Job 9 – Mishkan Daviyd

In Job 9, Job is not directly answering Bildad. He is speaking to God and those that are willing to listen, which may be very few, if any. It is doubtful if the later speakers in the Book of Job are listening. When they speak, it seems that they did not hear Job’s words from this chapter. Job speaks of God’s character, His greatness and that God can do as He so chooses within the boundaries He has set up. God is not one to be trifled with, He is to be respected and revered. As a result, we as humans are unable to justify ourselves before God, we fall short of His glory. If we speak, our own words will only condemn us. This last thought will be ignored in later chapters as Job is accused of the opposite. At this point in the book, it should be obvious to the reader that Job believes that his friends are of little help. If anything, they are a hindrance to Job in his pursuit to finding rest in this lifetime.

Job 9:1-2

¹Then Job answered and said, ²I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

Although what is stated above may agree with some of the statements made by Job’s friends, that is not why he stated the above. Neither did he make this statement to answer others. Job stated this because it is true. Later Job will be criticized for the exact opposite. Of course, we are not justified before God on our own. Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23.

²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

There is a day coming as Malachi stated in Malachi 3:2.

²But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers ‘soap:

Just as Job has stated, all fall short of the glory of God. It is a wonder that anyone would think that the things they do are of any greatness or importance. However, there are many who believe they are doing a great work for God. We as humans do very little to bring about the plan of God. Our best hope is to do a small part that would glorify God.

Although it may seem that Job agrees with a few of Bildad’s statements, he does not accept the accusations from Bildad in Chapter 8, Job 9:3.

³If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.

This is an important statement by Job. If an individual has a controversy with God, they will find themselves lacking before God. Unfortunately, this statement is either ignored, forgotten or not understood by others. Job is already of the mindset that one cannot take issue with God. One may inquire to understand, but never to question the actions of God. Never forget that God is a perfect being, all that He does is perfect and is for the best. To question only proves that we are imperfect. It is important to keep this concept in mind. Later in Job 38 and 39, God asks an individual a series of questions. Many believe that God is questioning Job. However, based on Job 9:3, that would seem to be contradictory to God’s character. God knows that Job understood not to argue with Him; therefore, why would God ask a series of questions of Job? God does question an individual, and by Chapter 38 it should be clear who God is questioning.

Further, Job 9:3 is important to keep in mind, when later accusations are made against Job. In making this statement, Job is showing deference to God. If we try to justify ourselves before God, we will find that all our statements are merely further condemnation. The best we can hope for is an explanation from God. No excuses or defense for our actions will ever justify what we have said or done outside of the perfect will of God.

Job 9:4

⁴He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength: who hath hardened himself against him, and hath prospered?

Job stated that God is wise in heart because of his unbounding compassion and strength of conviction and consistency. Job wisely stated that anyone who goes against God will falter. Further, Job describes God’s character and unbounding might in Job 9:5-10.

⁵Which removeth the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger. ⁶Which shaketh the earth out of her place, and the pillars thereof tremble. ⁷Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not; and sealeth up the stars. ⁸Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. ⁹Which maketh Arcturus, Orion, and Pleiades, and the chambers of the south. ¹⁰Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number.

Job speaks of the greatness of God. These are things that humans can neither accomplish nor fully comprehend. In this, Job is answering Bildad, “I do not trifle with the Almighty as you would presume”.

Additionally, Job stated that God has performed many wonders. Wonders that we as human will not be able to comprehend in this lifetime. Try as we may, we will not discover the secrets of the universe. They are beyond human reasoning.

Job 9:11

¹¹Lo, he goeth by me, and I see him not: he passeth on also, but I perceive him not.

Job stated that although God can be around us, His presence may be unknown to us. God is always there, but we cannot always perceive Him. Many times this is because we are not spiritually in tune with Him or He does not want to be seen. This is what occurred in the Book of Esther. Although God’s name is not mentioned once, Mordechai had unwavering faith. The Book of Esther, more than any other book of the Bible relates to the life of most believers. We do not have to see God, for God to work in our lives. God moves as He will to ensure that His divine will is brought forth. Mordechai tells Esther in Esther 4:14.

¹⁴For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Whether we know God’s will or not, God will find those to move on His behalf. The question is, are we worthy and will we faithful obey? Job and Mordechai understood 2 Corinthians 5:7.

⁷(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

The question is not whether they did, but do we?

Job 9:12

¹²Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What doest thou?

If God so choose to take away from us, as has happened to Job, God has every right. God does not have to explain His actions to us. Job understands this more than most. Unlike so many of us, he has first hand experience. Losing everything as Job did was never the issue. We see this in Job’s response to his wife in Job 2:10.

¹⁰But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job 9:13

¹³If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.

Job provides a purpose as to why God does or allows certain things to happen in our lives. It is simply to humble us, to diminish our pride, so that we will return to Him and His ways. We foolishly think that our ways are the best way. However, our ways never seem to result in the overall good for us and those around us. Even though God may be showing us the path for our lives, we seem to continuously rebel. If need be, God will chastise His own for their benefit, Hebrews 12:6-8 and 11.

⁶For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

As a child of God, God draws us with love. However, as Job is describing when we are proud and will not humble ourselves; God will chastise as necessary so as to draw us back to righteousness. This is not the preferred method; however, it is the option that often results, because of our refusal to walk in His ways.

Job 9:14

¹⁴How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?

Job stated that he does not have the capacity to answer God. He is unqualified and without the ability to answer God. Job admits that he has no understanding worthy of God.

Job 9:15

¹⁵Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.

Job would not try to answer God. Job would only ask mercy for his condition. This is Job’s only option, as it is with all of us, he would humble himself as in James 4:10.

¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Job 9:16

¹⁶If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.

Job considers God to be beyond him. If God would answer Job, he would be shocked. Not because God could not, but because Job believes that he is not worthy of God’s presence.

Job 9:17

¹⁷For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.

Again Job speaks of his issue. God has the power to break us and bring us beyond our breaking point. Job respects God’s right, remember Job’s words in Job 2:9-10.

⁹Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. ¹⁰But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

As with any calamity, as Job’s condition continues his suffering increases. This is because Job does not see an end to his present condition. When we know our suffering will end soon, it is much more tolerable. It is when there is no end in sight that the suffering seems to multiply itself. And, we can easily reach the point of hopelessness. Even more, when there seems to be no reason why all the suffering is occurring, hopelessness can set in even faster. In Job’s circumstance, he walked in the will of God as he understood it; yet it appears that there is no known reason for his suffering. Further, there is no end is in sight. Because of this, Job’s suffering has multiplied. Job seems to be completely hopeless in his current life.

Job 9:18

¹⁸He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.

Job in his suffering has longed for death; however, God would not grant Job this request. Although Job may not understand, there is a reason and purpose for his present suffering. There is a great lesson to be learned. As for Job, he does not have the benefit of knowing the lesson at this current time. Because of all that is occurring, he is becoming bitter with life. Job would just prefer that God would end his life, so he could rest in Sheol.

Job 9:19

¹⁹If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?

Job knows that his life is small in comparison to all God does. For those of us that plead with God, we must realize that no one can cause God to answer our pleas. For us to plead against a perfect being only shows that we prefer imperfection in our lives. So how can an imperfect being logically question a perfect being. For Job, his suffering continues without a known reason.

Job 9:20

²⁰If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.

This is important because Job has never stated that he was perfect. Although in later chapters, he is accused of such things, he has never even hinted at his own perfection. Job knows that once we say we are perfect, we have sinned. Job understands that to argue or question one that is perfect, since we are imperfect, is error in itself. To be proud only leads to our own destruction.

Job 9:21

²¹Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

Job makes a statement that would seem contradictory, however, in the context of the Bible it is a sound biblical principle. In this life, whatever level of perfection we may think we have reached, our spiritual maturity is far from perfection. This leaves us in a situation far from the glory of God. It is imperfect and will remain imperfect until possibly the millennium and the eradication of the carnal nature occurs. Job knows that in the conceit of man, though he may believe that he has reached some level of perfection, he is far from perfection. Job brings to mind the parable, Yeshua discusses in Luke 17:7-10.

⁷But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat? ⁸And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink? ⁹ Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not. ¹⁰So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

This is the difference between the mature believer and most believers through the ages. Most believers would like you to believe that they are spiritually sound. However, a mature believer realizes how far they have fallen short of the glory and how far they have to go.

In the parable of Luke 17, the servant concludes that what they do is not that significant. They have only done what is their duty. Unfortunately, few, if any of us, perform the work of God as required; we often do much less. When we reach the point in our lives, where we are as the servants in Luke 17, our sins, although small are of a greater significance. Our sins may be less significant in the eyes of the world, but in the eyes of God they have become greater.

It is when we realize this that we conclude how small we are in the sight of God. And our lack of service to God, becomes totally inexcusable. The sins of the mature believer are considered greater when compared to an earlier time when committing the same sin. This is because as we mature, there is little excuse for our lack of obedience.

As we get closer to the light, the dirt becomes more evident in our lives. As is with the mature believer, because as they approach the light, truth becomes clearer and more evident. With this, we see our sins in a much greater light and realize how far we fall short of His glory.

Job 9:22

²²This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked.

Job stated a truth that all of us would be wise to learn. Yeshua comments in Matthew 5:45.

⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Just as bad happens to both, Yeshua stated that good can happen to both as well. It is not what happens that is important. It is as Asaph stated in Psalm 73:27-28.

²⁷For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. ²⁸But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

It is not what you have, it is whether you walk with God in His Temple.

Job 9:23-24

²³If the scourge slay suddenly, he will laugh at the trial of the innocent. ²⁴The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

Job speaks of something that many seem not to understand. So many like to claim that God is sovereign. However, Yeshua stated in Ephesians 2:2.

²Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The devil is the prince and power of the earth. God is sovereign in heaven, but on the earth He has permitted the devil to take some jurisdiction. Adam was given dominion in Genesis 1:28.

²⁸And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

God gave dominion to Adam; however, Adam relinquished that control when he chose to partake of the fruit in Genesis 3:6.

Yeshua stated in John 12:31.

³¹Now is the judgment (krisis) of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.

Yeshua speaks of the devil as the prince of the world. This will continue until the judgment of the world in the millennium. The devil took dominion from Adam and has had it ever since. Only if one has a hedge, do they have a chance against the devil. He has more control than many of us realize. And it is that hedge that comes from walking with God that protects us from the whims of the devil. As was the case with Job prior to Job 1:12.

One might ask, why has God allowed Satan to reign in the world? Unfortunately, what has been occurring, Job refers to in Job 9:24, has been in place since the events of the garden in Genesis 3. Although, it may seem counter to what many would expect, its occurrence can not be denied. Job understands, but very few others seem to in his time or even in our present day. The basic question is why would God allow evil to occur in this present world? It is important to explain this, because it is a basic difference in understanding between Job and his friends. It is a question that is often asked, how can a loving God allow so much evil to occur in the world? How can God allow cancer to afflict our children? Or, why does God allow genocide to occur? Why do good people seem to be oppressed and why do the wicked prosper?

It should be clear to all of us, that God has labeled this world evil. The Apostle Paul records in Galatians 1:4.

⁴Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

God stated that the world is evil and it is God’s will to deliver us from this evil world. If this is true, then one should ask what is God waiting for, because it is only getting worse?

Consider for a moment, 1 John 4:7-16.

⁷Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. ⁸He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. ⁹In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. ¹⁰Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. ¹²No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. ¹³Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. ¹⁵Whosoever shall confess that Yeshua is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. ¹⁶And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Love or a form of love is in this passage 16 times. John and many others declare that we have a God of love. John clearly claims this in 1 John 4:19.

¹⁹We love him, because he first loved us.

This is a verse we teach our children. Considering that God is love, then how do we look people in the eye and ignore all the evil that is occurring in the world. What do you do when you are confronted by some one and they ask you, why does God allow so much pain and suffering to occur?

Especially when you consider that God allowed six million Jews to die in the Holocaust. One Christian told me that God used Hitler to punish the Jews. When you hear that from the mouth of an elder’s wife, is it any wonder that many Jews have rejected Messiah. Our God may be a God of Love, but often His people lack any compassion and wisdom.

It was not just six million Jews that died in World War II, there were ten million Catholics, probably twenty million Russians. All told, there were at least sixty million people worldwide that died as a result of the war. It is hard to find justification for love in all the suffering.

Others have told me that everything happens for the good, God knows best. Or, God is punishing us for our sins. We are all just sinners and we all need to repent or we will all end up in hell. Is this the best we can do?

Try telling that to a parent, whose child is dying of cancer or when their teenage child is gunned down in the streets. Or when a family member is killed by a drunk driver. The drunk driver lives and the innocent victim dies. Then years later, the drunk driver can repent and go on living, but the others, their lives have been cut short. Many times those who die did have not a chance for salvation. Does this seem fair?

There is so much suffering in the world. Why would an all-powerful God allow needless pain and suffering to continue? Starvation, abuse in families and merciless killings? Many of us do not have an answer, because we do not understand why God permits evil to occur. Job understood.

Before I knew the answer to why God permits evil; I have to admit that, it was hard for me to believe that there truly was a God of love. Thankfully so, there is an answer to this question. A real answer, that is within the pages of the Bible. Until I could answer this question with scriptures, I had to admit non-believers had answers just as good as the Christians.

To answer this question, one must go back to where it all began. It is important to realize that the world was different in the beginning. Although, some may claim that things are getting better, truthfully it is getting worse on all fronts. We have diseases today that are much worse than those 3,000 years ago. There are at least a billion people in the world that lack a proper diet. Today, we have weapons of mass destruction that were not even thought of 200 years ago. So how did things start out?

Genesis 1:31

³¹And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

In the beginning, everything God made was very good including man. However, today if you look out in the world, it is anything but very good. Why did God allow it to go from very good to the mess we have today?

Part of the answer is in Genesis 1:28.

Genesis 1:28 is God’s original mission statement to mankind. We were to reproduce and expand. We were to have dominion over all the earth and all the animals of the sea, air and land. The Garden of Eden was to be a skin graft for the entire world. Today, one would be hard pressed to claim that man has dominion over the earth and all that lives. Obviously something went wrong.

At this point, we have to come to one of two conclusions. Either God is not all powerful or God is all powerful and God has allowed someone or something to intervene. And if God has allowed this to happen, it must be for a reason. Probably for a good reason, because God is not indiscriminant.

Now, if one is to understand what is occurring, one needs to get beyond the simplistic understanding of Job’s counsellors. The understanding that every thing good is from God and everything bad is from the devil. The Bible presents a totally different picture. Because, what appears to be good can come from the devil, as well as bad can come from God. The issue is not that it occurs, it is why it occurs.

As far as God is concerned, it is recorded in Deuteronomy 28:15.

¹⁵But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:

God is clear, if we do not obey the Lord our disobedience will bring curses on us. God has forewarned us. This is not just in the Hebrew scriptures, Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 11:30-32.

³⁰For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. ³¹For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. ³²But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

The Bible is consistent on this issue. If we do not obey God and properly judge ourselves, there are consequences. We have been forewarned many times. There is a very specific reason why God would allow us to be chastised, Hebrews 12:11.

¹¹Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

God does it to bring us back to Him, to yield the proper spiritual fruit in us.

Now the devil, that is a different story. One might ask, how do I know that good things can come from him? First of all they only appear to be good, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15.

¹³For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Messiah. ¹⁴And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ¹⁵Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

So many have the appearance of being a holy person, but are they? Yeshua warned us all in Matthew 7:21-23.

²¹Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Miracles and fancy speech do not make one holy. Throughout history, this has come to light. The Apostle John warned us in 1 John 4:1.

¹Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

We must test the spirits, whether they are of God or they are of the deceiver, 1 Thessalonians 5:12.

¹²And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

We are not to just accept anyone that comes into our midst. We must know those that are among us. If you are wondering how the devil makes a person healthy, all the devil has to do is quit making them sick. Why would the devil do this? To deceive a person and lead them down the wrong path. Yeshua characterizes the devil in John 8:44.

⁴⁴Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

Satan is the father of lies. Satan has been and always will be the great deceiver. Many heathens and Christians alike have been deceived by him. One must understand how Satan lies or else they can be easily deceived. Satan always mixes a little bit of truth in what he states, but the devil’s truth is a half truth. Often he causes confusion between what is truth with what is a lie.

God and the devil are summed up in John 10:10.

¹⁰The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Remember, Genesis 1:31.

³¹And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Everything was very good. This should cause some confusion or at least a question. In the beginning, if everything was good in the Garden where did evil originate? Because it did not originate with our parents, Adam and Eve, in the garden of Eden. Ezekiel provides us a glimpse of the devil in Ezekiel 28:13-15.

¹³Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. ¹⁴Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. ¹⁵Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

This is Lucifer the light bearer. Satan the adversary, sin originated with him. Lucifer’s sin is described in Ezekiel 28:17.

¹⁷Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

It was Satan’s pride that lead him astray. Isaiah stated further in Isaiah 14:12-14.

¹²How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ¹³For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Lucifer challenged God’s authority. Satan thought that he could exalt himself above God. The creature thinking he can out-smart the creator. This is where evil originated, with Satan, the opposer.

In the Garden, Adam and Eve had a life so many of us dream about. They had a beautiful place to live. They had dominion over all the earth, Genesis 2:16.

¹⁶And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Adam and Eve had all they could eat, what a life. Except there was one condition, Genesis 2:17.

¹⁷But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

They could not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because if they did certain calamity would occur. They were forewarned. Everything was going okay, until someone else showed up on the scene in Genesis 3:1A.

^1ANow the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made.

Listen to how shrewd and crafty he was. The serpent asks a simple question in Genesis 3:1B:

^1BAnd he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Just the way he asks the question, it puts doubt in one’s mind. Eve’s response in Genesis 3:2-3:

²And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: ³But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

In Eve’s reply, there is something that is often overlooked. Eve responded to the question with something God never stated. She told the serpent that, they were not allowed to touch it. This is where the trouble starts for most people. They are just a little off God’s mark, Genesis 2:17.

¹⁷But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Eve misspoke, as so many of us do. We do not know the Word like we should. Eve came a little off the mark. If we pervert God’s Word, we weaken God’s protection around us and we become subject to calamity and the randomness of the world. This concept will prove to be true in the book of Job.

The serpent is not done with Eve, Genesis 3:4-5.

⁴And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: ⁵For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Now Satan comes forth with the lie buried in the truth. The devil knew something that many of us either do not know or seem to overlook. God even stated in Genesis 3:22A.

^22AAnd the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil:

However, remember God’s earlier warning that man would die, Genesis 3:22B.

^22Band now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Here God states that they could live for ever. So was the serpent correct? At this point, who are you going to believe? God or someone who shows up later, who tells you something you want to hear? God or Satan? After Adam and Eve ate the fruit, it appears as if they did not die. Yet God said they would die in Genesis 2:17.

What happen only seems to disagree with what God stated in Genesis 2:17. Earlier, I discussed the fact that God does not lie, so we need to understand this as God declares it, because God was right. Unfortunately too few understand how he was right. So I will take some time to explain why God was absolutely correct.

Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:23:

²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Yeshua Messiah.

Mankind is spirit, soul and body. There are three aspects to humans. This is key to understanding what happened in the Garden.

Again Genesis 2:17:

¹⁷But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

In Genesis 2:17, there is the Hebrew phrase Moat Tamoot (H4191, H4191). It literally means dying you shall die. It expresses a process rather than a single event.

Man is spirit, soul and body. The day Adam and Eve partook of the forbidden fruit, they died spiritually in the garden. Just like the flower plucked off of the vine, it looks beautiful once plucked. However days later, it starts to wilt and falls apart. It is dead when it is cut off from its life source. The same was true for Adam and Eve. They died the day they sinned, because they were cut off from their life source. Worst of all, they had no way back. It is interesting that Adam only lived 930 years. Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:8.

⁸But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Adam died in one day of the Lord. God was absolutely correct on all fronts.

After Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, God comes back into the Garden, Genesis 3:9

⁹And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

Do you honestly believe that God did not know where Adam was? God knew that Adam was hiding. Adam responded to God in Genesis 3:10.

¹⁰And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

God asks Adam in Genesis 3:11.

¹¹And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Why would God ask these questions? To think that God did not know the answer is to bring God down to our level of understanding. Adam and Eve had an opportunity to own up to the truth. Yet in Genesis 3:12-13.

¹²And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. ¹³And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

Everyone blames everyone else. Nobody was taking personal responsibility for what they did. We cannot continue to blame others for our problems. Until we take personal responsibility for our problems, they will not go away. That is why Paul records in 1 Corinthians 11:30-32.

Focus on verse 31, It is about personal responsibility. It is about being honest with ourselves. Sooner or later, we have to quit blaming the devil and others for every calamity. We must take personal responsibility for our own lives, if anything is to be resolved. If we continue to blame our parents, spouse, friends, boss, anyone else or even God, we are powerless to change anything.

Think about this, what would you have done if you were God? You have created this couple, put them in a beautiful place, given them all these wonderful things; yet they disobeyed you. Here are some of the answers I have heard.

God should have of gotten rid of that problem tree. Everything would have been nice. If there was not that one tree, we could have lived perfectly. However, getting rid of the tree would not have solved the problem. One would not make the choice to follow God or something else. Paul records in Romans 7:7.

⁷What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Sooner or later we must all choose, God or something else. Love is a choice.

For the people who have a lot of emotional love, but not much justice; they say, forgive and forget. What is the big deal, they ate a piece of fruit? Our kids do it all the time. Forget about it, sweep it under the rug. Until the rug becomes a mountain and one cannot walk in that place anymore. Solomon cautions us in Proverbs 19:18.

¹⁸Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

We should all know by now that if we do not properly discipline our children, we will end up with a mess later. The parent has the responsibility to properly raise the child. Remember we are God’s children.

How about this one? Just kill Adam and Eve, and make a new couple. If God had killed them and made a new couple, God would have to admit that they were not very good. Remember what God stated in Genesis 1:31a.

³¹And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.

How do you improve on very good? What are the chances that the next couple would be any better? That is short sightedness on our part that we think that would change anything.

From people who have a superficial understanding of the cross, they state that God should have set up the cross in the Garden. Let Yeshua die for them right then and there; then everything would have been fine. Except God stated in Galatians 4:4.

⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

God has a set timing and reason. It was to be in the fulness of time. None of these are good answers. God had His reasons and we will see that God’s are best.

Lets look at why God did what He did, and why was it necessary to banish Adam and Eve from the Garden.

God provided for man, Genesis 2:9.

⁹And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

God provided a wonderful diet and then only makes one restriction, Genesis 2:16-17.

¹⁶And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: ¹⁷But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Some may ask, why did God tempt man by putting the tree in the midst of the Garden? First of all, it was not God that tempted man, James 1:13-14.

¹³Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: ¹⁴But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

It was not God who tempted man. God may prove or test man, but God does not try to tempt us so that we will sin. This issue is too easily confused by man. We allow temptation to get the better of us, because we make bad choices in life.

When man disobeyed, God stated in Genesis 3:22.

²²And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Man would be like God knowing good and evil, Genesis 3:23-24.

²³Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. ²⁴So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

God banished Adam and Eve from the garden and placed cherubims to guard the way. The Tree of Life was no longer available. Why would God do this?

If man had eaten of the Tree of Life, man would have lived forever in a fallen condition. Man would have been forever lost in sin with no way out. That was definitely not what God wanted.

What we need to understand is that God knows good and evil, yet God is good. Man on the other hand comes to know good and evil, yet man is a sinner. Man is lost and faces death.

1 Timothy 1:17 provides some of the understanding why God can handle the knowledge of good and evil.

¹⁷Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

God is immortal. God can know good and evil without being evil. Eternal life is not just quantity, there is a quality to eternal life, John 17:3.

³And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Yeshua Messiah, whom thou hast sent.

In John 17:3 ‘know’ refers to having an intimate relationship with the Father. Without eternal life, one cannot handle good and evil. This is why God created everything good. God directed man to partake of food for living and food for living eternally. This was so man could intimately know God. And later on possibly, God would let man know both good and evil. However, without eternal life first; one cannot handle the knowledge of good and evil.

Now we want to look at specifically why God permits evil, Genesis 3:17.

¹⁷And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Note that God stated, “cursed is the ground for thy sake”. The Hebrew meaning that it is for our benefit. We think of curses as our punishment. However, in Genesis 3:17; the curse was to help us. It was to teach us an eternal lesson.

God is stating that I am not going to let you just get away with everything. Mankind is going to know that My laws and rules are for your blessing and not evil against you. Paul records in Romans 7:10-12.

¹⁰And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. ¹¹For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. ¹²Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

A cursed ground will teach us what the Garden of Eden could never teach us. For some, this is a hard concept to accept. Yet, it is the message we find throughout the scriptures. It is the message in the parable of the prodigal son, Luke 15:11-13.

¹¹And he said, A certain man had two sons: ¹²And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. ¹³And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

Why would the father allow this? The father had to know that the son would waste his inheritance. This parable speaks of our father God and his son Adam. Adam wasted his inheritance and surrendered dominion to the Satan. Adam did not obey God, Luke 15:17-19.

¹⁷And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! ¹⁸I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, ¹⁹And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

The son had finally come to the end of himself and returns in Luke 15:20-21.

²⁰And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. ²¹And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

This is the story of mankind, we are not much different. God forewarns us, yet we continue to do it our way. It is not until we are so deep in sin and call out for His help, that we will return to the Father.

God has allowed mankind to experience just how bad evil can become. Like the prodigal son in the end, mankind will cry out, turn to the Father, and sin will be put away forever. Mankind will have learned a lesson for all eternity. Mankind will never choose disobedience again, because all of mankind will have seen the consequences of disobedience.

Job, who understood the concept of why God allows evil, alluded to this many times during his discussions. When we understand why God permits evil, it helps us to understand how to live a sanctified life in a fallen world. Knowing why bad things happen to good people is to be forewarned and forearmed. Then one can avoid much of what happens in this world today. When we know this, we can share with those who are hurting so deeply. When a believer understands why God allows evil to occur, they will come to appreciate, Romans 8:28.

²⁸And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Not all things are good, but all things work together for good for those called according to His purpose. Sickness can be for the glory of God; as God’s healing can be for the glory of God. Poverty can be for the glory of God; as well wealth can be for the glory of God. The Apostle Paul declared in Philippians 4:11-13.

¹¹Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³I can do all things through Messiah which strengtheneth me.

Paul could state this, because Paul was living in a different state than many people. Paul said whatsoever state, Paul was content. Paul was in the New Jerusalem. His life was as if he was walking in heaven in eternity. When we mature as Paul did, then we will come to appreciate that all things are for the good. We will appreciate that our 70 or 80 years are a just a blink of the eye in eternity. We will come to appreciate that our time now is nothing compared to eternity, Romans 8:18.

¹⁸For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Yes, God permitted evil for our sake and benefit, because God loves us. In the future, those that go into eternity will not choose evil again, because all will understand. At that time, mankind will be able to live a life free from sin and the devastating consequences.

But this is only part of the answer. For those that suffer in this lifetime, Job speaks of the appointed time to come in the future. This is discussed further in Job 14 and 19, when discussing the Restitution of All things.

Again, Job 9:24

²⁴The earth is given into the hand of the wicked: he covereth the faces of the judges thereof; if not, where, and who is he?

The world is such today, that wickedness has dominion. Justice has ceased, we must take action to ward off the system of the world. The only real option is to earnestly walk in God’s pathway.

Job 9:25-27

²⁵Now my days are swifter than a post: they flee away, they see no good. ²⁶They are passed away as the swift ships: as the eagle that hasteth to the prey. ²⁷If I say, I will forget my complaint, I will leave off my heaviness, and comfort myself:

Job cannot forget his pain, although he may try. There is a pain that Job suffers in his heart, that time has not healed.

Job 9:28

²⁸I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know that thou wilt not hold me innocent.

As Job has seen, his so-called friends only look for sin in Job with little compassion for his suffering. Job knows that he is imperfect. Job knows how far he has fallen and does not pretend to cover up his lack of perfection. Job realizes that before God none of us are innocent.

Job 9:29

²⁹If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

Again Job claims that he is not wicked, he has walked after God. In addition, Job claims he is no hypocrite. His efforts to walk with God are not in vain. Job claims he has done nothing wrong to deserve his suffering.

Job 9:30

³⁰If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Job realized that on his own he cannot cleanse himself. He cannot hide sin nor run from it. It is as in Luke 12:2-3

²For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. ³Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

We cannot hide our sin. We may fool the world, but all will be revealed in time.

Job 9:31-32

³¹Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. ³²For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.

Job never believed that he could answer God. Nor does he believe that judgment can be shared with God. God determines judgment, we are his servants. We are imperfect, God is perfect; what could we bring to the court that would help God in judgment.

However, God does tell us in Isaiah 1:18.

¹⁸Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

God wants us to reason with Him. Not that we will change His mind, nor would we share in judgment. But that He would help us to understand the judgment. Through this, our sin will be cleansed when we understand and act upon God’s judgment. Isaiah stated further in Isaiah 1:19-20:

¹⁹If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: ²⁰But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

It is when we are obedient to that reasoning that we are blessed. Make no mistake about it, Job has stated several times that God’s judgment is absolute. It is not for us to question nor contend with. Therefore, the opinions of Job’s friends who have their own private agenda, provide little relief for Job. It is only from God we hear truth.

Job 9:33-35

³³Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. ³⁴Let him take his rod away from me, and let not his fear terrify me: ³⁵Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.

Job tells his friend that there is no intermediary between him and God. His friends should not act in God’s stead. Job is asking God to take away the chastisement. Then he could speak freely with God. However, until that time, Job reserves his words knowing he is an imperfect being.

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