Job, Elihu, and Job’s friends see a massive tornado approaching, from which God is about to speak. Anyone, who has ever seen (or heard in the dark of night) a tornado approaching, can relate to real terror. Especially if you have Elihu, a man of God, telling Job the tornado is coming straight at him personally:
“The Almighty…he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit” (37:23-24, ESV).
The tornado strikes and out of the center of it, God speaks to Job. To say that God is extremely angry because of Job’s claim to equality with God is the understatement of all history. God punctuates it with bitter questions and even more bitter irony:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ...Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (38:2, 4)
Where were you indeed (38:5-11)?
God bears down on Job intensely:
“Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? ...Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer…Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” (39:27; 40:2, 8)
Please read these chapters together and picture what it must have felt like to Job!
Where were YOU, Larry? Where were YOU, [your name here].
God goes on to say that if Job can exhibit all the qualities of God, such as a thundering voice and unlimited power, while adorning himself with majesty and dignity, then God will be glad to acknowledge that Job can save himself!
No bitter irony there, eh?
God concludes his “tornado talk” with a comparison of God’s control over two great monsters, Behemoth and Leviathan (whether metaphorical or real is unknown). These creatures cannot be controlled by anyone but God. By comparison, God says, “If you lay your hands on them, you will not do it again!”
“Behold, the hope of man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of [them]. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir [them] up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine” (41:9-11)
These chapters, long as they are, serve as the ultimate definition of the fifth category of the Cycle – disunity from God. But this is only half the story.
Hurry back for Part 2 next week and be blessed by the ultimate Old Testament definition of perfect unity with God, which we have been seeking under the heading “If My People” for two and a half years now, verse by verse!
“The Almighty…he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit” (37:23-24, ESV).
The tornado strikes and out of the center of it, God speaks to Job. To say that God is extremely angry because of Job’s claim to equality with God is the understatement of all history. God punctuates it with bitter questions and even more bitter irony:
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? ...Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (38:2, 4)
Where were you indeed (38:5-11)?
- When I determined its measurements; when I laid its cornerstone; when the morning stars sang together?
- When I shut in the sea; when I made clouds its garment and darkness its swaddling band?
- Commanded the morning?
- Walked in the recesses of the deep [sea]?
- Seen the gates of death?
- Comprehended the expanse of the earth?
- Entered the storehouses of snow and hail?
- Been the father of the rain and drops of dew?
- Given birth to the frost of heaven?
- Guide the constellations in the heavens and establish their rule?
- Lift up your voice to the clouds and command a flood to cover you?
- Send forth lightning at your command?
- Hunt prey to satisfy the hunger of young lions?
- Tie up a wild ox with ropes?
- Clothe the horse’s neck with a mane?
God bears down on Job intensely:
“Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high? ...Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer…Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?” (39:27; 40:2, 8)
Please read these chapters together and picture what it must have felt like to Job!
Where were YOU, Larry? Where were YOU, [your name here].
God goes on to say that if Job can exhibit all the qualities of God, such as a thundering voice and unlimited power, while adorning himself with majesty and dignity, then God will be glad to acknowledge that Job can save himself!
No bitter irony there, eh?
God concludes his “tornado talk” with a comparison of God’s control over two great monsters, Behemoth and Leviathan (whether metaphorical or real is unknown). These creatures cannot be controlled by anyone but God. By comparison, God says, “If you lay your hands on them, you will not do it again!”
“Behold, the hope of man is false; he is laid low even at the sight of [them]. No one is so fierce that he dares to stir [them] up. Who then is he who can stand before me? Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine” (41:9-11)
These chapters, long as they are, serve as the ultimate definition of the fifth category of the Cycle – disunity from God. But this is only half the story.
Hurry back for Part 2 next week and be blessed by the ultimate Old Testament definition of perfect unity with God, which we have been seeking under the heading “If My People” for two and a half years now, verse by verse!
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