Lessons
FROM JOB
MICHAEL WEINER
Job on Blamelessness
As one begins studying the Book of Job ( Iyov ), they are immediately impacted with a moral concept which for most , if not all , seems to be a human impossibility . In the first verse of Job , we are reminded that Job is “ blameless ” where it states ,
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job . Now that man was blameless and upright ; he feared God and shunned evil .
But what does it mean to be called blameless , and is this really something we can actually accomplish ? When God calls us as Messianic believers to be blameless , is He presenting an impossible demand , which could never be accomplished ? After all , in Romans 3:23 are we not all reminded that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God ? Which is it ?
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In our attempt to shed light on the word blameless and Job 1:1 , we draw meaning from the Hebrew word , “ tam ”. This is a very complex word which takes on many forms . One source defines it as “ wholeness , perfection , innocence , simplicity , integrity , or honesty .” Then , that of the same source , puts it together ( hyphenated ) with the word for heart ( Tam-Lev ) meaning “ sincerely ” or “ good intentions .”
The command placed upon us to be blameless comes to us from our father Abraham . This is seen in Gen . 17:1 where we read ,
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him , “ I am God Almighty ; walk before me , and be blameless .” From this , one might say , “ That ’ s a long way from father Abraham to us .” Not really in that he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world , that in Him we are called holy and blameless . ( Eph . 1:4 )