Job 12:1-25
Q.1. How did Job feel about his friends? How can the animal kingdom confirm that suffering is not normally deserved? In what way was Job’s suffering Messianic? – (Job 12:1-12 c.f. Mk.15:16-19, 31-32)
Job was devastated by the attack from his so-called friends. He responded tersely – “Truly then you are the people, and with you wisdom will die! (Job 12:2). They had joined together to further distress him while he was down. Job asked them to consider the trials and tribulations of the animal kingdom, and wanted them to – 9 … know that the hand of the Lord has done this, 10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? (Job 12:9-10 c.f. Ps.34:10a). Jesus would have been mindful in His sufferings, that it was – … the hand of the Lord has done this (Job 12:9). He would have identified with the undeserved treatment experienced by Job – “I am a joke to my friends, the one who called on God and He answered him; The just and blameless man is a joke (Job 12:4 c.f. Mk.15:16-19, 31-32).
Q.2. How does God display His sovereign power over creation? To whom does He reveal His mysteries? – (Job 12:13-25 c.f. Dan.2:20-22)
Only God is all-wise – “With Him are wisdom and might; To Him belong counsel and understanding (Job 12:13). Job then gave a range of circumstances in which God demonstrates His sovereign power as He tears down, imprisons, and restrains. He makes fools of the most eminent of humanity, from kings, judges, nobles, counsellors, priests, and elders (Job 12:14-21). The world applauds the advances in technology, medicine, agriculture, astronomy, and the like. However, these only happen because – “He reveals mysteries from the darkness and brings the deep darkness into light (Job 12:22). God raises up nations and brings them down, when they have achieved His good and overarching purpose, according to His wise plan.