Apologetics vs One's Integrity

[Brad Huber]

What God said about Job

After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.

Thats not what God said to Job. That of course as stated is what He said to the other two.

God began His response to Job in chapter 38, and it continues on for awhile, but here are some highlights

40
1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said:


2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”

3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

7 “Now [a]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

8 “Would you indeed [b]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.



AND

42
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 “I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor[a] myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”

This is what God said, and how Job responded.

 

[Hekuran]

Thats not what God said to Job. That of course as stated is what He said to the other two.

God began His response to Job in chapter 38, and it continues on for awhile, but here are some highlights

40
1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said:


2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?
He who rebukes God, let him answer it.”

3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am vile;
What shall I answer You?
I lay my hand over my mouth.
5 Once I have spoken, but I will not answer;
Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.”

6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:

7 “Now [a]prepare yourself like a man;
I will question you, and you shall answer Me:

8 “Would you indeed [b]annul My judgment?
Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?
9 Have you an arm like God?
Or can you thunder with a voice like His?
10 Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,
And array yourself with glory and beauty.



AND

42
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

2 “I know that You can do everything,
And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 Listen, please, and let me speak;
You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear,
But now my eye sees You.
6 Therefore I abhor[a] myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”

This is what God said, and how Job responded.

What i wanted to pick up from the passage I quoted was that twice God says Job has spoken the truth. He contrasts with the others folly, so by implication God marks Job out as wise.