During a recent reading of the Book of Job, I was impressed that chapters 38 through 41 are somewhat like a curriculum vitae or position/job description that God implies in His dialog with Job. Job wanted his day in court with God, and he got pretty much what he desired, so to speak. In the process, God challenged him by, in essence, asking what he knew about God’s role in everything. The particular questions posed (like a well briefed and articulate prosecutor) are very insightful regarding what God thinks about His role in creation.
What I find amazing is that, among the litany of incredible responsibilities God assigns to Himself, there are only two that directly relate to humanity, in general, though many impact humanity. The two points directly relating to humanity (whom God refers to “everyone”) are found in chapter 40:11 – 13 (NKJ Version):
9 …can you? … (or If you can, then)…
11 … Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together, bind their faces in hidden darkness.
In summary, the two points I refer to are what, from this discourse, God intimates as His and only His responsibility toward…
1. the proud, namely, to humble and bring them low, and
2. the wicked, namely to tread them down in their place, hide them in the dust of the earth, and bind their faces in hidden darkness
These “job description” points related to humanity are indeed echoed consistently throughout the Bible in a myriad of forms, stories, parables, warnings to the proud and wicked, and encouragements to believers/saints.
It is worthwhile noting these two problem areas (the original, “mother sins” of pride and wickedness or un-repented iniquity) are exactly what got Lucifer kicked out of Heaven!! He became proud and, thus, iniquity was found in him. (Isaiah 14:13 and Ezekiel 28:14) With these same sins satan has infected the entire human race. Pride puts self or ego on the “throne of our lives”, instead of God. Wickedness of the heart (Genesis 6:5) is the result of un-repented pride. It produces greed and contentions for gain (envy and strife over money, wealth and power), and, according to James 3:16, “…every evil work”
These points of God’s self-proclaimed job description are clearly brought into focus in the Book of Esther. Haman’s gross pride led him to be hungry for more power and honor among man, and he burned within himself when all but one man (Mordecai, the Jew)) would so honor him by bowing in his presence. Thus, Haman became a portal for the spirit of anti-Semitism, threatening to destroy all Jews in the entire kingdom, stretching from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). This became a perfect set-up for God to perform His main job responsibility regarding humanity…challenge and discipline the proud and wicked – and He performed His responsibilities in an awesome manner in response to faith released by Mordecai and Queen Esther.
God’s responsibilities in these areas must be chief in His dealings with humanity. These are the “mother or root sins”, not only because they are the first sins ever committed and recorded (by Lucifer), but also because all human sin emanates from pride and the resulting wickedness it produces. All sin branches forth from these. These themes echo throughout the Bible, across the eons of time. Pick your favorite Bible book, story, characters, etc….and you’ll see the story line which is well summed in Proverbs 16:18,
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
And also in Proverbs 15:33 (looking at it from the opposite angle):
33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.
I like how this lesson is summed in 1 Kings 20 and 2 Chronicles 32, when King Hezekiah first humbled himself and was healed, and later became full of pride and was judged. Several ancient Jewish kings did evil, then humbled themselves and were honored by God. Many others were stiff-necked and paid the price. 2 Chronicles 36 is the climax of a steady stream of prideful wickedness by people who refused to repent. Paul the Apostle was quite proud in his job duties …persecuting the church. He repented. The 2nd thief on the cross with Christ did not. As 2 Chronicles 36 summarizes the climax of a steady diet of pride and wickedness (the beginning of the Jews’ 70 year Babylonian captivity), the Book of Revelation summarizes the final climax for the un-repented proud and wicked. The details of this book are well previewed in the books of Ezekiel and Daniel.
God reiterates these points of His job description in Deuteronomy 8:2:
2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
and 2 Chronicles 32:31
31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart..
Moreover, God gives the remedy. In Jeremiah 9:23 – 24, the remedy for pride is revealed:
23 Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness
Let not the mighty man glory in his might,
Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
24 But let him who glories glory in this,
That he understands and knows Me,
That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness
in the earth. for in these I delight,” says the LORD.
and Proverbs 4:23:
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.
The loving reason for giving us the remedy is laid out in Jeremiah 29:11:
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
To God be all GLORY!!! May He give us the fullness of His grace to embrace the fullness of the remedy in the person of Jesus Christ.
Question to ponder:
Do you think God has abandoned His 'self-proclaimed job description' toward us humans?
