What role does divine revelation play in understanding God's will, as seen in Job 4:13? Setting the Scene Job’s friend Eliphaz begins his first speech by recounting a startling night experience. Though Eliphaz will later misapply what he heard, his testimony in Job 4:13 shows an undeniable truth: God chooses to unveil His will and character through divine revelation. The Verse “In disquieting visions in the night, when deep sleep falls on men,” (Job 4:13) What Divine Revelation Looks Like in Job 4:13 • “Visions in the night” – God initiates communication; humans cannot manufacture it. • “Disquieting” – His revelation often humbles, stirring holy fear that leads to reverence (v. 14). • “Deep sleep falls on men” – The recipient is passive, underscoring that the message originates solely with God, not human imagination. Core Lessons on God’s Will from This Revelation • God speaks with clarity. Even if the setting is mysterious, His purpose is to make truth known (v. 16–17). • Revelation confronts human pride. “Can a mortal be more righteous than God?” (v. 17) exposes self-reliance and calls for submission. • Authentic revelation elevates God’s righteousness, never the messenger. • True revelation is consistent with God’s already-revealed Word. Eliphaz’s later errors were not in what he heard but in how he applied it (cf. Job 42:7). Broader Biblical Witness • Old Testament patterns – Genesis 15:1 – “The word of the LORD came… ‘Do not be afraid.’” – 1 Samuel 3:10 – God calls Samuel by name in the night. – Daniel 2:19 – “The mystery was revealed… in a vision of the night.” • New Testament confirmations – Matthew 1:20 – An angel speaks to Joseph “in a dream.” – Acts 10:3 – Cornelius receives instruction through a vision. • Foundational principle – Hebrews 1:1-2 – God spoke “in many ways… but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” – 2 Timothy 3:16 – Scripture, breathed out by God, now stands as the final, sufficient revelation. Guidelines for Discerning God’s Will Today • Treasure Scripture as the ultimate, infallible revelation. All impressions, dreams, or counsel must align with it (2 Peter 1:19-21). • Expect the Spirit’s illumination. The same God who revealed truth to Eliphaz illumines believers’ minds to grasp Scripture’s meaning (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). • Embrace humility. Genuine revelation produces reverence and repentance, not self-exaltation. • Seek confirmation in the believing community. Godly counsel, grounded in the Word, guards against misinterpretation. Living It Out 1. Open the Word daily, trusting it as God’s sure voice. 2. Invite the Spirit to impress Scripture’s truth on heart and conscience. 3. Submit personal experiences to biblical authority, yielding to God’s righteous verdict every time. 4. Rest in Christ, the full and final revelation, confident that “the secret counsel of the LORD is for those who fear Him” (Psalm 25:14). |
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