Job 38 The Lord Challenges Job
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.”
“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
“Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’”
“Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors. The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence.”
“Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!”
“Where does light come from, and where does darkness go? Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!”
“Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail? (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.) Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind?”
“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up?”
“Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew? Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes.”
“Can you direct the movement of the stars—binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? Can you direct the constellations through the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?”
“Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?”
“Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions’ appetites as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket? Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?”
Poor Job! It’s not bad enough that Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, and Elihu have verbally assaulted him; now God is speaking for himself. As long as Job was only being assaulted by men, he could tolerate those attacks. But now the Ruler of the Universe is speaking, and nobody can possibly argue with God.
God questions Job: has Job had any part in the creation of the world or the maintenance of it? Does Job have any power over nature at all? Of course, the answer to all these questions is “No.”
These passages contain some of the most glorious descriptions of God’s glory and his power. Nobody can possibly describe God’s creation as vividly as God can, and these verses are worth studying all on their own.
Many people who suffer from fires, floods, earthquakes, accidents, or other disasters find themselves questioning God’s purposes and His goodness. Certainly, those in Texas, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and other places hit by floods may be asking why God has allowed these things. Originally, God designed a perfect world; however, when sin entered, disasters also began. ‘
If I were Job, I would be trying to hide somewhere, but how do you hide from God? Job must be reconsidering his complaints for the last several days, examining himself to see if he has committed heresy.
Even those of us who are believers really don’t fully appreciate God, His power, and his might. Failing to realize what we are doing, we are more than willing to take verbal pot shots at God, demanding to know why He allows disasters, why He allows the evil to prosper, and why He doesn’t answer prayers immediately. God is incredibly patient and tolerant of our ridiculous queries. It’s as if ants decided to try to chew up a marble column.
There used to be a commercial on American television advertising a financial investment company, E.F. Hutton. The slogan ran, “When E. F. Hutton speaks, everybody listens!” Those hearing these words were supposed to be impressed that the financial advice dished out by E. F. Hutton would be the wisest advice in the world. Unfortunately, some of the E. F. Hutton workers engaged in dubious financial schemes, forcing the company to merge with another shortly after this slogan became popular. But when God speaks, we all must listen, for the One who has created us and who knows us better than we know ourselves is speaking.
Tomorrow we will consider more of God’s admonitions to Job, but for today, it’s enough to remember that as one of our pastor friends used to say, God’s in Management and we are only in Advertising. May we remember that when God shows up, He is the only One authorized to speak.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, Your creation is more magnificent than any words can describe. We praise You for Your greatness, for Your glory, for Your power, for Your might, and for Your magnificence. Help us to worship You at all times, even when we don’t feel like it. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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