IS GOD REALLY ALL-TIME GOOD? HOW ABOUT JOB?
In the First Part of this article, we’ve been able to establish some facts based on Scriptural evidences that the Old Testament folks don’t even know the Devil at all. So any strange/supernatural happenings [that they can not explain] they credit it into God’s account for “righteousness”
Even today, natural disasters are so called “acts of god”. A number of which happened in the OT timeline [and especially to Job’s sons and daughters]. Now the intelligent question to ask would be “acts of which God”?… “which God in question”?
So after all the drama and mix-ups among the OT folks, to clear all the confusion, God Revealed Himself in Christ Jesus and that exposed the real subtle enemy pretending and deceiving many for ages—Satan
[NLT] John 1:18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, WHO IS HIMSELF GOD, is near to the Father’s heart. HE HAS REVEALED GOD TO US.
MSG translation says:
No one has ever seen God,
not so much as a glimpse.
This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
who exists at the very heart of the Father,
HAS MADE HIM PLAIN AS DAY.
Now we know who’s causing what [Acts 10:38], so we could start from the known to explain the unknown
Let’s Get Started
Ultra-Short Overview to Bible Study
2 Timothy 3:15-16
And that from a child thou hast known the HOLY SCRIPTURES, which are able to make thee wise unto SALVATION THROUGH FAITH WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine [teaching], for Reproof [evidence / conviction.] , for correction, for instruction [training] in righteousness:
Holy Scriptures in verse 15 would refer to Genesis to Malachi [The Torah]. There were no Epistles at the point Paul was writing this letter to Timothy
And THE THEME [which technically could be applied to the Epistles too] is about All that God promised to and did in Christ for man in the story of redemption which is received through faith in Christ Jesus
So we have;
Theology: Study of God [In theology we have the following sub-groups]
- Christology: Study of [and pertaining to] Jesus Christ
- Pisteology: Study of Faith
- Soteriology: Study of Salvation
- Ecclesiology: Study of [and about] the Church
- Eschatology: Study of the end times
All the above are the attributes you’ll find extensively in the NT books especially IN THE EPISTLES
So for Theology: Scriptures were written so that man can read, know and understand God [Accurately and Precisely] such that God relating with man would be based on that understanding
Please kindly switch on your thinking faculties, you can’t afford to be unintelligible with this article.
Be patient and read thoroughly! Read between the lines! Pause, reflect, check out your own Bible, think intelligently and read again until the understanding hits you
Note: this is a sensitive one which requires much concrete evidences from Scriptures. So don’t be weary of the litany of… Yes don’t be bored reading Scriptures
Also note that everything in Scripture is truthfully reported but everything is not a statement of absolute Truth.
Before you get angry look at this…
- Proverbs 30:18-19 KJV
There be three things [which] are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
[19] The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
With the increase in scientific knowledge today, this has been adequately explained.
- Proverbs 30:30 KJV
A lion [which is] strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
I watch NAT GEO WILD a lot and I’ve seen instances where buffaloes and other animals would severely injure or even Kill a Lion and the pride would flee as in terror for safety.
In fact there are wild animals that just one lion can not take down! It would require at least 3 tactical and well co-ordinated efforts to get the game done [with lesser risk of injury]
That said… Let’s continue!
Now about Job…
#1 It starts by saying “Hast thou considered my servant Job?“
And Yes! That perfectly describes him
Job is a Servant!
- Is your name Job?
- Are you a Servant?
John 15:15 KJV
Henceforth I call you NOT SERVANTS; FOR THE SERVANT KNOWETH NOT WHAT HIS LORD DOETH: but I have called you friends; for ALL THINGS that I HAVE heard of MY FATHER I have MADE KNOWN unto you.
So knowledge for a Servant is limited!
“Behold what manner of love…”
“Now are we the sons of God” 1 John 3:1,2
Also see this
Galatians 4:4-7 KJV
But when the FULNESS OF THE TIME was come, GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] TO REDEEM them that were under the law, THAT WE might RECEIVE THE ADOPTION OF SONS.
[6] And BECAUSE YE ARE SONS, GOD HATH SENT FORTH THE SPIRIT OF HIS SON INTO YOUR HEARTS, crying, ABBA , FATHER.
[7] WHEREFORE THOU ART NO MORE A SERVANT, BUT A SON; and IF a son, THEN an heir of God through Christ.
You’re not a Servant like Job, you are a son! It’s tantamount to Dishonour which is unbelief in Christ’s finished work to start comparing yourself with Job.
#2 Who wrote the book of Job?
Possibly Job🤔
- What manner of man is Job?
He’s perfect [morally innocent], upright, feared God and shunned evil…
This attributes are commendable but let’s not forget Job being a servant is ignorant of the Devil [Not to talk of knowing his antics and strategem].
Fearing God is not enough to keep Satan away, even devils (demons) fear God too.
James 2:19 KJV
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Look at another attribute of Job
Job 1:5 KJV
And it was so, when the days of [their] feasting were gone about, that Job sent and SANCTIFIED THEM, and rose up early in the morning, and OFFERED BURNT OFFERINGS [according] to the number of them all: for Job said, IT MAY BE that my sons HAVE SINNED, and CURSED GOD IN THEIR HEARTS. THUS DID JOB CONTINUALLY.
Really? Even under the Levitical Priesthood, sin offering is ONCE in a year, but this man—Job offered sin offerings for his sons continually based on mere assumption that they might have sinned. Wow!
This is Sin Consciousness!
Job lived perpetually in sin consciousness which is another potent tool in Satan’s hand!
What else? Let’s examine Job’s statement in chapter 3 because a man’s word is a reflection of his person
Job 3:24-26 KJV
For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.[25] For THE THING WHICH I GREATLY FEARED IS COME UPON ME, and THAT WHICH I WAS AFRAID OF IS COME UNTO ME.
[26] I WAS NOT IN SAFETY, NEITHER HAD I REST, NEITHER WAS I QUIET; YET TROUBLE CAME.
Wow wow!
As if being ignorant and living in perpetual sin consciousness is not enough, Job lived in perpetual fear!
So Job has been thinking, “what If I lose all my wealth by fire of God—natural disaster?” Job 1:13-15 [Sabeans raiding him]
Job 1:16 [“fire of God” or commonly called “acts of God” which is a thunderstorm]
“What if the chaldeans plunder my source of living?” [Job 1:17 The Chaldeans plundering him]
“What if my sons and daughters die in their prime [untimely death] through natural disaster?” [Job 1:18-19]
“What if I experience extreme poverty [Grace-to-Grass] despite all the great possessions of mine”? [Job 1:20-22]
“What if one day, a sickness like [sore boil] attack this my body head to toe?” [Job 2:7,8,12]
He consistently feared all the above.
Possibly that’s why He became so sin conscious that he would offer sins offerings for the sons so as not to lose them all in one day.
Possibly that was part of why he feared God and shunned evil in Chapter one verse one.
Also look at this statement, it seems to contain a hint concerning what really happened to Job
You can not completely rely on it since it’s reportedly from Satan—Father of lies
Job 1:9-10 KJV
Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, DOTH JOB FEAR GOD FOR NOUGHT?[Notice Satan’s query?]
[10] Hast not thou made AN HEDGE ABOUT HIM, and ABOUT HIS HOUSE, and ABOUT ALL THAT HE HATH ON EVERY SIDE? thou hast BLESSED THE WORK OF HIS HANDS, and HIS SUBSTANCE IS INCREASED IN THE LAND.
Satan reportedly made the above statement but if we look into it very critically, it’s consistent with what God could have done for Job and I want to partly believe it.
But, since it’s not crystal clear [no convincing evidence in the narrative] whether God did it or not, I’d say supposing God did protected Job [which I want to partly believe that HE DID] And yet Job made the statement in [Job 3:26] “I was not in safety… yet trouble came“…is tantamount to unbelief!
It would mean that despite God’s hedge of protection around and about Job, his mindset [thinking or belief] is that “I’m not in safety” which is unbelief in the abilities of God to keep him safe from all the trouble that came upon him.
This also is more than “a foothold” for the enemy to wreck havoc in Job’s life!
After all, Proverbs 18:10 says “The name of the Lord is a strong tower…” and Isaiah puts it as…
Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV
Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] MIND [is] STAYED on thee: BECAUSE HE TRUSTETH [on thee].[4] Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
Now, all we’ve discussed so far landed Job in the hand of the enemy but it seems even the Devil was ignorant of that fact.
Job 1:12 KJV
And the LORD said unto Satan, BEHOLD, ALL THAT HE HATH [IS] IN THY POWER [hand]; only upon himself [his person] put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD .
The word “Behold” as used in Scriptures means: to see, to look, to perceive.
Then it means God wasn’t the one who permitted Satan to torment Job, It didn’t say “I give you power or permission to afflict Job” No!
“Behold” means to see or look or perceive what has already happened. So the only thing God did was to spare Job’s life! What a merciful God!
God only prevented Job from being overtaken by the affliction and also to provide a way of escape for Job
#3 The “meetings” would have happened in Heaven yes or yes?
Wherever those meetings was held…
Was Job in Heaven to know about how/when Satan attended the heavenly “UN Meetings” ? 🤔
👉🏻No!
Job couldn’t have been in Heaven neither could he have attended the meeting [if at all there was such meeting]
#4 So what informed his thinking that God and Satan were playing Bet9ja with his life? 🤔🧠
possibly in a vision or just his impression/thoughts?🤔
#5 Can Satan have any mutual agreement with God?🤔
Reflect on this verses before you answer that
2 Corinthians 6:14-16 KJV
…:for WHAT FELLOWSHIP hath RIGHTEOUSNESS with UNRIGHTEOUSNESS? and WHAT COMMUNION hath LIGHT with DARKNESS?
[15]And WHAT CONCORD hath CHRIST with BELIAL?…
[16]And WHAT AGREEMENT hath THE TEMPLE OF GOD with IDOLS?…
Can light and darkness actually have a mutual agreement?
Also note that “Satan” was only referenced in Chapter 1 and 2 of the book of Job. No other mention of Satan and all he did again. Every mishap as usual was credited free of charge into God’s account “for righteousness” as though God caused all his troubles.
#6 Was everything Job and his friends’ said [Chapter 1-37] very correct?🤔
If you’ve read the whole book of Job, He said many seemingly terrible things [Chapter 1-37] contrary to the lights we now have in the Epistles…
“The Lord gives and he takes away… Blessed be the name of the Lord” [that can both give and take away] Job 1:21
“Shall we receive good at the hand of God and not receive evil… ” Job 2:10
God started questioning Job from Chapter 38
Job 38:1-2 KJV
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,[2] WHO [is] THIS THAT DARKENETH COUNSEL BY WORDS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE?
👇⚠See Job’s Responses / Disclaimer⚠👇
Job 42:1-3,5-6 KJV
Then JOB ANSWERED THE LORD, and said,
[2] I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] NO THOUGHT can be WITHHOLDEN FROM THEE.
[3] Who is he that hideth counsel WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE ? THEREFORE HAVE I UTTERED THAT I UNDERSTOOD NOT; THINGS TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME, which I KNEW NOT.
[5] I HAVE HEARD OF THEE BY THE HEARING OF THE EAR: BUT NOW MINE EYE SEETH THEE.
[6] WHEREFORE I ABHOR [myself], and REPENT in dust and ashes.
Really!!!!
So JOB was just speaking based on rumours about God!
He doesn’t know any better!
#7 Now we never read where God had another meeting and Satan showed up again after the supposed bet or contest with God saying “Ntoor I won“ to the Devil*
- Instead of Job to rebuke the hand of the enemy [Satan] in his life, He allowed the Devil to punish him thinking it was God🤣
You will never have boldness to rebuke sicknesses and evil occurrences in your life as long as you believe God is involved in it!
God is Not involved in anything EVIL!💯
Some have also argued that “God is only Good depending on who’s involved” [believers vs Unbelievers … Maybe that’ll be Exegesis for another day but meditate on this Scriptures
#1
Matthew 5:44-45,48 KJV
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
[45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
[48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
This was Corroborated in Luke’s synoptic account too
Luke 6:27-28,35-36 KJV
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
[28] Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
[35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
[36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
#2
Q: God’s love was demonstrated to us when?
A: John 3:14-16; Romans 5:8
God is Good all the time!
Jesus is the express, flawless image of the invisible God!
👉2 Corinthians 4:4
👉Colossians 1:13-15
👉Colossians 3:10
👉Hebrews 1:1-4 (AMP/AMPC)
So if you want to know about God, look at Jesus [the God with us]
#8 How Do I stay safe in my study of OT texts?
This is something you may adopt to “rightly divide the Word of Truth“
In all the confusing OT text, substitute God with Jesus and see if it makes sense
For Example:
👉”The Lord gives and he takes away may his name be praised”
⚠”Jesus Christ gives and Jesus Christ takes away… ”
⚠ “And Jesus killed Job’s sons and daughters”
⚠”I am Jesus I create good and I create evil” Isaiah 45:7
⚠”I Jesus created the destroyer to cause havoc” Isaiah 54:16
Really? 🙆
It’s obvious even Prophet Isaiah mis-represented God
Where and when exactly did God created evil?
✍🏻Genesis 1:31 KJV
And God saw EVERY THING that HE HAD MADE, and, behold, it was VERY GOOD. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
✍🏻Acts 10:38 KJV
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who WENT ABOUT DOING GOOD, and HEALING ALL that were OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL; for GOD was WITH him.
Sickness is an oppression of the Devil!
👉This Jesus did. He would find any excuse to do good, Heal even if it means breaking Sabbath etc.
👉He used spoken words, spit, clay, water, laying on of hands, just about anything
👉Healing is God’s unconditional response to sicknesses and diseases
👉He wasn’t even looking out for the pious Pharisees but republicans, not so good people, He had compassion on widows raised their dead loved ones back to life etc.
👉The woman caught in adultery should have been killed according to the law, He had mercy and forgave her sins
👉His disciples wanted to call down fire to consume a whole Samaritan village, He rebuked them saying “I’m a savior not a destroyer“
👉I am a life giver not a killer
👉Even His killers He forgave them without them asking for it
👉He couldn’t have been the one causing sicknesses and healing it at the same time!
👉He doesn’t reject nor cast away anyone whosoever
👉Even during His betrayal, his consistent nature was still evident
Luke 22:49-53 KJV
When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
[50] And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off HIS RIGHT EAR.
[51] And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And HE TOUCHED HIS EAR, and HEALED HIM.
[52] Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
[53] When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
I hope it’s clear? Stay tuned for part 3
Receive ye understanding!
In Christ We always win!
©Victor Oluwatobi Fabuluje
2nd July, 2018.
Victor O. Fabuluje (Physical Therapist) 