Job 38:1-41
Q.1. Are you surprised by God’s response to the suffering Job? What point was God making with His questions of Job? How did Job’s influence compare with God’s – (Job 38:1-18)
Note that God responded to Job, and not to his companions. We learn from the first chapters of Job, that his terrible trials and losses were not a result of his own sin but were caused by the viciousness of Satan (Job 1:6-12; 2:3-7). It may seem surprising that God didn’t immediately console Job. In time, He would comfort, restore, and bless Job abundantly (Job 42:10-17). God needed to firstly address Job’s lack of trust in His sovereign control over his life. Job could not answer God’s questions satisfactorily, because – 8 ” My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “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). God answered out of a violent storm, and challenged Job’s attitude – 2 Who are you to question my wisdom when you don’t know what you are talking about? 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers (Job 38:2-3). He then asked Job to explain about the creation and control of the heavens and the earth (Job 38:4-18). He revealed the joy that the creation brought – When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy (Job 38:7). He cited example after example of wonders that Job would struggle to explain. There was absolutely no comparison between Job’s wisdom and control, and God’s.
Q.2. Can anyone other than God control the climate? What do the stars and their orbits reveal about God? Who feeds the animal kingdom? How do we compare with God? – (Job 38:19-41)
Some of God’s questions to Job were quite cutting. They underscored his foolishness in complaining about things he did not understand – You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great! (Job 38:21). God asked about climate – clouds, rain, ice, snow, frost, hail, wind, floods, thunder and lightning, rivers, and seas (Job 38:22-30, 34-37). Man may keep records and discern weather patterns, but we can’t produce or change any of them – He commanded and they were created (Ps.148:5). God spoke of the stars and satellites and orbits – Do you know the ordinances of the heavens, or fix their rule over the earth? (Job 38:33). We cannot even measure them – He counts the number of the stars and He gives names to all of them … His understanding is infinite (Ps.147:4-5). He alone can – 39 … satisfy the appetite of the young lions … 41 and prepare for the raven its nourishment when it’s young cry to God and wander about without food? (Job 38:39 & 41). However, God has not finished yet.