This Week's Focus Passage

Job 42:5 ‘But now mine eye seeth thee.’

This Week’s Focus Passage: Job 42:5

‘But now mine eye seeth thee.’

    Wishing to make it absolutely clear that it is not, in any way, being suggested that this experience of Job recorded in the 42nd chapter of that inspired book of the Older Testament, we nonetheless, suggest that it does give every indication, in its progress and process, that what Job has been led to utter is indeed in alliance with the methodology, or course, of the activity of Jehovah involved in a sinner being brought unto, or coming unto, God in faith. We very likely should set in order the pericope from which the above statement is to be found. This is understood to be Job’s answer to the interrogation of Jehovah toward him, that interrogation primarily focused upon the vast distinction between the God of the universe, and an individual from among mankind. It could be said to be summarily uttered in the book of Isaiah. The very familiar passage out of chapter forty, beginning at the twenty-first verse; hear the Word of Jehovah God from Isaiah’s pen:

Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in; that bringeth princes to nothing; that maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. 

This is a grand likeness of the distinction represented in the book of Job presently under our consideration this week. He has recognized that the One with whom he has been contending, through words, is the One that he has been brought to confess, the very One that canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be restrained.

    A human editor of my copy of the Scriptures has inserted on the top of the page containing this final chapter in the book of Job, his own remarks. We must be carefully aware that such remarks are definitely not a part of the inspired book of God’s Word. Nevertheless, they can—not very often—be useful. They may be thus useful for our purposes this week. This editor has strung across our few pages the following remarks, or thoughts. “Jehovah sets forth Job’s ignorance of the Celestial World; of Beasts and Birds. Jehovah’s question and Job’s answer. Jehovah’s challenge [basically, where were you when I did all these things?]. God’s power in the Hippopotamus depicted. God’s power in the Crocodile depicted. Job confesses his wrong. These remarks bring us to the answer of this enigmatic individual from the land of Uz. That which brought him to utter the statement that comprises our focus passage for this week, namely, Job 42:5, But now mine eye seeth thee.

 

    As we move ahead with our thoughts on this verse and its corresponding pericope, we ask the reader to recall our disclaimer set down at the beginning; that we are not claiming that this passage is intended by God the Holy Spirit to be, in any way, concluded to be the account of Job’s conversion experience. It may be, and it may not be. Remember, at the same time, the marvelous description given to Satan by Jehovah Himself at the beginning of the enigmatic account of this person. We read in the very first chapter, and verse eight, Jehovah responding to this evil angel with the following inquiry; 

Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to consider any part of such a description uttered from the mouth of Jehovah, to reflect the character of this righteous man, and think of him yet standing in the need of conversion. And yet, there are some parallels with the way of God bringing one of His chosen unto Himself. Perhaps, it would be more reasonable to compare his experience, here related, to that of the Apostle to the Gentiles reported by Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:2, when he made this matter known:

I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not; or whether out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up even to the third heaven.

Yea, perhaps this ‘third heaven’ experience would be more in order as a parallel with what Job experienced centuries earlier in Uz. Nonetheless, we think it a remarkable illustration of revelation from God, revelation that caused Job to state what was his experience, and what was revealed to him, that which opened his eye, or eyes. He was now able to speak, and say, But now mine eye seeth thee. Is this not a corollary with the experience of every subject of regenerating grace? Indeed, is regeneration not often typified, or at least, spoken of as the opening of the eyes? 

    We are reminded of the experience of Saul of Tarsus. Although the bright shining he was confronted with, as, suddenly there shone around about him a light out of heaven, resulted in his eyes being opened, yet ‘while he saw nothing,’ we are told in Acts 9:8. However, subsequently, when God sent Ananias to lay hands upon him, and saying, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. He received his sight; he was enabled to seeAnd now, through the gift of faith, he would continue to see Him that had appeared to him in the way to Damascus. This was through his being filled with the Holy Spirit. He was given faith which involved, as it always does in regeneration, new spiritual eyesight. 

    If Job did not receive that same eyesight after his being confronted by the arguments of Jehovah, if he was already a possessor of the gift of faith, he was at the very least, at the place of having that faith increased, his understanding enlarged, to then see what he had before only heard of. There is a wonderful illustration of this in the account of the disciple Thomas. Remember how that his fellow disciples told him of the visit from the risen Christ; Thomas was not with them when Jesus had come. Therefore, when the other disciples said unto him, We have seen the Lord; the response of Thomas was, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. It was after eight days had passed, when Christ came once more, Thomas then being present with the rest, Jesus had him to put his fingers in the nail prints and his hand in His side. Thomas did as he was directed, and then proclaimed, my Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed? Could Thomas not have responded to that question, with the words of Job? 

I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee; Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes

 

David Farmer, elder

Fellowship Bible Church

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