Job, Day 5 Readings

God Encourages Job to Make a Case and Then Restores Job  

Today's first reading is fascinating.  God, speaking from the whirlwind, encourages Job to make his case.  At the first opportunity, though Job replies that he already has made the case -- a suggestion that perturbs God (to say the least).  Still, God again encourages Job to speak.  This time, Job shows humility, admitting that God's knowledge is beyond his own.

Read Job 40:1-9  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)
Read Job 42:1-6  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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The second reading offers the brief conclusion to Job.  After speaking to Job directly at length, God turns attention to Job's three friends (Elihu is not mentioned).  God chastises them for their attitude and arguments, and suggests that Job -- even in his passionate questioning -- did not sin in how he approached God.  In fact, God restores Job's life and rewards him -- returning his health, and equal number of sons and daughters, and twice his previous wealth.  (Frankly, the part about the replacement sons and daughters encourages me to read Job as a morality play, rather than history: I simply cannot imagine that Job's children would be so disposable in God's eyes.)

Read Job 42:7-17  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Job 34-42 today.