Job 23:13
Yet He determines, who can dissuade Him?
What He desires, that He does.
Another one of these verses that I really pulled something out of that I did not see in any of the versions I read, yet we all say the same thing. This afternoon I am going to finally start in earnest my study of what did Jesus actually do. (So much for that.) I look forward to it and I expect I will improve who I am in the process. Well not really me, as God will do the improving, but I will get the blessing.
“Determines” was also “stands alone”, “is unique”, “is one minded”, “is one”, “is single minded”, “wants but one thing”, or “is determined”. I felt the idea trying to be conveyed was that God makes His mind up and does so without anyone else’s input. My guess is the word had that meaning at the time and its exactness was lost through the ages. “Dissuade” was also “oppose”, “make Him change”, “turn”, “deter” or “divert”. In my mind the intent was, “Who can persuade Him to change His mind?”
“He desires” was also “pleases Him”, “His soul desires”, or “His heart desires”. Pleases seemed too simple. Heart seemed a little “mushy” (It being the week of Valentine’s Day.) The soul bit made me wonder if God had a soul in the same fashion that we have a soul. I would had thought God’s heavenly form was Himself and that our soul was simply that bit of us that got to live on with Him in heaven.
I learned yesterday that I would now pick a Bible with large print over one with small print regardless of version. Okay maybe not regardless of version, but between the acceptable versions for study, I would pick the large print in one over another in small print. I almost ran out to get a new Bible, but I decided I could read a chapter and study Christ in the same physical copy. It messes up my habit, but I can make a new one simply enough.
One of the oddities about this verse is that the normative answer is that no one can change God’s mind. As we learn in the New Testament, that is not true. The righteous man through prayer and supplication can change God’s mind. It brings in the whole argument of free will and pre-determination, but we are clearly told that if we seek, we will find, and if we ask, it will be given.
One source mentioned that God wanted one thing. I think that one thing is for us to live in heaven with Him. I want that, but as a human I want a whole lot of other stuff too. My challenge is to put God’s desire ahead of mine. His challenge is to show us that we do indeed want what He wants since He made us that way. I like that I have a purpose and I’m ok with what he determines.
(Written 2/12/23, Posted 10/9/26, Job 561/~1070)