Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard

Author:Dallas Willard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2018-01-24T16:00:00+00:00

In Your Presence Is Fullness of Joy

God’s first words were not words of comfort, empathy, or encouragement, and certainly not an apology for letting it all happen. No, God’s first words to Job were in the form of a question: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (v. 2). This is followed by what is essentially a command to keep quiet, listen carefully, and be prepared to respond: “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me” (v. 3). So that is how the conversation began, with God saying, “My friend, you don’t really understand what you are talking about. So I need you to pay close attention to what I am about to say.” Then God began to talk, and Job took it all to heart. Job made only two responses, both of which are pertinent to our discussion about faith.

After two chapters of withering questioning that revealed the limitations of Job’s understanding, God posed another question and request: “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it” (Job 40:2). So Job did answer, with these words: “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further” (vv. 4–5). The word vile is an old English term that has come to mean something different from what it once did. Vile now has the idea of something evil or despicable, but this is not what the Hebrew word qalal means. A better word would be insignificant or unworthy. Job had been humbled to the point of being speechless. He realized the foolishness of everything he had said, and he simply responded, “I have spoken but I will not answer. I will go no further.”

God continued to question Job, who then responded,

I know that You can do everything,

And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

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.

(JOB 42:2–3)

Keep in mind that God did not say that Job was wrong in what he said, but that he did not understand what he was saying. We are often like this—correct in what we say, without understanding its meaning or significance. Teachers know what it is like to have a student who has the right answer, but does not have the foggiest idea of what he is saying. As Job came to this realization, he said to the Lord, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (vv. 5–6).

We must live through things like Job did, and become desperate as Job was. What made the difference for Job was that he hung in there and his faith

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