Why?: A Study Through JobSample

By Pastor Jeff Seward

“Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 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.”—Job 42: 4–6 (NKJV)

If asked which one of the five senses you consider the most important, you’d probably say your sight. While the Bible doesn’t say much about Job’s physical vision, it does tell us something interesting about his spiritual vision.

Job wanted to talk with God, and after his wish came true, he made a profound statement: “But now my eye sees you!” Seeing God—not with his literal eye but with the eyes of his heart—gave Job what he so wanted: to know that God was with him in his crisis. 

The most powerful encounter for Job was not so much what God said, but God’s simple, loving, and powerful presence that changed Job’s perspective. Because God is merciful, Job was granted access to His throne of grace. We, too, are invited to confidently come into His presence through Jesus Christ.

After enduring unspeakable tragedy, Job now had an understanding of the Almighty. It caused him to acknowledge his wrong thinking and retract his sinful statements. 

Job repented of cursing the day of his birth. Job repented of his desire to die. Job repented of his complaints against God. Job repented of his despair. Job admitted his presumptions were beyond his knowledge or ability to know.

When he repented, God opened his eyes to see. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon said it this way: “The door of repentance opens into the hall of joy.”

Christian writer and speaker Chuck Swindoll says, “Job finally sees God for who He really is, and he fully repents. The result is one blessing after another, as we shall soon see. Double blessing upon double blessing comes his way.”

Do you know what Job finally realized? It is all about God! With his spiritual eyes, Job saw God more clearly. The Lord wanted Job (and us) to know He understands our heart and is compassionate toward us like a father to his children.

Warren Wiersbe said, “Job the sinner became the servant of Job. Four times God called Job by that special Old Testament title My Servant. How did Job serve God? By enduring suffering and not cursing God, and thereby silencing the devil! Suffering in the will of God is a ministry that God gives to a chosen few.”

DIG: Do you question and perhaps even curse God in your heart when things don’t go the way you thought?

DISCOVER: Is the Lord showing you something of which you need to repent so you may find forgiveness and refreshment of your soul?

DO: Live a submissive life to the Lord, and you will see God and be richly satisfied.