Job 38:1-2 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
How many times have people questioned God?
Through the turmoil and difficulties of life, people often turn to God and ask why? Why did you let them die? Why didn’t you stop the evil from happening? Why did you let this happen to me? Why am I here?
The questions might decrease during times of blessing. When things are going well, God might be less in our thoughts. The focus on “good times”, often usurps thoughts of obedience, trust, and hope.
Do you suppose that God takes people through valleys of trial so that they won’t forget God altogether? Or maybe, He is giving us perspective? A traveler has to be brave and trust God when the road is dark, but when the road is broad and the way is illumined, the focus changes. Why do we question God when life turns sour, or the path difficult, and as it persists the seed of bitterness tends to grow?
The mature follower of Christ recognizes God in both the blessing and in the curse. Whether God brings joy or hardship, spiritual maturity sees God through both the joy and the sorrow, in all things there is comfort.
Job was declared to be upright and blameless by God, so it would seem reasonable for Job to question God when he was being afflicted by satan. In the midst of all the bad counsel and false conclusions, Job began to loathe his life to the point of death. At one point he wished he had never been born, this demonstrates true despair. And yet, after all the counsel has concluded, after all the wisdom of the world had been exhausted, God speaks….and His response is not what is expected.
Job 38:4-7 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together
and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
When God answered, it was not as a reply to all the accusations or questions, He began to ask questions and caused Job to consider things beyond his circumstances.
Job lacked knowledge. He had formed conclusions based off a very limited amount of knowledge. God was teaching Job a lesson. By forming conclusions Job was casting a shadow onto all that God was revealing.
As God continued to probe the scope of mankind’s understanding, He asked with a bit of sarcasm the span of creation, the formation of the Earth and the stars. Could mankind comprehend the expanse of the stars and understand how they were formed? When God asked him these questions 4000 years ago, who would have known that mankind still strives to understand these things today?
Job 38:16-18 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,
or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?
Declare, if you know all this.”
There is so much that God has knowledge of that we do not know. Comprehending the magnitude of Creation is one thing, but God was asking these questions for a reason…our circumstances and why God acts as He does can be just as vast.
When God answers your questions, He might not answer them the way you hoped. Maybe the answers are just too big for you to understand? Maybe what He is doing at the moment exceeds your comprehension.
If we can’t receive the fullness of understanding, then what is it that God wants us to know?
Could it be He just wants us to trust Him?
Job 40:3-5 “Then Job answered the LORD and said:
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Job realized at that moment that he had gone too far. Whenever people encounter God, they quickly realize they are way over their head. The power of God is overwhelming, the knowledge of God too vast, the authority, and power too great to stand before. All we can do is fall down at His feet and worship.
Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD and said: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.”
The realization of God’s authority brings humility. Even in the midst of very limited comprehension, Job recognized that God can and will accomplish all that He purposes.
Do you believe that God loves you? He said He does. Do you believe that He has your best in mind? He declared it.
At the end of Job’s lesson, we witness the mercy of God once more.
Job 42:10 “And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.”
God restores.
He will complete what He has begun in you….you just need to trust Him. Keeps your eyes fixed on Jesus and the peace of God will rule in your heart once more.
U.T. 