JOB’S INORDINATE STRUGGLES

 “…a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” Rom 10:2

We now come to our topic at hand—what is meant by Job’s wife’s statement, “and die.” To do this we must begin to look at what dying means from a spiritual perspective, and this we will now attempt to do—knowing that this may be one of the most difficult concepts to understand and perceive. We have already examined the necessity to struggle if we are to enjoy any fruitfulness or longevity in this life. It therefore becomes a seeming contradiction, that God, the Author of life, and who made life a struggle after the fall of Adam, would inspire Job’s wife to tell her husband to give up and die. We must therefore look deeper into the meaning of her words if we are to come to a resolution of this ostensible paradox. As we have already said many times—death is yielding, giving up, ceasing to struggle; and when we apply that meaning to the statement of Job’s wife, that is exactly what it implies; only we are now talking in a spiritual sense.

Eze 18:25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

The core of Job’s problem, as with all of us, was that he was striving to maintain things in his life for which God had not intended him to struggle. Because this life is such a struggle in the natural realm, man has also made certain spiritual concepts, which were not meant to be a work, part of that struggle also. Job’s integrity, his self-image, his self-respect, both with God and with men, were the most important things in his life; and he worked to maintain them at all cost. Job had come to love and covet his position among men—their admiration for him, their respect, and their fear of him. In his trial, as he lay in dust and ashes, he yearned for those days that were past. His integrity, his self-righteousness, his position in the community, were all important to him, and he held on to them even at the expense of God’s honor. Job stated that he would trust God even if God killed him, but he would not let go of his personal integrity. He even felt that his personal worth made him qualified to debate with God, in spite of His terribleness. He believed that if he could stand before God on some common ground, without fear and in the presence of a mediator, and that he could prove himself righteous and God unjust. These things we have already examined in very great detail earlier; but it is these things—these vanities of the flesh, this personal righteousness that Job struggled to maintain before God—that had to die.

Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Job 31:6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

Job 13:14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.
18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified.
19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.
20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee.
21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.
22 Then call thou, and I will answer: or let me speak, and answer thou me.

For Job, as well as all men, this is perhaps the most damning struggle we work to maintain—the promotion of our own vanities and self-righteousness. How much time, money, and energy is spent to maintain our self-image? We spend hours out of every day, and money that would be better spent on other things, just to look good and feel good about ourselves; and have others to notice us. While personal hygiene is certainly commendable and worthwhile, the efforts that many put forth to make themselves look good are truly idolatrous and excessive. Superficial make-up, clothes, hairstyles, body toning, and cosmetic surgery, are all done to beautify our flesh; while at the same time we neglect our spiritual needs and the needs of others.

1 Pet 3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Prov 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Many people spend countless hours and resources to glorify themselves, and to have others admire them, in a myriad of ways. Religious men and women, who have no real spirituality at all, go to all sorts of extremes to appear devout. They make themselves look like they have some kind of special relationship with God, or that they have some special gift from God. They have their religious garments and rituals that make them appear to be something of a holy man on the outside, but inside they are full of hypocrisy and filthiness. However, we do not have to be a priest, preacher, or some other religious figure, to be guilty of this struggle for some semblance of spirituality. All of us, from our first parents in the Garden of Eden until now, struggle to appear before God and men to be something we are not. Adam and Eve clothed themselves with fig leaves in order to cover their nakedness; and we all pick leaves from many different kinds of trees, in order to make for ourselves some kind of covering for our sins and shortcomings.

Mat 23:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Matt 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

This struggle to maintain an outward appearance of goodness begins as children. We play a kind of mind game with our parents, doing only what is necessary to satisfy them. We use various deceptions, hoping to convince them that we truly are good little boys and girls. This game is continued on throughout life. We seek to fool our teachers into thinking that we are truly good students and have put forth our best efforts at our schoolwork; while all the time we do only what is absolutely necessary to get by. We cheat, plagiarize, or procrastinate until the last possible moment before a paper is do or a test is given. As adults, we speed down the road, slowing only when we see an officer ahead. We work hard at our job when the boss is around, but waste time when no one is looking. We work hard to fool our spouses, our families, our fellow church members, and others in society—that they might not see us as we truly are. This struggle is carried on before God also, as we play our little mind games with Him. We hope to convince Him of our goodness and that we most certainly are not bad enough to be sent to Hell. We play church and begrudgingly give tokens of our time and money to maintain our appearance before Him. We think that He is like the other people we try to fool, easily deceived by our outward show, a God that can be trifled with, just like we do our fellow human beings. However, we are only fooling ourselves; because this God with whom we are dealing with, sees all and knows all, even our attitudes, and the thoughts and intents of our hearts. He knows what we are like on the inside, and is certainly not fooled by our vain show.

Ecc 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.

Mk 12:41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

1 Sam 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Psa 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
17 Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
18 When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
19 Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
20 Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
21 These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

Although Job believed in the Creator God on the basis of what he had heard about him, and what had been handed down to him by others, he did not see God. He did not know God intimately. He did not have a personal relationship with God. He did not understand how a man might be just before God; and therefore Job was dependant upon his own righteousness. The God he knew was a God that was full of demands, and needed to be appeased in order to avoid His fierce anger. He was a God that rewarded the righteous doers and punished the wicked, not only in this life, but in the life to come. He believed that only good, sincere people would be permitted into God’s presence, and that the hypocrite would be cast out. Because he had this image of God, he needed to struggle to maintain his own righteousness so that he might stand before God. Indeed, he felt his righteousness as a man did measure up to God’s standard. To these false images of God and himself, Job needed to die.

Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
7 Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.
8 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty? will he always call upon God?
11 I will teach you by the hand of God: that which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
12 Behold, all ye yourselves have seen it; why then are ye thus altogether vain?
13 This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which they shall receive of the Almighty.
14 If his children be multiplied, it is for the sword: and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.
15 Those that remain of him shall be buried in death: and his widows shall not weep.
16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;
17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.
18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth that the keeper maketh.
19 The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered: he openeth his eyes, and he is not.
20 Terrors take hold on him as waters, a tempest stealeth him away in the night.
21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
22 For God shall cast upon him, and not spare: he would fain flee out of his hand.
23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

Prov 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Howbeit, for Job, and the rest of us as well, there are areas of life where doing what is right is proper, rewarding, and even commendable; but we have over emphasized and perverted them to the point that they too are sin. Therefore, we must die to them also. Some people struggle beyond that which is necessary for the things of this world—while they neglect their families and their own souls in their insatiable pursuits. While God intends for us to work and provide for ourselves and our families, He does not intend for us to make the pursuit of riches the focus of our lives. It is the lack of faith that God will provide for us, that drives many people to heap up riches. However, those that know God as their Heavenly Father, also know that He will provide for their needs on a day-to-day basis—for that He has promised to His children. Now, while riches may not have been a real problem in Job’s life, they nonetheless provided him a certain comfort in this world, and were a distraction against allowing him to see the things that were truly important. God allowed the Devil to take away Job’s earthly wealth for a reason—that He might reveal to him a spiritual treasure that those who are rich rarely attain.

Prov 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

Prov 23:4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

1 Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Matt 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matt 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

Matt 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Another struggle that may be considered overzealous or misguided in pursuing, is that of raising our children. We may somewhat view this in the case of Job, and perhaps it was the reason God allowed his children to be taken from this earth. From reading the account we have concerning his children, they seemed to have enjoyed a life of carefree living. They went daily to each others house’s, banqueting and partying without a care in the world. This no doubt came from being the children of a very wealthy man who protected them and provided for their every need. Now, we must certainly provide for infants and toddlers; but as children grow older, they must be weaned from their dependence upon their parents, and taught to live as responsible adults. They must learn to provide for themselves and know how to live in the real world. It has been said, that the main job of being parents is to teach their children to live independently of them.

Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 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.

I was particularly impressed with a rich uncle of mine who had several children; but he never overindulged them in buying them things or giving them money. As they grew older they were required to have jobs, being employed in my uncle’s stores in rather base positions; and he never did give any of his wealth to them, except to provide for their basic needs. Parents cannot and should not try to shield their children from every hardship and trial of life; but they must let them learn to struggle for themselves—and yes, let them fail and be hurt. This struggle builds character, and causes one to learn to depend upon God when life becomes overwhelming. Since Job was protecting his children, and providing for them even as adults, how could they learn to trust God? Even in the matter of confessing their sins and providing the proper sacrifice, Job took this upon himself. God has no grandchildren; and parents cannot bring their children into His Kingdom by carrying them. Although we cannot speculate about their eternal destiny, we have no indication that Job's children had any real spiritual relationship with God, even as Job.

Eze 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

Lev 7:29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings.
30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. 

Many parents, including Christian parents, fail to even give their children the proper Biblical discipline—to teach them that sin must be punished, to fear God’s judgment, and turn to Him for mercy. They say they love them too much to hurt them or to let them suffer pain; but this so-called love is not even love at all, but a syrupy, sentimental kind of indulgence that frees the parent from doing what they are commanded by God to do. Because it is emotionally painful to them to spank their children, they make excuses about disciplining them that will ultimately be a curse to their children and society. While they may protect them from some things in this world, who will be there to protect them in eternity when they face the awful judgment of God?

Prov 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

Prov 23:13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

As a case in point of what we are saying, the Bible offers us a strong example in Eli, an Old Testament priest. Eli himself was a godly man and knew the Lord; however, as a parent he was a failure. His two grown sons, who were also priests, were wicked, even in the ministration of their priestly duties. If we read into the following account we can see that Eli’s admonishment of them was weak indeed, suggesting that they were never disciplined or taught the fear of God as children. They had grown up with no respect for the things of God, or even Eli—and now it was too late. They had so desecrated their office and duties as priests that God would now destroy them. Their lives were ended prematurely, and their souls were lost eternally. Eli’s weakness had cost him everything. Instead of protecting his sons, his failure had brought judgment upon his children, the future generations of his house, and even his own life.

1 Sam 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13 And the priests' custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.

1 Sam 2:22 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24 Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.
25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

1 Sam 3:11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

1 Sam 4:10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.
11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?
17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years

To summarize the spiritual import of this chapter, Job needed to die; to cease his struggling to preserve those things in his life that were obstacles to his truly knowing God. These things included his persistence to maintain his right and integrity before God, his vain pride about himself, and his prestigious social standing. He needed to die to the false image he had of God and the false concept he held of salvation. He needed to die to the things of this world, even his family, that he might obtain true spiritual sight and inherit the world to come.

Phil 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

We cannot, as Job’s friends, accuse him of any gross wickedness. Indeed, to the world, Job appears to be doing everything right. However, God sees much deeper into ours lives than that which is superficial—He sees the heart, our true emotions, and our thoughts. He sees our struggling, our vain efforts to please Him and maintain who we are. Everything that stood in the way of knowing the true God had to be put to death. Just as Jesus “gave up the ghost,” and died to Himself and the world, so Job needed to give up, to stop toiling, and die to self. We have called death “the eternal rest,” and we engrave our tombstones with the words “rest in peace”; and for those who know God, these sayings are somewhat true. Even so Job needed to stop struggling and be at rest in the One who would become his “All and in All.”

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.