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Job

CHAPTER 38
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.

First, please note that the word "LORD" is capitalized in the first sentence of verse 1. That means it is a transliteration of the Hebrew word JEHOVAH. This is God Himself speaking, and He addresses Himself first to Job.

God's first question is "Who is this?" It seems that God question points to Job's action which is OUT OF CHARACTER! Job KNOWS God. Job KNOWS that God is omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present. Job also KNOWS God cares, and is always watching over His people. But Job has questioned God's treatment of Him. God is pointing out that this action is inconsistent with true belief.
Thus, God exposes Job's SIN. God will expose ALL men's sins one day. Later, God will commend Job for his acting in righteousness. God will one day do that for all believers.

The words "darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge" refers to the fact that man is finite and thus has no knowledge of God except by divine revelation. And man has no wisdom with which to question God. Therefore, what Job has done by questioning God, is to put a "cloud" over God's character.

Friends, did you ever realize that before? To QUESTION God's treatment of us is to cast doubt on the validity of His authority and His compassion.

Job has actually been abrasive toward God by questioning the way in which he, as a believer, has been treated. Now God tells him to "gird up now thy loins like man." This means get ready to do battle; stand firm and take your medicine!

Now here is what I believe is the turning point in this whole story of Job. Up until this time, we have been faced with a believer whose life has been cast into deep turmoil. His questioning of God's allowance of this treatment seems to be a very valid response from a believer.

And God is condescending to Job, as He is with ALL men! God KNOWS that finite man cannot fathom the infinite God. Therefore, God comes DOWN to man and reveals Himself. God did that personally to all the world in the Person of Jesus Christ. He came to SHOW us what God is REALLY like. He came to SHOW us what God EXPECTS from man!

But listen to this: God never EXPLAINS Himself. Instead He throws question after question at Job which simply cannot be explained other than - GOD. Job (nor you and I) could not understand God. But He is quite willing to come and REVEAL what we NEED to know about Him.

This action by the Lord teaches us that He KNOWS we cannot understand all that He is; but He uses the things we DO NOT know to make us realize that He IS!

4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? 6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, 10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

God asks a series of questions of Job. So, here is God's "battle plan" for Job. He is called upon to stand like a man and fight with his wisdom and knowledge against the Almighty and Holy God.

This first series of questions refers to the fact of Job's (and our) mortality and God's IMMORTALITY! Where was Job when God was creating the universe? He was only in God's mind and heart. He did not yet exist. Neither did you nor I. Therefore, how can we question God's immaculate and eternal plan for all that we are and all that He wants us to be?

There is obviously enough water on the earth to completely cover it. The water actually covered the earth in Noah's day. Why doesn't it today? God has established "boundaries."

Where were YOU when God created all things by simply speaking them into existence from NOTHING? At that time all God's angels sang praise and glory to His great work. But Job wasn't around, neither were you and I.

12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? 14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. 15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

The sun makes the day dawn as the earth slowly rotates and revolves in an elyptical pattern around the sun. The "dawning" of a new day is a breathtakingly beautiful display of God's glorious creation. Anyone beholding that display should KNOW that there is an Almighty Creator!

Anyone who sees the dawning of a new day, and the earth in clear form appearing as a "seal" in molded clay, should KNOW that God IS! And any who would deny that fact must be acting in total self-pride. They are the ones with the "high arm" (verse 15), and it will one day be broken. All pride shall be broken when our Glorious God appears and man is brought into judgment.

16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? 17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. 19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? 21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?

Isn't LIGHT a great mystery? One candle pierces the darkness. Yes. The sun gives light to the earth, and that is the point from which most physical light is emitted. But where did that sun come from? Do you know how God MADE it?

This is a question that no man can answer. Like the others, it points to the finiteness of man and the infiniteness of God. Therefore, man is left with only ONE choice: to BELIEVE God and to TRUST Him.

22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, 23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? 24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? 25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; 27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? 30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

How about snow? Isn't it a wonderful but perplexing thing? It is beautiful, and when you touch it, it melts. But it will cover the ground, and its pure white cover reflects the sun rays in radiance that hurts the eyes.

Yes, we know how snow is formed. And we know how hail is formed. But do we know how God can make them happen just at the right time to be a help or a hindrance in battle? How can God look down through time and know just when to send a hail-storm that gives Israel aid while fighting the Philistines? How can God look down through time and see when to send a snowstorm that will stop the movement of tanks in a war?

31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? 32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? 33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

How does God form stars, millions of miles apart, into a constellation that is visible to man? How does God set the planets and stars in array and keep them moving by the force of gravity? How does God keep all that going, and at the same time let the universe EXPAND each day?

34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? 35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? 36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? 37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, 38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? 39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

From the mystery of thunder and lightning to the mystery of the innate nature of created creatures to provide food for their young, God questions Job's knowledge and wisdom.

Lightning travels, scientists say, at 186,000 miles per second. It is over there, and in a millisecond it is over here.

Lions and even birds instinctively know to feed their young. God planted that wisdom in them.

And THAT is exactly God's point! In verse 36, God asks where does MAN'S wisdom come from. Well, it comes from GOD, of course!

So then, who are WE to question God and cast doubt upon His integrity?

In all this, God has not EXPLAINED Himself. In chapters 39, 40 and 41 - God will NOT explain Himself. He asks questions man cannot answer. He shows that knowledge and wisdom in us originated in Him. Therefore, we are to TRUST God, and OBEY Him.

Please continue in Bible Study with us.