Does God need our help? ∙
I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.” – Psalms 16:2
Job 22:2-3
2 Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?
“Cars 2,” a 2011 American animated film, was created by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. This movie is the sequel to the 2006 computer-animated sports comedy, “Cars.” It raked in $562 million globally at the box office, making it the tenth highest-grossing film of 2011.
The film beautifully captures the imagination and actions of children when they play, with sounds like vroom-vroom, boom, screech, crash, and so on. In this story, race car Lightning McQueen and tow truck Mater are pit buddies racing in the World Grand Prix across Japan, Italy, and other European countries.
However, due to Mater’s mistake, Lightning McQueen loses a big race. When McQueen returns to his pit, he is furious with Mater. Mater is very apologetic. Mater wants to help McQueen make it right. McQueen rejects his help, exclaiming, “I don’t need your help! I don’t want your help!”
Is that the way that the Father thinks about us? Contrary to McQueen’s reaction, God never rejects our attempts to aid Him. Yet, it begs the question: Do we believe we can assist God? Do we think our plans are superior to His? Do we genuinely believe that the all-knowing, eternal God makes mistakes?
Take Job’s story, for instance.
Job’s friend Eliphaz accuses him of indulging in sinful, self-righteous pride. For Eliphaz, the only logical reason for Job’s suffering is his alleged sinful behavior. Eliphaz rebukes Job, stating, “Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you? No, it’s because of your wickedness! There’s no limit to your sins” (Job 22:4-5).
Based on his assumptions, Eliphaz randomly selects sins to accuse Job of committing. It highlights how easy it is to jump to totally false conclusions when we start with inaccurate assumptions.
However, God sets the record straight. He affirms Job’s character.
Job 1:8 “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man on the earth. He is blameless – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Does Job believe that his righteousness benefits God in any way or needs his help? Eliphaz accuses Job of such beliefs.
In Job 22:2-3, Eliphaz asks,
2 Can a person do anything to help God? Can even a wise person be helpful to him?
3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous?
Recall that at this point in the story. Job has no idea why terrible things are occurring. He hasn’t read the first chapter of his book yet, which provides a backstory explaining the reasons behind his trials.
Satan challenges the Father God. He asserts that people are loyal and devoted to Him only because the Father treats them so well. Satan suggests that if God were to stop His blessings, people would abandon Him.
Job 1:11 But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!
It wasn’t Job’s sin that set these events in motion. It was a false accusation of Satan. The Father knew the fiber of His servant Job. The Father was confident that Job could withstand and overcome anything Satan might throw at him within the limits God had set. The book of Job ultimately serves to vindicate Job’s character and demonstrate God’s unwavering faith and trust in him.
REFLECT & PRAY
Many people have an unfortunate, warped view of God. Rather than seeing the Father as a gentle, caring protector and shepherd, they see Him as a harsh, vindictive, villainous tormentor. So sad!
Father, thank You for being neither petty nor vindictive. Thank You for taking pleasure in those who walk with You.
INSIGHT
Eliphaz has a warped understanding of the Father God. He does not conceive of Him as being kind, gracious, and tenderhearted. Instead, his concept of God is one of a severe, rigid, and punitive judge. He believes that God is constantly on the lookout for errant human beings to judge and punish. “These verses reveal Eliphaz’s very deficient concept of God. To him, God did not delight in fellowship with man or in blessing man. His only reason for intervening in life was to punish people when they misbehaved” (Constable).
Job 22:3 Is it any advantage to the Almighty if you are righteous? Would it be any gain to him if you were perfect?
Eliphaz asks pointed, rhetorical questions, the answer to which is none.
The Hebrew term translated as pleasure, advantage, delight, or special benefit is chephets. Chephets connotes a strong emotional connection. The basic meaning is to feel great favor, happiness, joy, or delight with someone or something. The Hebrew term translated gain or profit is betsa’. Betsa’ means to receive personal advantage from something or someone.
Eliphaz postulates that no one can aid or benefit God through their actions. His perception of God is distant, indifferent, and impersonal. He believes God is apathetic towards people, their tribulations, and their righteousness.
It’s not hard to imagine Eliphaz scoffing as he delivers his scathing sarcasm. Perhaps snarling a bit, he questions Job, “Do you genuinely believe that God inflicts calamity on innocent, righteous individuals? Spare me!”
Job 22:4 Is it because you’re so pious that he accuses you and brings judgment against you?
His logic appears transparent and uncomplicated. As Wiersbe puts it, “Courts don’t try people for their righteousness but for their lawlessness! Therefore, God has sent terrible judgments upon Job, so he must be guilty of sin.” However, Eliphaz’s reasoning is entirely misguided, stemming from a flawed premise.
While it’s true that God doesn’t need people, He takes immense pleasure in them. God enjoys people.
Zephaniah 3:17 He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.
The Father gets so excited about the children of the King that He takes great delight and celebrates with joyful singing. Visualize the Father excitedly loving on you.
The opening chapters of the Book of Job provide insight and understanding. Recall that God was so taken with Job’s character and integrity that He was confident Job would prevail over the adversities about to befall him.
“Job’s character and conduct were important to God, for God was using Job to silence the devil. Neither Job nor his three friends knew God’s hidden plan, but Job had faith to believe that God was achieving some purpose in his life and would one day vindicate him. Furthermore, the character and behavior of God’s people are important to the Lord because His people bring Him either joy or sorrow (1 Thessalonians 4:1; Hebrews 11:5; Genesis 6:5-6). He is not a passive, distant God who does not identify with His people but the God who delights in them as they delight in Him (Psalms 18:19; Hebrews 4:14-16)” (Wiersbe).
The omnipotent God doesn’t need assistance from His children. However, we do bring Him immense joy. Shouldn’t we aspire to emulate the example set by Lord Jesus Christ?
John 8:29 For I always do what pleases Him.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 11-21-1
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 