9 June Job 40
- Werner Jansen van rensburg
- Jun 9
- 2 min read
In Job 40, God responds to Job’s complaints, challenging him to humbly accept His sovereignty. God asks Job if he can match His power and wisdom, illustrating divine authority through the imagery of Behemoth.
Humble yourself before God
In Job 40:1-5, God directly confronts Job, asking, “What do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges?” Job responds with humility, saying, “I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen.”
This passage marks a turning point where Job, who had questioned God extensively throughout his suffering, now acknowledges his inability to argue his case before the Almighty. After countless discussions with his friends, seeking answers about life and suffering, Job finds himself speechless before God. He recognises that, despite his previous outbursts, he cannot contest the sovereignty of God.
In his response, Job places his hand over his mouth, signifying his submission to God's holiness. Job’s earlier quest for vindication gives way to a humble desire for fellowship with God. He no longer demands answers but embraces a posture of quiet submission. Job's silence reveals his deep understanding of his own insignificance before the Creator.
A shift in attitude
This shift in Job’s attitude is mirrored in other scripture. Leviticus 11:44 (NLT) says, "For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy." Likewise, 1 Peter 1:16 (NLT) affirms, "For the Scriptures say, 'You must be holy because I am holy.'" Both verses call for holiness, emphasising the need for consecration before God and recognition of His holiness and sovereignty. Job’s posture of humility in this passage aligns with this divine command, reminding us that submission to God’s holiness is essential in our relationship with Him. Job, in his moment of submission, exemplifies what it means to honour God's holiness and sovereignty through a posture of humility. Job’s humility leads to transformation, and in a similar way, we are called to lose our worldly attachments in order to find true life in God. As Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 (AMP), "Whoever finds his life in this world will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Like Job, we must humble ourselves, for only through humility can we experience God's exaltation.
James 4:10 (AMP) reinforces this principle: “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” True exaltation comes not from demanding answers but from submitting to God’s will with repentance and reverence. In the message of James 4:10 (MSG), we are reminded that true transformation begins when we surrender completely to God: "Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet."
Job’s moment of humility is a powerful reminder that, in times of trial and questioning, it is not our demands for answers that lead to peace, but our submission to God's sovereignty and holiness.