God Requires Less than You Deserve

Job 11:1-20 

1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:

2 "Should not the multitude of words be answered?
And should a man full of talk be vindicated?

3 Should your empty talk make men hold their peace?
And when you mock, should no one rebuke you?

4 For you have said,
My doctrine is pure,
And I am clean in your eyes.'

5 But oh, that God would speak,
And open His lips against you,
6 That He would show you the secrets of wisdom!

For they would double your prudence.
Know therefore that God exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.

7 "Can you search out the deep things of God?
Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?

8 They are higher than heaven—what can you do?
Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

9 Their measure is longer than the earth
And broader than the sea.

10 "If He passes by, imprisons, and gathers to judgment,
Then who can hinder Him?

11 For He knows deceitful men;
He sees wickedness also.
Will He not then consider it?

12 For an empty-headed man will be wise,
When a wild donkey's colt is born a man.

13 "If you would prepare your heart,
And stretch out your hands toward Him;
14 If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away,
And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 Then surely you could lift up your face without spot;
Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear;
16 Because you would forget your misery,
And remember it as waters that have passed away,
17 And your life would be brighter than noonday.

Though you were dark, you would be like the morning.
18 And you would be secure, because there is hope;
Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety.

19 You would also lie down, and no one would make you afraid;
Yes, many would court your favor.

20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And they shall not escape,
And their hope—loss of life!"

Now the next friend of Job, Zophar, begins to lecture him to set him straight on God’s seemingly obvious judgment on Job, in order to move him to repent.  He saw Job as self-righteous and judgmental to others, as if Job alone was pure in living and doctrine, that his words alone were right with God towards others.  He wished that God would talk to Job and straighten him out in these matters.  Why?  So that Job would learn prudence in knowing that God demanded less than Job deserved for his sin and pride.  This is certainly true for us all, knowing that God’s grace in Christ gives us less than we deserve, and more than we could ever hope.  We deserve judgment on our sin, but the Lord does not exact punishment from us is we are in Christ; however, if we remain outside of that work of grace, we remain remain under the full wrath of what due punishment we earned (John 3:17-18).  Though Zophar here meant this as an accusation, we know the deeper truth of the matter in God’s eyes through Christ our advocate.  The natural man certainly cannot fathom the deep things of God and the expanse of His workings, but with His Spirit living in us, we can (1 Corinthians 2:10, 12, 16).  We can be fairly certain that Job knew at least the essence of these things because he was so close to God, but cannot know that for certain.  Zophar does state biblical truth, even if misdirected.  He points out how God sees and considers the deceit and sinfulness of men who deserve being held accountable, and how hearts must be prepared through repentance and resultant holy living to live fearlessly and confidently before the Almighty.  These things he did state rightly, if not in context nor rightly in Job’s case.  Repentance brings light to the darkness of separation from God, hope in judgment, and favor with Him and others.  The unrepentant and wicked, however, face a certain loss of life in due judgment.  Of course, this is only a parable to the gospel truths we face, yet it helps us to know the place of repentance and forgiving grace in Christ to make us fearless in judgment (1 John 4:18) because of His work for us to gain the reconciling salvation we cannot ourselves.  There is judgment and repentance is required,  but we are not to judge each others as Job’s friends, for God’s word does that already (John 3:18-19).  We have truth for our sin’s consequences as well as knowledge of the attacks of the Adversary.  There is victory only in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).  As verse 6 states, “Know therefore that God exacts from you
Less than your iniquity deserves.”  This is our steadfastness (1 Corinthians 15:58)!