42:7-9 Ministry to Friends God was displeased with Job’s three friends. They had not been right in what they said about him. God gave them the opportunity to repent of their actions and attitudes by sending them back to their friend Job to intercede on their behalf. This also gave Job the opportunity to personally forgive his friends for the way they had treated him, in the form of praying to God for their forgiveness. In performing this priestly service for his friends, Job pointed toward Jesus, our great Redeemer and Intercessor.
42:10-11 Faithfulness The message of the book of Job is not dependent on the restoration of Job’s former blessings. The most important thing is that Job rejected a false theology of works and found instead a deep relationship of grace. Satan’s hypotheses (1:9-11; 2:3-4) were proven false. God’s servant still loved and worshiped God, in spite of severe suffering and disability.
42:12-16 Prosperity God did not tell Job to repent so his pain and disability would be eliminated, he would be vindicated, or his prosperity would be restored. No. God brought Job to a face-to-face meeting with himself so that he would know that real prosperity is found in knowing God intimately. This is an important lesson for us, too.
42:17 Inspiration The finest man on earth (1:1, 8; 2:3) lived a full and meaningful life immersed in God’s presence. His story is the go-to book when we face suffering or disability. We can count on God to remove all obstacles that prevent or hinder the development of an intimate relationship with him.