Job Chapter 32:ALL

Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David McGee, Weekend Edition. Pastor David McGee is internationally recognized for his unique conversational verse-by-verse and chapter-by-chapter teaching through the Word of God. We have hundreds of his teachings through the many books of the Bible and encourage you to visit crossthebridge.com to study the scriptures along with Pastor David. But right now, open your Bible to the Old Testament Book of Job and follow along for today's teaching. Pastor David has been teaching practical lessons from the life of Job. We are finding out that what needed to be learned back then still needs to be learned today. I think you'll find that to be true today and tomorrow as we take a closer look at chapter 32. Now, here's Pastor David.

Put it with me to Job 32. It's about two-thirds in to the Old Testament or the Hebrew Scriptures, but it's one of the oldest books, probably the oldest book. We believe it was actually written before the Pentateuch, before the first five books. Those first five books were written by Moses. So, it was a while before they wrote the books, but there was a very accurate handing down of what had happened. And then, of course, a spiritual leading and anointing as the Holy Spirit spoke to Moses about a lot of things. And there's so many awesome little pictures as Moses wrote those first five books in the Hebrew.

Job is actually spoken of in Genesis, and we believe it's the same Job. In Genesis 46, verse 8, it says, Now these are the sons of the children of Israel, Jacob and his sons, who went to Egypt. Reuben was Jacob's firstborn.

Now, it goes through the 12 tribes. Reuben was one of the 12 Jewish tribes. The sons of Reuben were Hanak, Paulu, Hezron, and Carmine. The sons of Simeon, another tribe, were Jamil, Jamun, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman. The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Marari. The sons of Judah were Ur, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah. The Ur and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamu. The sons of Issachar were Tolah, Puvob, Job, and Shemron. So Job was the son of Issachar, and Issachar was one of the 12 tribes of Israel. So Job was a direct descendant of one of the head of the 12 tribes. He was in a prominent position. We already know and see that from this. So it could be a different Job, but it's not very likely because here's a guy who is a leader, who's been blessed, who's probably the head of his family, and at the same time that the other Job is in existence.

So we believe that that is that Job. In verse 14, and it continues, the sons of Zebulun were Sared, Elan, and Jaleel. That's interesting, Elan.

Got a college over here, Elan. That's a Jewish word. These were the sons of Leah, whom she born to Jacob and paid them around with his daughter Dinah. All the persons, his sons and his daughters, were 33.

Well, here's what we're going to do. Let's read chapter 32, and then we're going to come back and do some commentary on it. So Job chapter 32, verse 1. So these three men ceased answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel, the buzzite of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job. His wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends, his wrath was aroused because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. Be careful about condemning people, saying there's no hope in Jesus for them.

No, don't do that. Now because, verse 4, because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused. So Elihu, the son of Barachel, the buzzite, answered and said, I am young in years, and you are very old.

Therefore, I was afraid and dared not declare my opinion to you. I want to share a couple of things that, interestingly enough, they come from the notes from the Geneva Bible, the Bible that was printed in 1560 to 1644. This was probably a William Tyndale note that he would have written in Old English that they had to translate from Old English into Modern English, because if you've looked at those pages, sometimes it's hard to read them. First of all, every time they wanted an S, they put an F. I don't know why.

They just did that. So you switch that out. That helps you pronounce some of those words in the Old English. It says, This holy man Job was not only extremely afflicted in outward things and in his body, but also in his mind and conscience by the sharp temptation of his wife and friends, who by their vehement words and subtle disputations brought him almost to despair. They set forth God as a sincere judge and mortal enemy to him who had cast him off. Therefore, in vain, he should seek him for help. These friends came to him under pretense of consolation, and yet they tormented him more than all his afflictions did. Even so, he constantly resisted them and eventually succeeded.

In this story, we must note that Job maintains a good cause but handles it badly. His adversaries have an evil matter, but they defend it craftily. Job held that God did not always punish men according to their sins, but that he had secret judgments of which man knew not the cause, and therefore man could not reason against God in it, but he should be convicted. Moreover, he was assured that God had not rejected him.

That's an important thing. He never cursed God, and he never said outright that God had rejected him. The Geneva notes go on to say this. Again, the adversaries maintain with many good arguments that God punishes continually according to the trespass, grounding on God's providence. His justice and man's sense, yet their intention is evil, for they labor to bring Job into despair so they maintain an evil cause. The enemy wants to bring you to despair. 1 Corinthians 10-13 tells us that all the temptations we go through are common, meaning it's not just something you go through. And one of the things the enemy does is he wants you to focus on what you've done wrong, because what happens when you focus on what you've done wrong? You're washed in guilt, and when it comes to faith, guilt can be paralyzing. Now, if the enemy can't get you focused on your sins, he'll get you focused on somebody else's sins. Does that help? No.

No. And sometimes we could end up like Job's comforters and condemn somebody that we should be consoling, which is part of the message of Job. Part of the book of Job isn't about Job at all.

It's teaching us how not to comfort. Ezekiel, in the book of James, speak of Job. Ezekiel says this in chapter 14, verse 12. It says, The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, Son of man... Now, that's an interesting phrase.

It's in the New Testament. Here in the Hebrew, Son of man is Ben Adam. Man is Adam, or Adam. Son is Ben. So Son of man is Ben Adam, or Ben Adam, I guess you could say, but it's really pronounced Ben Adam.

Now, listen to this. The word of the Lord came again to me, saying, Son of man, or Ben Adam, when a land sins against me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out my hand against it. I will cut off its supply of bread, send famine on it, and cut off man and beast from it. Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they would deliver only themselves by their righteousness, says the Lord God. So Ezekiel's talking about a time of judgment, and that even if those guys were there, they could only deliver themselves, not the whole community. And he's talking about, hey, if a nation continues to be unfaithful, persistent unfaithfulness, then it'll stretch out its hand against it. We need to be praying for God's mercy upon our nation.

I don't usually put political type post-op, but yesterday I just couldn't help myself. There was a story about a Christian coach that they told this guy. They started saying, okay, you can't pray after the games, because after the games, he would go to the center field and pray, and other students would join him. They said, you can't do that.

So, okay. So then the students wanted to continue to do that. So then they told him, you can't join them. So then, as I understand it, he stood on the set lines, and they said, you can't close your eyes and bow your head when they're out there praying.

The guy had an incredible history of being a great coach. Oh, and at the same time, there was an assistant coach who was praying the Buddha. They're okay with that. They fired the Christian. Since 1967, when Jerusalem became whole, under the control of Israel, there's been a slide of whole denominations now taking unbiblical stances about marriage and about Israel. They have what I would say a very casual relationship with the Word of God. I just cannot understand a pastor standing in front of his people saying that they need to boycott Israel. He could not be teaching the Word of God because they would know. They would say, well, pastor, what about Genesis 12?

The pastor, what about the Book of Romans, the pastor? So how do we feel about boycotting Israel? Let me put it like this. If you'd like to purchase lots of items directly from Israel, they're in the cafe. Amen. One of the ways that we support Israel because when we get that artwork, we're supporting artists. When we get the mezuzahs that have been formed, they've been made in Israel.

So that's a way to support people in Israel. The Book of James speaks about Job. It says, don't grumble about each other, brothers and sisters. I thought that was my gifting to grumble about other people.

That was one of my big gifting right there. It said that Jesus didn't come to judge people. It said, amen, we got the ministry of judgment.

It says he didn't. In John 3.17, it says he didn't come to condemn people. So there's another ministry we can pick up, the ministry of condemnation. Amen.

So we got the ministry of guilt and condemnation. No. No.

No. We need to encourage each other, friends. The world out there is trying to beat us up and beat us down. They're trying to intimidate us. See, when we gather here, we're encouraged. We're not intimidated. Amen. So it says, don't grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged.

For look, the judge is standing at the door. For examples of patience and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering.

For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy. Didn't say at the middle of the story, did it?

He said at the end. Now these verses here, you see where they're getting into trouble right in the beginning of chapter 32. You know, verse 1 in the New Living Translation, Job's three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. You cannot insist upon your innocence. You cannot speak to God and tell God you're innocent. He knows better. And even other people know that you've made mistakes.

And when you try to maintain you haven't, it's just a false front. You're going to insist on something, insist on the mercy and the grace of God. And then verses 2 and 3 in the New Living Translation, then Elihu, son of Barakhel, the buzzite of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. He was also angry with Job's three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job's arguments.

So it's starting to gain clarity about what the book's about and what's going on with Job and his friends. Pastor David will be back in less than one minute as he continues teaching in the Book of Job. A great way to start out each day is with a practical email devotional every morning from Pastor David. Visit crossthebridge.com to start receiving yours for free. If you have a cell phone, you can also text the word ENCOURAGE to 94253 to receive a short encouraging text from us each day.

That's 94253. And now back to the teaching. Now let's keep reading. Let's go to verse 7. I said age should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

But look at this, verse 9, a lot of wisdom here. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. Life lesson here, no one gets every decision right.

No one gets every decision right. Somewhere along the line, you're going to make a mistake. And if you've got a picture of God being a big angry God just waiting for you to make a mistake so he can zap you, you've built an idol. The Bible describes Father God as being merciful, being gracious to thousands.

That his mercy endures forever. We think sometimes that failing is the worst thing that could happen. No, that's not the worst thing that could happen. The worst thing that could happen is for you to quit trying. See, as you're doing things, you're going to fail sometimes, but it's not really a failure. For instance, when you go to share the Word, when you go to share the good news about Jesus, and Jesus died for your sins, he loves you. Oh, man, thanks for saying that, but I really don't want to talk about that.

I don't want to hear it. I know that bums you out when I hear things like that, but you've been faithful and obedient. You've been successful because you shared, and while, yes, sometimes you're going to fail, you start sharing the love of God and understanding you're obedient every time you share it. You'll keep sharing it, and you know what? Yes, sometimes you will fail, but sometimes you will succeed.

Amen? You give yourself to God, and it'll be amazing what he will do with you. I remember years ago when God led me to teach guitar lessons. It was a skill I'd had, and I taught music and whatnot, and one of the best nights, a student came in. He was really bummed out. I started talking to him. He started sharing some of his issues and problems, and the Lord led me in boldness. He'll say, you know what?

You're going to be frustrated and sad until you give your sins over to God and start following him, until you ask forgiveness. Now, keep in mind the manager was also a Christian, and we were agreed that I could at any time start sharing the Gospel and issue a credit for the lesson. He looked at me and said, you know, you're right.

You're right. I said, well, you need to ask God to forgive you. You need to pray, and he says, okay, you're right. I said, can I lead you in a prayer?

He said, yes. So he got saved. Well, the students got saved. I got really jazzed.

I was really excited. Next student comes in. He goes, man, you look really, really pumped. I said, yeah, man, Johnny just got saved.

The student before him, he looks at me and says, oh, how do you do something like that? So because of my vast evangelical skills? No. I mean, God was throwing fruit at my feet. How do you get saved?

I got this one. So I told him and led that guy to the Lord. Praise God.

Thursday night, I had six students. Three of them got saved in one night. There's people out there hungry for the gospel. And every time you share, you're obedient and you're successful. God has laid on my heart in these days and times to swing big, man. We first started out as a home Bible study. We had a big vision to change the world. Not just change Kernerville or change Greensboro, change the triad, but change the world.

You know, when we were in the home Bible study, we started right after Waco, Texas. But I would share, man, we want to change the world. And people would be like, oh, yeah. Dreamer. Yeah, yeah. It was a dream.

A dream that came to pass. Because we are changing the world. Praise God. Look at all those flags.

Look at who all comes to the live stream. God is using us to impact the globe. Amen. Praise God. Come on.

That's awesome. Now, here's the life lesson. The greater the dreams, the greater the risk for massive failure, the greater the chance of massive rewards. Let me say that again.

The greater the dreams, the greater the risk for massive failure, the greater chance of massive rewards. You know, we've all heard about Babe Ruth, home run guy. Did you also know he struck out a lot?

Why? Because he swung so hard. They could have said, Babe, you need to not swing so hard.

He wouldn't have hit as many home runs. This is a day and age to swing for the fences. Amen. The great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice.

Verse 10. Therefore, I say, listen to me, I also will declare my opinion. Indeed, I waited for your words. I listened to your reasonings while you searched out what to say. I paid close attention to you, and surely not one of you convinced Job or answered his words.

Lest you say, we have found wisdom, God will vanquish him, not man. Now he has directed his words against me, so I will not answer him with your words. They are dismayed and answered no more. Words escape them, and I have waited because they did not speak, because they stood still and answered no more. I also will answer my part. I too will declare my opinion, for I am full of words. The Spirit within me compels me. I can relate to that. It's an amazing thing. Honestly, sometimes when I get up here, I'm tired and maybe been beat up a little bit, but I get up here and I feel like I go for hours.

And you all know that's not an idle threat. And it really is, the Lord is pouring into me and revealing all kinds of stuff. And I just have such a desire to pour out on you guys and to bless you and to help you understand the Word. Even yesterday I went in with staff and shared some stuff that I'd seen from some ancient Jewish mystics about creation and stuff.

I'll get it clarified and then bring it to you guys on Sunday morning. Let's keep reading, verse 19. Indeed, my belly is like wine that has no event. It is ready to burst like new wine skins.

When you have wine and wine skins, you have to burp it to let the air out. I will speak that I may find relief. I must open my lips and answer, let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone, nor let me flatter any man. Verse 22.

For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. Chapter 31 of Job, and I'm going to share some verses through this part of Job and on to the next and start to kind of tie in together. I would encourage you to go ahead and read from this point to the end of Job. And, of course, when it's finished, Job will be going into the book of Psalms together.

Job 31.30 said this. O that I had one to hear me, here is my mark. O that the Almighty would answer me, that my prosecutor had written a book. Or in the New Living Translation, if only someone would listen to me. Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me.

Let my accuser write out the charges against me. There's an interesting parallel verse in Hebrew. Hebrews 12.22. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly in charge of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect. To perfect men that are just?

No, just men that are made perfect. To Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. Now, that's the New King James. But in digging into the different translation, the New Living Translation hits this one out of the park.

Check this out. Hebrews 22 in the New Living Translation. No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering.

This is the end of the story. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children whose names are written in heaven. If you've asked Jesus to forgive you, your name is written in heaven. You have come to God himself who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now been made perfect. They weren't perfect, they were made perfect. That's us.

How do we make perfect? Verse 25, you've come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. That's good stuff, isn't it? In a couple of chapters, Job 34, it reads, One man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men. When you go to Psalm 1, you see that we're encouraged to hang out with people who are following God. Part of Job's problem was these guys kept accusing him, and he should have just stayed silent, but he started to defend himself when he should have been defending God. Job 34 later, verse 35, Job speaks without knowledge.

His words are without wisdom. Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, because his answers are like those of wicked men, for he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hand among us and multiplies his words against God.

Remember I just said he should have been quiet? Then in verse 38, and I'm kind of going from here to the end to kind of tie this together. Job 38, verse 1, Then the Lord answered Job out of a whirlwind and said, Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

God begins to speak to Job, and he says in chapter 38, verse 3, Now prepare yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know. Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstones? When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

The New Living Translation, those same verses, verses 3 to 7. Brace yourself like a man because I have some questions for you and you must answer them. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?

What supports its foundations and who laid its cornerstone? As the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy. And then in chapter 40, verse 1, Moreover, the Lord answered Job and said, Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? He who rebukes God, let him answer.

It's amazing how some of our heroes of the faith did exactly that. They rebuked God. Job, in the middle of the book, missed it. Peter, in the middle of his life, missed it. He got offended and denied Jesus. It was interesting that a couple of times Jesus would say, hey, I'm going to Jerusalem and I'm going to be crucified. And Peter, no, no, no. And it says, and he rebuked Jesus. Peter rebuked Jesus.

Kind of backward, isn't it? Verse 3, then Job answered the Lord and said, Behold, I am vile. Job is now admitting his sin. Job repented and God forgave Job.

The mercy of God is amazing. You've been listening to Pastor David McGee on Cross the Bridge, Weekend Edition. Tune in again tomorrow afternoon as Pastor David continues teaching on most stations. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday, why not join us for our live stream at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, or on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. Just visit crossthebridge.com and click on our live stream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church, The Bridge in North Carolina. Again, that website is crossthebridge.com.

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