Introduction: Biblical and archaeological scholars have often agreed that Job and Genesis were penned nearly simultaneously. Among other things, their themes so often overlap when it comes to perhaps the most difficult of issues for all of us–the problem of evil and suffering. 

Job is, among other things, the historical account addressing these issues: Given that there is so much suffering, is God good and does God actually rule all things in accordance with His will? 

Connections to Our Days: When I read the news online and witness some of the atrocities, I don’t know how folks cannot understand the gravity of the situation. When I read of Laken Riley’s murder at the hands of an illegal alien, it breaks my heart, because I, too, have a daughter about that age. When I read how a U.S. Marine Daniel Penny vet fought a battle and saved innocent people on a New York subway, rather than rewarding the good man, many want to crucify the good man, and portray the thug as the innocent victim. It goes on and on. Justice has been turned upside down, seemingly at the hands of the most corrupt and ruthless. Truth is banished and corruption is rewarded. 

Then in Job this morning I read this: 

13 “With God are wisdom and might;
    he has counsel and understanding.
14 If he tears down, none can rebuild;
    if he shuts a man in, none can open.
15 If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
    if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
16 With him are strength and sound wisdom;
    the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17 He leads counselors away stripped,
    and judges he makes fools.
18 He looses the bonds of kings
    and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
19 He leads priests away stripped
    and overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives of speech those who are trusted
    and takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes
    and loosens the belt of the strong.
22 He uncovers the deeps out of darkness
    and brings deep darkness to light.
23 He makes nations great, and he destroys them;
    he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
24 He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
    and makes them wander in a trackless waste.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
    and he makes them stagger like a drunken man.

Takeaway and Encouragement: God does indeed rule over nature, people, and all things. He is the giver of wisdom. He both withholds water and sends floods. He raises up rulers and he sends rulers away. He makes folly overt (v. 20). He makes bureaucrats laughable (v. 21). And v. 23 hit me like a train: “He makes nations great, and he destroys them . . . .” That should grip us. But does it? It is my view that God has been graciously–unspeakably gracious–to this nation despite our heinous sin. It remains to be seen how we will respond at such a time as this. But it is surely beyond time for the true church to be salt and light, by living lives in keeping with our profession in the God who rules all things for the glory of His name.