I read the book of Job again recently.  There is a point where God speaks to Job in a way that sounds like a reprimand, and I have always wondered why God would speak to Job this way when he was in such a frail state. It occurred to me this time, that throughout the book when Job is questioning his suffering (which seems understandable), Job also talks about his own righteousness. If anyone had a right to boast about his good works, it was Job. He helped the poor and didn’t turn his back on the hurting. He gave people shelter and tried to follow God as best he could. God Himself said about Job, “No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil.” (Job 1:8) So I wondered, what were God’s words to Job about? I guess this is one of those questions that only God knows the answer to, but it made me wonder if perhaps God said those things to Job to remind him that He (God) is really the only One who is righteous. There were things Job could boast about, but none of his good deeds could justify him before a perfect God. It is the same with us. This is why God sent Jesus.

“Who enclosed the sea behind doors when it burst from the womb…when I determined its boundaries and put its bars and doors in place, when I declared: ‘You may come this far, but no farther; your proud waves stop here’?”

(Job 38:8,10-11, CSB)

“Only God is truly good.”

(Mark 10:18, NLT)