Job 40 God questions Job
Then the Lord said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
Job Responds to the Lord
Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”
The Lord Challenges Job Again
Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: “Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his? All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty. Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud. Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand. Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead. Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.”
“Take a look at Behemoth, which I made, just as I made you. It eats grass like an ox. See its powerful loins and the muscles of its belly. Its tail is as strong as a cedar. The sinews of its thighs are knit tightly together. Its bones are tubes of bronze. Its limbs are bars of iron. It is a prime example of God’s handiwork, and only its Creator can threaten it. The mountains offer it their best food, where all the wild animals play. It lies under the lotus plants, hidden by the reeds in the marsh. The lotus plants give it shade among the willows beside the stream. It is not disturbed by the raging river, not concerned when the swelling Jordan rushes around it. No one can catch it off guard or put a ring in its nose and lead it away.”
Back when grand opera was quite popular, many female stars were large ladies with enormous voices who would end the opera by singing long loud quavering solos. Because of these ladies, a saying developed, “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.” This saying has come to mean that a situation is not finished or decided until the final outcome is clear. It emphasizes the idea that one should not assume the result of an event, particularly in competitive contexts, until it is conclusively resolved. In America, the saying is commonly used in sports, politics, and other competitive areas to indicate that outcomes can change until the very end. The saying also acts as a reminder to remain hopeful or vigilant, as circumstances can shift unexpectedly. (AI generated explanation)
When studying the Book of Job, we might conclude that “it ain’t over till the fat lady sings,” or “it ain’t over till God says so!” After days or even weeks of Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, and Elihu lecturing Job and attempting to represent God, now God is finally speaking for Himself.
“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” Oh dear! God has manifested Himself to Job in a whirlwind and is now questioning Job in a voice like thunder. It’s amazing that Job can say anything at all.
God challenges Job to prove his glory and splendor, honor and majesty, power and might. Both God and Job know full well that Job possesses none of these things. All the time Job has been complaining about God, he has treated God as a sort of troublesome senior uncle rather than as the Almighty Ruler of the Universe.
“Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? Are you as strong as God? Can you thunder with a voice like his? All right, put on your glory and splendor, your honor and majesty. Give vent to your anger. Let it overflow against the proud. Humiliate the proud with a glance; walk on the wicked where they stand. Bury them in the dust. Imprison them in the world of the dead. Then even I would praise you, for your own strength would save you.”
At this point, Job is likely wishing for a safe hiding place; however, how does one hide from God? And that’s the point God is making. God is sovereign, no matter what we might do, say, or think. These days, there are all kinds of television programs about aliens, as if believing in people from outer space is easier than to believe in the One who has created us. Highly educated people are quite willing to believe in the most outlandish theories, as long as those theories don’t include an Almighty God to whom they will eventually have to answer. But no matter how many fallacies someone chooses to believe, in the end, God is the One who will close the books on each of our lives. In that day, God will have the last word. May we do everything possible to commit our lives to Him and to do those things that please Him!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives, knowing that You are the One who has created us and that You want fellowship with us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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