Year One, March 9

I Work, and Who Can Turn It Back?1

When Job’s three accusers were silent, when Elihu had finished his eloquent speech, and Job had no more to say, the Lord himself came between them. As if with a long series of thunderclaps, the Lord hushed every heart and voice into fear, wonder and respect.

  

Job 38:1-11; 16-17; 22-23; 31-41

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

How majestic are those words, “Who is this?” Is it a poor, weak, foolish man? Is it Job? My servant Job! Does he speak of that which he cannot understand and dare to complain about his God? Our wisdom is only wisdom when it admits its own foolishness.

3 “Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements--surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

7 when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

We know nothing about the ways of God. How foolish we are to think that we can pry into his mysteries and explain his difficult secrets. We are far better off singing with angels, than doubting with devils. The angels all sang, sang together, and sang with one common joy. Oh, for such unanimous joyful praise among people.

8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors

when it burst out from the womb,

9 when I made clouds its garment

and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10 and prescribed limits for it

and set bars and doors,

11 and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?”

16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

or walked in the recesses of the deep?

17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?”

The secrets of earth are too deep for us. The mysteries of eternity are even more so. One thing, however, is comforting; if we do not see the gates of death open, we do know who it is that has opened the door of heaven for us.

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,

or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,

23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble,

for the day of battle and war?”

31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades

or loose the cords of Orion?

32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season,

or can you guide the Bear with its children?”

Pleiades, Orion, Mazzaroth, and Bear refer to constellations in the stars. Who among us can control the stars or change the seasons?

33 “Do you know the ordinances of the heavens?

Can you establish their rule on the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,

that a flood of waters may cover you?

35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go

and say to you, ‘Here we are’?

36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts

or given understanding to the mind?

37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?

Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,

38 when the dust runs into a mass

and the clods stick fast together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,

or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,

40 when they crouch in their dens

or lie in wait in their thicket?

41 Who provides for the raven its prey,

when its young ones cry to God for help,

and wander about for lack of food?”

In all these things the greatness of the Lord and the nothingness of humanity are obvious. May God keep even one thought of pride from poisoning our spirit.

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¹ Isaiah 43:13