come, but no farther,
And here your proud waves must stop!’

Message

We have read what the three friends had to say, how Job replied and what Elihu said. What next? More than a human voice is needed and God speaks in His own time and way. He seems to have passed by Elihu. Later He reprimanded the three friends but now He speaks to Job. It is interesting that God still doesn’t tell Job about Satan’s attack. He did not explain Job’s sufferings. But the revelation of His power and wisdom reduced Job to humble silence.

God asked Job 57 questions. Each one brought before Job God’s greatness. God was saying, “Job if I can do all this, and I have done it, don’t you think you can trust me? Don’t you think I know what I am doing?”

God went on to speak about the mysteries of nature and even the mystery of life itself. Then in the 40th chapter God challenges Job (vv.1-2) and Job has nothing to say. God asked, “Job if I did all this, now are you going to try and teach me what I should do?” God went on again until Job was completely humbled before the Lord. (vv. 42: 1-6) He came to a new appreciation of God’s sovereignty, and even of God’s grace.

We can prove the same regarding trials. Satan might bring trials into our lives and he will never lift them but God will in his own time and way. God’s grace can be sufficient and we can prove that over and over. God was there all the time with Job and never changed his thinking about Job. Four times in 42:7-9 God said ‘my servant Job.’

Job was given a new ministry - praying for his friends. Then he was given new prosperity. He received double the worldly wealth he had previously and he was given seven more sons and three more daughters. It could be said that he had 14 sons and 6 daughters, some here and the others over there.

Last of all, Job’s story was recorded for us as a tremendous example of the power and grace of God in spite of all the attacks of Satan. Thank God for this wonderful book.