The book of Job is one of the most important books in the Bible, in that it teaches us that affliction is not always punishment for our sin. God had brought up righteous Job to Satan who said he’ll curse you if you remove his hedge of protection. God being outside of time knew the result, and Satan knew God wouldn’t have extolled him to fail. But Job was allowed to be afflicted so that this message could be a blessing to future hearers and readers, and as always, God works all things for good for those that love Him, as Job’s wealth, health and children were restored as well as receiving a visit by God.
But of special interest to me is the spiritual knowledge of Job and his friends. You could say that we today can be a little arrogant because we have the whole Word of God as completely revealed until the end of this age, and we might think those who didn’t were at a disadvantage, especially those before Christ. But the spiritual knowledge and discourse between Job and his friends indicated a great understanding and reverence for God, though they just didn’t know the heavenly situation of why Job was being afflicted. And of particular interest was this statement by Job hinting at a very good understanding of Satan and his mission on the earth as Job speaks of God.
Job 12:16
[16] With him are strength and sound wisdom;
the deceived and the deceiver are his. (ESV)And something to think about, in today’s world we’re all poisoned from birth with vaccines containing mercury and now aluminum too great for a child as well as other environmental poisons. It’s proven that fluoride, a neurotoxin, harms the development of the brain limiting intelligence as was highlighted in a recent federal court case, something we’ve been getting in water, toothpastes, from dentists… And our food has systematically had it’s nutrition removed, partly due to industrialization but also purposefully to harm human development for a more pliable population. So our human intelligence today is not what it was in Job’s time not to mention the length of life where wisdom could be accumulated and passed down, as Job lived another 140 years after this account. And who knows what supernatural ways God gave wisdom to those who feared Him.
So who is really at a disadvantage to the other?
Job 12
Job Replies: The LORD Has Done This
[1] Then Job answered and said:
[2] “No doubt you are the people,
and wisdom will die with you.
[3] But I have understanding as well as you;
I am not inferior to you.
Who does not know such things as these?
[4] I am a laughingstock to my friends;
I, who called to God and he answered me,
a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.
[5] In the thought of one who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune;
it is ready for those whose feet slip.
[6] The tents of robbers are at peace,
and those who provoke God are secure,
who bring their god in their hand.
[7] “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
[8] or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
[9] Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?
[10] In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind.
[11] Does not the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?
[12] Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding in length of days.
[13] “With God are wisdom and might;
he has counsel and understanding.
[14] If he tears down, none can rebuild;
if he shuts a man in, none can open.
[15] If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
[16] With him are strength and sound wisdom;
the deceived and the deceiver are his.
[17] He leads counselors away stripped,
and judges he makes fools.
[18] He looses the bonds of kings
and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
[19] He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows the mighty.
[20] He deprives of speech those who are trusted
and takes away the discernment of the elders.
[21] He pours contempt on princes
and loosens the belt of the strong.
[22] He uncovers the deeps out of darkness
and brings deep darkness to light.
[23] He makes nations great, and he destroys them;
he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
[24] He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth
and makes them wander in a trackless waste.
[25] They grope in the dark without light,
and he makes them stagger like a drunken man. (ESV)