Reading: Job 38-40
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me (Job 38:1-3).
Today’s reading brings us to the point in the narrative we have all been waiting for. At long last, God breaks His silence and speaks. Ignoring, for the moment, the rather pompous group of men that had appointed themselves as His representatives against His servant, God speaks directly to Job. As in all things, God speaks on His terms. He neither answers Job’s questions about the nature of Job’s sins nor offers any explanation for Job's suffering. Instead, God comes before Job with multiple questions of His own.
We know, from His conversations with Satan, that God held Job in high esteem (Job 1:8; 2:3). Satan may have been shocked when Job had held fast to his faith even when all of God’s blessings had been withdrawn and replaced with curses, but God had known the steadfastness of Job’s heart all along. God, therefore, did not attempt to bolster Job’s faith by reaffirming His love for him, nor did He directly address the wrong-headed nature of the other men’s accusations against Job. God took the opportunity that Satan’s evil machinations had given Him to expand Job’s understanding of the nature of mankind in correlation to God and to emphatically remind him of the all-sufficiency of the Lord to whom he had declared his allegiance.
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. God’s questions fell thick and fast. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy (38:4-7)? Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof (38:19-20)? Although He nominally was seeking an answer from Job, God knew full well that neither Job nor any other person present had the knowledge to answer Him.
Over the course of his questioning, the Lord listed many different aspects of creation and the natural world, each time challenging Job to explain them. He then referenced the many powerful animals in creation, asking Job if he knew how to show dominion over the monstrous beasts. Through His words, God reminded Job that He is the Creator AND the Controller of all things, from the dawning of the day and the pull of the tides to the ebbs and flow of blessings in the lives of men and beasts. The more God spoke, the clearer His message became.
At no time throughout Job’s entire ordeal had God been absent. Furthermore, he had always been in complete control. God fully understood what had occurred and why. And in that knowledge, Job would have to be content.
For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Is. 55:8-9).
Thought for Today: When we speak to others of God, we would do well to remember that He is also listening.
Christ Revealed: As the One who laid the foundations of the earth (Job 38:4). By Christ, God created our universe (Heb. 1:1-2). All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:1-3).
Word Studies:38:9 swaddlingband = wrapping; 38:12 dayspring = dawn; 38:31 Pleiades = the seven stars that stood for the 7 influences of spring; bands of Orion = storms; 39:9 unicorn = wild ox; 40:4 vile = insignifcant; 40:21 fens = marshes.
Pray For Government Officials:Ryan McCrary •Government Officials: Rep.Haley Stevens (MI),Rep. Shontel Brown (OH)• Country: Sao Tome and Principe(190,428) Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea • Major Languages: Portuguese, Forro • Religious Freedom • 70.3% Catholic; 3.4% Evangelical; 2% Apostolic; 1.8% Adventist; 3.1% Other (Including Muslim); 19.4% None • Prayer Suggestion: Pray aloud with your voice – God hears (Ps. 3:4).
Optional Readings: Philippians 1