The Lord Reveals His Omnipotence to Job
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; when I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!’
“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and the upraised arm is broken. “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.
“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home? Do you know it, because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great? Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? By what way is light diffused, or the east wind scattered over the earth? “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt to cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man; to satisfy the desolate waste, and cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? The waters harden like stone, and the surface of the deep is frozen. Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth (the constellations)in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you? Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, ‘Here we are!’? Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, when the dust hardens in clumps, and the clods cling together?
“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens, or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?”
Well, all this time, Job has been demanding the chance to speak to God, and now God has shown up. Elihu is winding down after his last speech when suddenly a whirlwind appears out of the desert. As Job, Elihu, and his friends flatten themselves on the ground, they hear God thundering as He speaks out of the whirlwind. God describes His omnipotence and His wisdom in ordering the cosmos and maintaining all creation. God ask Job where Job was when God created all these things? Can Job understand God’s ways? Does Job have the power to affect anything in the cosmos?
The short answer to all of these questions is “No.” But Job’s answer is far less important than God’s description of His power, His might, and His wisdom. These passages give us an incredible glimpse into the events of creation, and we would be foolish were we to fail to pay close attention.
“Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Here we glimpse that moment when God spoke the Word “Be!” and creation sprang forth. ““Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; when I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!’” Here we realize that God is the One who has set the bounds for the oceans that make up 70% of the world’s surface.
““Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, and the upraised arm is broken.” We think of sunlight as a passive thing; yet, God employs light as a weapon. The speed of darkness is the speed of light and darkness cannot remain when the light comes. Here light is not merely a physical phenomenon but also a spiritual one.
“Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory,
That you may know the paths to its home? Do you know it, because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great?” One by one, God enumerates the wonders of His creation and graphically demonstrates to Job that Job has no wisdom or understanding or control over so much as a single event.
APPLICATION: These days there is a great deal said about climate change and various means of slowing it. While there is nothing wrong with attempting to control the proliferation of plastics and to reduce air pollution, etc., climate change has always existed. Just ask the dinosaurs. The cosmos is incredibly complicated; to assume that humans can somehow control all aspects of nature is to assume that humans are omnipotent and omniscient. Sadly, we are neither. God is the only One who truly controls things.
All this time, we have watched as those who have come to mourn with Job have then turned to criticize him or lecture him. But now the God to Whom Job has appealed has deigned to honor Job with His presence. Job has put God on trial, and now God is on the witness stand. The results are electrifying. Go through the Bible and you will find that Job is the only one to whom God has ever spoken from a whirlwind. God thundered at the ancient Israelites in the time of Samuel, and God covered Mount Sinai with earthquakes, thunder, and lightning. But when God spoke to Elijah, it was not earthquake, wind, or fire, but in a still small voice.
For most of us, when God speaks, He does so by making impressions on our spirits or by putting words in the mouths of other people. Sometimes we read something in the Bible or in some other book and realize that this is God’s word for us for that day. The key to hearing from God is a desire to hear from Him. If you want to hear from God, you will. If you don’t, then no amount of thunder, lightning, whirlwinds, or anything else will move you.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, give us a desire to hear from You and then direct our hearts so that we will listen when You speak. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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