我们已看过约伯的朋友说些甚么，以及约伯怎样一一回应，还有以利户的观点。接着又怎样呢？约伯不仅要听到人的说话，他更要听到神的声音。终于，神在祂的时间和以祂的方式向他说话。神似乎没有理会以利户，到最后祂也训斥约伯的三个朋友；但如今，祂却直接向约伯说话。有趣的是，神没有告诉约伯，他之所以受苦，是因为受到撒但的攻击；祂并没有解释约伯为何受苦。然而，祂却向约伯显示祂的能力和智慧，以致约伯终于谦卑下来，默然无声。

神向约伯提出了57个问题；每一个问题都显示出神的伟大。神要对约伯说：「约伯，我如果能够做成这一切，而且我也确实做成了，难道你不认为你可以信靠我吗？难道你不相信我知道自己要做甚么吗？」

神接着便论及大自然和生命本身的奥秘。最后在第四十章，神挑战约伯（1至2节），约伯却无话可说了。神其实是要问他：「约伯，我既然能够做到这一切，你现在是否要试验我，或是要教我怎样做呢？」神一直质问约伯，直至约伯在神面前完全谦卑下来（四十二1-6）。他开始从一个新的角度来明白神的主权，甚至是神的恩典。

当我们经历试炼的时候，同样可以亲身领悟到这个真理。撒但可以给我们的生活带来试探，而且也不会解决问题；然而，神却会在祂的时间并用祂的方式，帮助我们解困。神的恩典足够我们用，我们可以从一次又一次的事例中证明这点。神一直与约伯同在，而且一直没有改变对约伯的看法。神在四十二章7至9节曾经四次称约伯是「我的仆人」。

最后，神将一件新的工作交给约伯，就是为他的朋友祈祷。然后神给予约伯新的财富，使他在地上的财富比前加增一倍，还再赐他七个儿子和三个女儿。换言之，他现在总共有十四个儿子和六个女儿，一半在地上，另一半在天上。

最后，但愿约伯的经历成为我们的借鉴，让我们知道，尽管有撒旦的攻击，神的能力和恩典必保守我们。感谢神将《约伯记》赐给我们。

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.