Job 38:1–3: “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ‘Who is this who darkens counsel, by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.'”

January 2nd, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

In chapter 38, God finally spoke to Job from a whirlwind. Perhaps because Job’s final counselor, Elihu, had spoken of a whirlwind, God decided to send one as an introduction to His answer. This was an appearance of God Almighty, talking directly to Job from something like a funnel cloud or hurricane. We remember Job said he wanted to talk with God because he had some questions. It seems God had heard enough from Job and his friends and was now going to remind His people that He was in control, that everything was in His hand.

Job (or anyone) trying to tell God how to run the world is like most of us trying to tell a rocket scientists how to calibrate the trajectory of a satellite launch. Few people in the world are capable of instructing aerospace engineers on how to do their work, and none of us can instruct God on how to run the world. Job was sure that his words up to this point had been filled with wisdom, but God thought differently. The Creator of the cosmos, the self-existent, eternal God Almighty was about to calibrate Job’s thinking.

God began His answer to Job by asking him a series of probing questions that he couldn’t possibly answer, all designed to humble him. For the most part these questions are still unanswerable today. When God said, “Now prepare yourself like a man.” He was telling Job to get ready for battle against Him. Most of us wouldn’t think of it that way, but that’s exactly what’s happening whenever we speak against God and His Word. We are issuing a challenge to God, setting ourselves up against him as an opponent. God reminded Job that he was not in a position to judge God’s actions. God didn’t owe Job (or us) answers, nor did He need to explain His ways to him. But, since God does care about us, He gives us some answers in His word. Not all the answers, but enough to encourage us and sustain us, reminding us of His power and love.

“LORD, thank You for Your unfailing love to us again this day.”

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Job 38 KJV

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. 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? 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. 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? ²²Hast 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.  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? 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.