Originally posted: 9/17/2020

“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted,” (42:2).

We have come to the end of Job’s story. Job has encountered the Living God and he has learned truth: His Purpose will always prevail; His Purpose will not be undermined, explained away, superseded or circumvented. Whether man understands, agrees or believes, His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted.

There’s so much to take in: Job is restored; his friends are rebuked; God requires a blood sacrifice; God appoints Job to intercede on behalf of those who had misrepresented God and severely mistreated Job; and God accepts Job as their mediator.

It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has. ⁸ Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has,” (42:7-8).

Does that remind you of Someone else?

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5).

The culmination of Job’s story is filled with several analogous actions that can compare to our own stories of salvation and restoration. But I still have some questions; you probably do too. And I know some may not be answered until we have the privilege of standing before Him. But if I take away anything from the last forty days with Job, it’s this: His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted.

Consider Him Whose Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted

Purpose: “4209. מְזִמָּה m^ezimmāh: A feminine noun meaning a plan, a thought… Another significant use of this word occurs when it describes an intention of God and so conveys the idea of purpose or plan,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

Thwarted: “1219. בָּצַר batsar: A verb meaning to cut off, make inaccessible, enclose,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

His Purpose Will Never be cut off; His Purpose Will Never be made inaccessible, and His Purpose Will Never be enclosed by anyone or anything!

The word, Purpose, can also be translated as plan, intention, or pleasure. Unless otherwise noted, the New American Standard Bible is typically cited. The following verses are taken from several versions to aid us as we consider Him Whose Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted.

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can obstruct His Strength, Power, and Authority.
  • “By now I could have stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been obliterated from the earth. ¹⁶ However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you My power and to make My name known in all the earth,” (Exodus 9:15-16 HCSB).
  • “The LORD of Hosts has sworn: “Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand… ²⁷ The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back? (Isaiah 14:24, 27 BSB).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can cripple His Purpose.
  • Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand, (Proverbs 19:21 ESV).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can deter His Will.
  • “Declaring the end from the beginning,
    And from ancient times things which have not been done,
    Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
    And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
    ¹¹ Calling a bird of prey from the east,
    The man of My purpose from a far country.
    Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
    I have planned it, surely I will do it,” (Isaiah 46:10-11).
  • He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Ephesians 1:5 ESV).
  • 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).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can oppose His Word.
  • “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
    making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
    ¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
    but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it,” (Isaiah 55:10-11 ESV).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can interrupt His Work.
  • 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. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified, (Romans 8:28-30).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can frustrate His Wisdom.
  • so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, (Ephesians 3:10-11).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can inhibit His Grace.
  • …God, ⁹ who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, (2 Timothy 1:9).

• His Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted; nothing can cut off, make inaccessible, or enclose His Son.
  • …The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil, (1 John 3:8).

How do we respond to Him Whose Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted?

As we finish our journey through Job, it is clear that although Job had his questions, fears, imaginations and misgivings, God had a Purpose in Job’s suffering; and it Would Never Be Thwarted.

And the truth is, God has a Purpose in our suffering as well.

For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, (Philippians 1:29).

Let that thought sink in; it has been granted to us to suffer for His sake. That’s an outrageous and definite non-human idea. Especially when we look at what the word, granted, means in the original language.

Granted: “5483. χαρίζομαι charízomai; fut. charísomai, mid. deponent from cháris (5485), grace. To show someone a favor, be kind to,” Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.

This word, granted, is actually the verb form of grace. Does God mean that? Does He really mean that to suffer for His sake is His kind gift of grace given to us? Well, perhaps if we look beyond the here and now, and look to the outcome of the suffering when endured by faith, we will see His kindness and grace. Paul believed it to be so:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; ⁴ and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; ⁵ and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us, (Romans 5:3-5).

God’s Purpose for His children is that we would be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). That is no easy task. So, yes, the truth is, part of His Purpose for us is suffering. And the best way to walk through those times is to walk by faith as we follow Him, Whose Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted.

“Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour,” (John 12:27).

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, (1 Peter 2:21).

And as we follow His example, the Lord will strengthen us to live by faith as we await the eternal glory we will one day share with Him in Heaven.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you, (1 Peter 5:10).

As we hold on in faith to His truth, we can trust Him to work in us to not only live for His Purpose, but to grant us the desire to do so.

So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³ For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose, (Philippians 2:12-13 HCSB).

Job had no idea what had occurred in the throne room of God before the events unfolded in his life that ushered in his great storm. But as we reflect on the end of Job’s story, God’s greatest gift of grace was not the material blessings that were restored. Imagine the faith and proven character of Job as he emerged on the other side of his suffering.

And Job died, an old man and full of days, (42:17).

The last days of a good man sometimes prove his best, his last works his best works, his last comforts his best comforts; for his path, like that of the morning light, shines more and more unto the perfect day,” Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary.

Job is a book about faith in the hard times. But after all, faith isn’t really faith unless it’s tested. Job’s faith was severely tested; and because he clung to his God in faith, his last days proved to be his best.

We will be tested; that is a given. And when we are, let us pray that we too would cling in faith to Him, believing our last days will be our best, as we trust in Him Whose Purpose Will Never Be Thwarted.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen, (2 Timothy 4:18).

The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me.
LORD, Your love is eternal;
do not abandon the work of Your hands, (Psalm 138:8 HCSB).

Let’s Grow Together!