Job came to realize that the right attitude towards suffering is not despair but worship and self-surrender. He learned ‘the end (purpose) of the Lord’ which gave him a totally new appreciation of the majesty, glory and mercy of God, Jas. 5. 11. When overwhelmed by the revelation of the Lord, he exclaims, ‘I know that thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of thine can be restrained’, 42. 2. He states, ‘I know’ v. 2; ‘I heard but now I see’, v. 5. He is ashamed of his previous complaints and criticisms. Despite his grievous sufferings, he recognizes he had no cause for doubting or accusing God and repents before Him. He not only has a new concept of the Lord but also of himself. Through his experiences, he understands something of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, Rom. 7. 13. Self-occupation gives way to self-judgment. His self-image underwent a complete transformation and his attitude towards his friends also changed. Not now bitterness and anger, but rather love and grace. He even prayed for them! The Refiner’s own reflection is seen in him, 23. 10. There is a purpose in the process! It was when he prayed for these friends that his own situation changed, 42. 10. He started as a priest, 1. 5, and ended as one. However, by reason of his traumatic experiences, he became merciful and sympathetic; cf. Heb. 4. 15 (Luke 22. 31-32). The Lord blessed Job’s latter end more than his beginning, v. 12. In addition to the doubling of his possessions, he was given further children among whom were three daughters, named Jemimah (Dove), Keziah (Cassia) and Keren-happuch (Vial of cosmetics). The dove, associated with mourning, brought peace. Cassia was a sweet fragrance obtained by stripping the bark from a tree. Keren-happuch implies beauties brought forth from secret dealings with God. These names would remind Job of his experiences and also ‘the end of the Lord’. We thank God for the glimpses of truth suggested in the book of Job. (i) Job cried for a daysman (umpire) or mediator, 9. 33; God has provided the all-sufficient Mediator in Christ, 1 Tim. 2. 5-6. (ii) Job had complete confidence in a personal living Kinsman-Redeemer, Job 19. 25. (iii) Justification, 9. 2, is by God, Rom. 8. 33; through grace, by faith and Christ’s blood, Rom. 3. 24; 5. 1, 9.
