One of the things which Job said in his discourse with his friends might seem to be rather puzzling to us, and it was said right at the beginning of their speeches to one another, before Job’s friends had falsely accused him.
As we know, the Lord had allowed Satan first of all to take away all of Job’s possessions, and even his ten children. Shortly afterward, the Lord also allowed Satan to afflict Job with boils from head to toe; in short, his health was taken away. But Job passed the test; in all this he did not “sin with his lips” (Job 2:1010But 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 2:10)). Prior to all Satan’s actions against Job, the Lord Himself had commended him, saying that “there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil” (Job 1:88And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (Job 1:8)). This was true, and it is remarkable that Satan, whom we know is quick to point out failures in God’s people, could not come up with an accusation against Job or a rebuttal to the Lord’s characterization of him. Yet we find, in the first speech that Job makes after all this, he says these words:
Why Should Job Have Fear?
Why should Job have been afraid? The Lord Himself commended him, and Job seemed to have everything going smoothly for him. He was wealthy, evidently highly respected, comfortable in his life, and walking well before the Lord. Later, in conversation with his friends, he could say of his past life, “Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand” (Job 29:1818Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. (Job 29:18)). It would seem that Job was quite comfortable in his entire situation. Yet he has to say that he had “greatly feared,” and now that serious trouble had actually come upon him, he reveals his innermost feelings.
The fear that Job had was what many a good person in this world has felt from time to time. It is certainly felt by unbelievers who are willing to be honest before God, and it is also felt by true believers where there is something in their hearts that they sense is not right before God. In simple terms, the fear about which we are speaking is the fear of what is unjudged in our own hearts before God. Despite all that Job was before his fellowman and before God, he knew deep down in his heart that everything was not right with God. He had a sinful heart, as do we all, and he sensed that his pride in his own goodness was not right. He knew that there was sin in his heart, despite his outward appearance of uprightness. He wondered when his circumstances might change, and when it happened, he said, as it were, “I knew this was coming!”
Cain’s Fear
We see a similar kind of fear in Cain, when he was told by the Lord, “A fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth” (Gen. 4:1212When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. (Genesis 4:12)). Cain’s immediate reply was, among other complaints, that “every one that findeth me shall slay me” (Gen. 4:1414Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me. (Genesis 4:14)). Why did he say that? Had anyone threatened to kill him? Not that we know of. Rather, his fear was the product of what was in his own heart. He was a murderer himself, and he supposed that others would do the same. It is a solemn thing that often we project onto others the sins of our own hearts, thinking that they would likely do the same.
We hasten to say that there was a vast difference between Cain and Job. Cain was an unbeliever, and he did not want to be in God’s presence. Job had a new life and was willing to be real before God. But the character of their fear, whether in Cain or Job, ultimately sprang from a similar source. It was the product of what was unjudged in their own hearts.
Job the Upright Man
In the case of Job, he was an upright man, and the Lord commended him for it. But to take pride in it was wrong, for pride is one of the worst sins in God’s eyes. Job had to realize that he had a sinful heart, in spite of the fact that he was a born-again soul. Although he later defended himself before his friends’ accusations and even wished that he might have a meeting with the Lord, yet deep down inside he knew that something was wrong.
There was only One who went through this world as a man, yet had no fear. Our blessed Lord and Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, walked through this world without fear, except (and we speak with utmost reverence) the fear of being made sin. Thus we read that “when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared” (Heb. 5:77Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; (Hebrews 5:7)). On all other occasions, even before the Roman governor Pilate, He showed no fear. Rather it was Pilate who was “the more afraid” (John 19:88When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; (John 19:8)).
No doubt all of us, at one time or another, have had the fear that Job had. It can be overcome only by looking at the example of our Lord and Master.
W. J. Prost