Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:2
Since every man and woman has been endowed with a moral nature, judging the things presented before us in a moral light is automatic. Yet sin, both inherited and cultivated, causes this inherent moral compass to give false readings. Indeed, ‘the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?’ (Jeremiah 17:9).
Even the godly man Job – who in the Lord’s judgment was ‘a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil’ – erred greatly by sitting in judgment upon the dealings of God (Job 1:1) .
Under severe trial, this godly man falsely accused God of injustice in His dealings, even insinuating that God takes pleasure when the innocent suffer (Job 9:23). While the learned Job framed his arguments in the most eloquent manner, his words were ‘without knowledge’ according to God. But the worst thing was that he ‘darken[ed] counsel’ – his words entered the ears of others, having the potential to lead them astray. After a sequence of rhetorical questions spoken by God out of the whirlwind, the following direct rebuke cut right to the heart of the problem:
Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? Job 40:8
People of the world often criticise God’s words more openly. For example, many resent His condemnation of the sins of Sodom. But even the avowed servants of God sometimes question Him over circumstances which they fail to see justice in. The error of both is similar – they are judging an infinite God by their own finite minds. They judge the omniscient divine mind through blighted human reasoning. An alternative way of rendering the above rebuke might be: ‘Wilt thou show that I am wrong because thou art superior in justice?’
God said to Job, ‘Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?’ and many other potent questions. These were as if to say: ‘If you can’t even explain the natural world, how is it that you presume to judge me on moral matters?’.
In an expressive demonstration that he will never again speak a word in criticism of God, Job declared: ‘Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth’ (Job 40:4).
Many things will remain a mystery to us until after we leave this world, and as such, laying our hands upon our mouth is the only wise policy when confronted with mysteries that our finite minds cannot fathom.
Christopher Sparks