Knowing that God is Trustworthy, Part 3

Job

St. John’s United Church of Christ
Greeley, Colorado
July 20, 2025
Rev. Juvenal Cervantes

Philippe Petit is a French highwire artist who gained fame for his unauthorized highwire walks between the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1971 and of Sydney Harbor Bridge in 1973, as well as between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City in August 1974.

In one of his performances around the world, Mr. Petit asked the audience, “Do you believe that I can carry a chair as I walk on the highwire?” The crowd enthusiastically responded, “Yes, you can do it!” He proceeded, “Do you think that I can carry a person on my back while I walk on the highwire?” Again, the crowd roared, “Yes!!!” Then Petit pointed to a man who appeared convinced that Petit could carry a man on his back while walking on the highwire and commanded him, “Okay, you, come and I will carry you across the highwire.” The shocked man said, “Oh, no, not me.”

Believing God is trustworthy is easy for us to agree on, however, when the dark times come to our lives, we are like the man who was asked to join Petit on the highwire.

Today we finalize our study of “Knowing the God who is trustworthy.” We’re looking at Job, his dilemma, his deconstruction and his declaration. In his search for answers to his tragedies, Job approached God:

Then Job answered and said: “Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.

Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!

I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.

Job 23

He is saying, “If I have my day in court, I would have some questions for God.”

Then God responds:

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.

God is saying, “Put on your big boy pants, Job. I’ve got questions for you!” Then, what happens for the next few chapters, before we get to the end of it all, a part of his deconstruction in wresting with God, we see what happens in Job 38:4-7, a few representative questions:

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? “

God is saying, “I can take your questions, and I want you to know that I created all that exists. God does not advocate for Job saying, “Let me explain your suffering, here are three reasons for your calamities…” No, God says, “Let me tell you who I am.”

Then God goes through this virtual tour of the universe and he says things like, “Hey, where does light come from? Who stopped the ocean from stopping right there, who decided where the shoreline would be? Hey, do you see the cubs up on the mountains who were born through the mother bear? I see it. And by the way, Job, I send rain to places where nobody lives. I have flowers growing all over the planet where no person will ever see. I’ve taken care of the entire universe. Have you ever been on the backside of the moon? I’m there right now.

Do you even know what’s a happening to the stars? You have no idea how big and awesome I am!”

God is saying, “You can trust me. You are going to need a God like me.”

He is not simply rebuking him. He is telling him, “I got this and I got you!”

Then there is an interlude; this is almost humorous. It says in Job 40:

And the Lord said to Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Then Job answered the Lord and said: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Job says, “I have been right-sized. That’ll be enough. I’m done. I am tapped out. I am done. I get it. You are God and I am not. I get it. I needed to hear that.”

And God says, “No, I am not done.” And God keeps going, with the same language. Two more chapters and in the end of it all, after this dilemma, and after his deconstruction, wrestling with God, then he ends with a declaration.

God says, after this virtual tour, “I can tame anything, and I can tame you and I can bring you to me and I am better than anything you are going through. I am all loving. I do not change. I am all powerful.”

Then we come to Job’s declaration in Job 42:

Then Job answered the Lord and said:

“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent[a] in dust and ashes.”

In other words, Job says, “I did not know what I was saying. I thought I loved you. Now I’ve seen you.

Here is the point: We can only come to God through experience with him, through wrestling with him, and staying in and continue to trust him, regardless of what comes our way.

Job doesn’t get his answers, nor will you or I, always. He gets something better: he gets God. And that’s really what we’re after, isn’t it? Because on this side of eternity, we’re not going to get all of our answers, but we can get Him.

God is not the answer man, He is the answer. God’s answer is himself. So, God comes to us in the person of Jesus. We know a lot more than Job knew. God has shown up in the flesh, in the person of Christ and it is by faith that we received him. Not by our works, whether we’re good enough, whether the scales work in our favor, they don’t work in our favor, they never will! Because sin has taken us away from God and it is a condition of the heart. We need rescue. God says, “I’m coming straight to you.” Christ the redeemer comes, to live among us, die for our sins, resurrected and through him, we have life. There will come a day when we will see Christ standing and we will worship him; this is where all of history is heading.

God’s answer to our suffering is Jesus. He understands. He tasted death. The question is, “Can you embrace God through Jesus Christ? Have you done so?

When you are tempted to doubt God’s trustworthiness, consider this important passage in Romans:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Not everything that happens to us is good. Additionally, God has the capacity to turn our bad into good and use this for his glory and our benefit. Ultimately, God wants to conform us to the image of his Son, Jesus Christ. Will you allow God to use all that comes to your life to become more like Jesus Christ.