God’s Righteousness against Man’s Self-righteousness

Job 8:1-22 

Saturday, 25 April 2026

“Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?”- Job 8:3

We read of God’s assessment of Job in the opening chapter of Job. “Then the LORD said to Satan, ”Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8).

Here is a man unlike any other man living in his time! Yet, Job’s uprightness was put to test.As God presented Job before Satan, a good report was spoken about him. Satan, true to his form, being the accuser, challenged God saying that Job is faithful only because he has God’sfavour and protection. Satan left God’s presence with the permission to test Job. Soon, Job lost his children, his wealth and even his health. Having lost almost everything Job sat in the dust and dirt but did not curse God or turn away from him. 

Then came Job’s friends who set out to comfort Job but also turned out to be accusers. Instead of comforting Job they only end up heaping more accusations against him saying you must have sinned secretly due to which God is now punishing you.

Here are a few points for us to consider from what we read about Job.

What do we learn about God’s ways in His dealing with Job?

1. The integrity and faithfulness of Job is tested. Is it easier to be faithful to God and stay upright in all our ways when things are going well for us? Our God is one who checks the thoughts and intentions of our hearts (Heb.4:12). Let us strive to keep our faith even through trials.

2. When Job was going through the test, it became visible that Job was lacking only one thing: the knowledge that God is the One who imparts righteousness. In one of his discourses, Job asked God: “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men?...” (Job 7:20) In saying so, he was being self-righteous. God replied to Job:“Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?” (Job 40:8). The attitude of questioning God shows that we think highly of ourselves. Instead, in times of trials we must humbly seek God asking what we need to learnhow we need to improve in our understanding and faith.

3. God is sovereign. When he allows adversity into our lives, we may not understand what he is doing. Take the example of Job. It is an astounding fact that about 4000 years later we are still studying Job and learning from his life. God’s purpose is beyond man’s understanding. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8)

What should be our response when going through periods of trial and testing?

James 1: 2-4 “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

What should be our response when we find others facing various trials?

When we see other believers in trouble let us not become like Job’s friends who could not comfort and encourage him, rather they became the emissaries of Satan to further accuse him and isolate him leaving Job with no family, wealth, health or even friends. Let us stick by our brother or sister and pray for and with them without accusing them or trying to correct them. When someone is in deep pain and anguish the only thing that is needed is comfort, prayer and encouragement.

Point to ponder: God’s judgement is right. The blameless man, Job, had a lesson to learn. Let us examine ourselves and use every opportunity to learn and grow in our knowledge of the Lord.