Job 1:22 – “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
There is a whole lot of story behind those first three words of our text, “in all this.” The words, “all this” do not describe merely a bad day. Not one of my readers has experienced the “all this” of our text.
To what do the words, “all this” refer? Job had just lost all of his asses and oxen, as the Sabeans came and took them away. What devastating news this had to have been for Job. Job, like most in Bible times, most likely raised his own food. In order to tend to the tilling of the ground, oxen were used. But now, Job’s oxen were gone. Then, a servant came to tell Job that fire from heaven had devoured his sheep.
As if this were not enough, a servant came to Job to inform him that the Chaldeans had come and had taken away the camels and had slain Job’s servants. Camels, in Bible times, were used for transportation. Camels could travel for miles in the desert without a drink, carrying heavy loads. But now, they were gone. Job had so much property that he needed servants to work for him. Now, those servants are gone.
As if this were not enough, another servant came to Job, stating that Job’s seven sons and three daughters were eating and drinking in their oldest brother’s house, when the house collapsed, killing them all. I personally believe that one of the hardest trials of life is the loss of one’s children. Every parent knows that life is hard. Every parent expects life to throw things at them that are hard to take. But no parent ever expects to bury one of their children. Every parent hopes that their children will outlive them. But sadly, it is not always the case. I feel terribly saddened for any parent who has had to lay a child to rest. But Job did not lose one of his children. He lost all ten of his children, after losing his material possessions.
After all of this transpires, then we come to our text – “In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” After all this, Job never shook his fist in the face of God. The truth is, many of us have charged God foolishly over a lot less than what Job faced. But Job, who was tried like no other man was tried, did not charge God foolishly.
What Does it Mean to “Charge God Foolishly”?
To understand the meaning of “charging God foolishly,” allow me to change the subject momentarily. What a blessing it is for the believer to be justified! The term “justified” is a legal term. When I say I am justified, what I am saying is that I have been to court, and I have been found not guilty! Even though I am indeed guilty of breaking the law of God, I have been found not guilty. I have been declared legally right, or righteous. This is possible because Jesus Christ, who was perfectly innocent, died the death of a guilty criminal that I might be justified! The opposite of justification is condemnation. “Condemned” is also a legal term. It means that I have been to court, and I have been found guilty. At one time, I was condemned; but now, I am justified by the blood of Christ!
There are many blessings of being justified, but I will name just two. First, Romans 8 speaks specifically regarding our justification. Notice verse 30:
Romans 8:30 – “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
This verse speaks of those who have been predestinated, called, justified, and glorified! Concerning this bunch, Paul goes on to give two blessings. First, he says in verse 34, “Who is he that condemneth?” You see, if you are justified, you are not condemned. John 3:18 states plainly, “He that believeth on Him is not condemned.” The one who has been justified by faith will not be found guilty! John 5:24 makes the matter even plainer where Christ says, “He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and SHALL NOT COME INTO condemnation.”
Paul, in Romans 8, speaks of yet another blessing that the justified ones possess.
Romans 8:33 – “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.”
It is overwhelming to think that the justified cannot be condemned; but there is another blessing that belongs to the justified believer. Paul also brings out the truth that, not only can the justified believer not be condemned; but also that, if you are justified, no one can even bring charges against you! Any charge brought against the justified will be dismissed by the judge of heaven!
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?” That is the question Paul asks. Of course it is rhetorical – no one is able to charge the justified with any accusation. That is what is meant by the term “charge” – a formal accusation of a person of a crime.
Let us return to our text in the book of Job. “In all this,” we are told, “Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” This is a remarkable statement because so many do charge, or accuse God. I wish I could say that only those who are lost accuse God foolishly, but that is simply not the case. Sometimes God’s children, under the weight of temptation, accuse, blame, and get bitter at God. Let me ask you; are you one who blames God? If so, let me tell you with all the love I can, that Job went through far more than you have, and he did not accuse God in any way.
Job’s attitude toward God is described in two ways; first, by what he didn’t do – he didn’t blame God; and second, by what he did do. Instead of blaming God, what did Job do?
Job 1:20 – “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.”
Job worshipped God. No doubt, he had questions. No doubt, there were things he could not understand. No doubt, Job knew that God could have prevented everything that had happened. Yet, he chose to worship rather than to get bitter. He chose to give glory to God rather than to blame God. Today, when many think of worship, they think of standing in a church with their hands in the air, swaying to the beat of a contemporary song. I am not interested in whether your hands are in the air in a church house; I am interested in what your attitude is toward God when He takes away rather than gives. I want to know, when things are looking bad, do you blame God? If so, then all your singing and dancing in church is not true worship. When Job lost all, there was no charge of accusation toward God from his lips.
James 5:11 – “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
