Bible in 90, Day 38: Then the LORD answered from the storm

Job 25-42

*image courtesy of Lucretious at www.sxc.hu

Ok, when God tells you to brace yourself like a man cuz He’s about to question you, exactly how do you respond to that?!  Job has spent the whole book defending himself to his friends and feeling as though he needs to defend himself against God.  Eventually, he starts asking God a few questions himself!  He sounds a little arrogant at some points.  Then finally, God answers Job out of the storm (Job 38-42).

This is a fearful thing!  God has heard all that was said, about how Job wanted to take Him to trial and ask Him some questions.  Now, He shows up with some questions of His own.  God asks Job where he was when He was busy making the universe.  Where was he when God’s angels were cheering on His creation?  Is he able to move the constellations through the evening sky?  Does he know the laws of the universe?  Can he control the thunderstorm or see the place the lightning is sent from?  Job realizes he has spoken rashly and unwisely.

But God does not stop!  He goes on to talk about the behemoth and the leviathan, animals whose exact identity is not known.  (I happen to think that the behemoth is a dinosaur and the leviathan a dragon, but no, I can’t prove it!)  What we do know is that they are both huge powerful animals.  God asks if Job can handle them, make them his pet.  God can!  God made them both!  Again, Job realizes he overstepped his bounds.  He repents and is mournful of his sin.

One time when I was in college, I got mad about something.  I forget what it was, but I was sure I was right and someone else was wrong.  I knew I shouldn’t be mad, and I decided I didn’t care!  I decided that it didn’t matter what the Bible said, I was going to enjoy being ticked off, and that other person was going to pay.  I was punching my mattress and about to go into a full-blown fit when a clap of thunder like I’ve never heard boomed outside my window.  It was so loud I dropped to the floor instinctively to take cover.  Without a moment’s thought, I realized God was speaking to me out of the storm.  I repented right then, realizing as Job did that I was nothing in comparison to the power of a storm, let alone the God who controlled them!

Have you ever dared to question God’s motives? Have you ever found yourself judging God’s actions or intentions?  This is a fearful place to be in.  When we do this, we are claiming to be wiser than God, or more righteous than God.

Let us never presume to be either.  God’s ways are higher than our ways, like the stars are above the surface of the earth (Isaiah 55:8).  Let us humble ourselves before the God who created the universe and anything in it.  Let us remember that we came from the dust of the earth, and were formed by God.  We can always know that God is in control, and has good things in store.

*originally at Words of Reason