Originally posted: 8/17/2020
“Can you discover the depths of God?
Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?” (11:7).
Job’s third friend Zophar, comes out of the gate like a rocket, no holds barred. I guess Zophar just couldn’t handle Job’s gut-level honesty in expressing his emotions. But I find his objection to Job so fascinating.
As Zophar continues his ardent attack, he accuses Job of engaging in the impossible: deciphering the undiscoverable facets of God. But at the same time, Zophar seems to suggest that he has the inside track on the Depths of the Almighty. As though somehow, he has been able to probe into the Limitless mysteries of Almighty God and is therefore qualified to explain to poor, unfortunate, clueless Job.
“Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?” (11:7-8 NIV).
And as he accuses Job of tracing out the expanse of the Lord and His ways, didn’t Zophar go on to engage in exactly the same thing? And now it seems, not only does Zophar understand the deep secrets of God, he apparently can see straight into Job’s heart.
“If you would direct your heart right
And spread out your hand to Him,
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
And do not let wickedness dwell in your tents;
15 “Then, indeed, you could lift up your face without moral defect,
And you would be steadfast and not fear,” (11:13-15).
As Zophar wraps up, he describes the promise that awaits Job, if Job would only repent. Ending with a stern warning of the fate of the wicked, it seems Zophar is convinced he considers Job is on dangerous ground.
“Your life would be brighter than noonday;
Darkness would be like the morning.
18 “Then you would trust, because there is hope;
And you would look around and rest securely.
19 “You would lie down and none would disturb you,
And many would entreat your favor.
20 “But the eyes of the wicked will fail,
And there will be no escape for them;
And their hope is to breathe their last,” (11:17-20).
Each day with Job seems to bring home the same truth. There is so very much we don’t comprehend about God, or about this life. But Job is a gift to every child of God. In seeking to see Him increase in Job’s story, the truth of His Limitless Depths, revealed in Jesus, rises above the mess of man.
Consider His Limitless Depths
Because Jesus Christ, our Savior, is Infinite, everything about Him is Limitless. Consider just a few expressions of His Limitless Depths. Of course, there are more; His Depths are Limitless.
- The Limitless Depth of His Love
- “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).
- But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, (Romans 5:8).
- The Limitless Depth of His Sacrifice
- although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross, (Philippians 2:6-8).
- knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ, (1 Peter 1:18-19).
- The Limitless Depth of His Grace
- being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:24).
- In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, (Ephesians 1:7).
- For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (Ephesians 2:8).
- The Limitless Depth of His Mercy
- But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), (Ephesians 2:4-5).
- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3).
- The Limitless Depth of His Wisdom
- Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! (Romans 11:33).
- But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, (1 Corinthian 1:30).
- The Limitless Depth of His Purpose
- And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose, (Romans 8:28).
- also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, (Ephesians 1:11).
- The Limitless Depth of His Power
- For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God, (1 Corinthians 1:18).
- seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence, (2 Peter 1:3).
- The Limitless Depth of His Glory
- And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth, (John 1:14).
- And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb, (Revelation 21:23).
- The Limitless Depth of His Immutability
- For I, the Lord, do not change;” (Malachi 3:6).
- Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever, (Hebrews 13:8).
- The Limitless Depth of His Faithfulness
- Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass, (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
- If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself, (2 Timothy 2:13)
How do we respond to His Limitless Depths?
There are truths proclaimed each day in the story of Job; Job who has had the rug pulled out from beneath his feet of faith; Job who is repeatedly confronted by those who suppose they speak for God. But truth out of context can be very dangerous.
We cannot mix the truths of God’s character with our perception of truth and expect to grow in our faith and love relationship with Him.
The Depth of His Truth is Limitless. It is pure and without error. Let’s not presume we know exactly what He is doing, especially when the difficulties of life threaten to rattle our faith with lies and half-truths.
When the trials of life challenge His character and His promises, we must believe His Word over our emotions.
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living, (Psalm 27:13).
Emotions can be fierce. But they can be disciplined through cultivating an attitude of gratitude. And while His Depths are Limitless and way beyond our ability to fathom, what we can fathom is this: He is always true to His Word. The Limitless Depth of His Truth permeates everything He Is.
And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life, (1 John 5:20).
Oh, may we never cease to be amazed and filled with gratitude by the Limitless Depths of all He has done to bring us to Himself.
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude, (Colossians 2:6-7).
Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; (Hebrews 12:28).
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name, (Hebrews 13:15-16).
So much about Him is truly undiscoverable and indescribable, for He is God. And though we will never be able to discover or understand everything about our Infinite God, we can certainly choose to offer Him praise and thanksgiving, each and every day, for the unfathomable gift of salvation we have received through Jesus Christ. Oh, may we never get over His Limitless Depths!
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15).