Read Job 37
37 “At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways;
he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’
and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,
he stops all people from their labor.
8 The animals take cover;
they remain in their dens.
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,
the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice,
and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;
he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his direction they swirl around
over the face of the whole earth
to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,
or to water his earth and show his love.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
17 You who swelter in your clothes
when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,
hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19 “Tell us what we should say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,
bright as it is in the skies
after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
God comes in awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24 Therefore, people revere him,
for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”
Go Deeper
Often in life, we view ourselves as the main character in every story. If not every story, we definitely at the very least view ourselves as the main character in our own story. We do what we want to do; we orientate our lives around our individual passions, goals, and dreams. If someone cuts us off while driving, we are quickly prone to frustration at what an inconvenience that was for us, without maybe ever considering that the other driver may have been in a rush or in an emergency. We are often more concerned with what other people can give us rather than what we can give other people. Ultimately, we are self-serving in our fleshly nature.
However, when we follow Jesus we are pledging allegiance to a whole new way of life. God becomes the main character in our story, and we revolve our lives around His purposes, His authority, His desires, and His will for our lives. This authority that God possesses as our Creator and Lord is displayed so majestically all throughout the book of Job. Specifically in Job 37 we see that His authority and purposes will never make total sense to us. He is a holy and sovereign God, who knows what is best far more than what we might think is best. Verse 5 says that, “He does great things that we cannot comprehend.” It goes on to describe storms that the Lord commands and allows to fall on the Earth.
All of creation bows at His directives. He is not just the main character in our story, but He is the main character over all of creation. The clouds, the moon, the sun, are all under His control, and so are we. In many ways the storm that Elihu describes is a picture of the destruction, trials, and chaos we all experience on this side of eternity. For the audience of Job, it was also a physical reminder that even if snow falls, and they can no longer farm and work, that God will continue to provide and be faithful in the midst of both physical and spiritual hardship. He will continue to do whatever He discerns will bring Him the most glory, and we get to submit under His loving authority. He will accomplish everything He intends to accomplish on Earth for no purposes of His can be thwarted. His directives can flow from love or correction, but it’s ultimately all for His glory and our good, even when we cannot understand His wondrous works.
Thus, this chapter serves as a compelling reminder to trust God in the midst of the storms, and trust that He always remains in control of every detail, for there is nothing we experience here on Earth that hasn’t passed through the sovereignty of God’s hand. Therefore, not only can we trust Him, but verses 23-24 tell us that we also ought to fear Him and worship Him in response to His majesty, power, and righteousness.
Questions
- What’s something in your life that currently feels out of control (ie. unemployment, loss/heartbreak, prodigal child, singleness, infertility, college admissions, etc.)? Spend some time praying that the Lord would help you trust that He is in control of what feels out of control to you.
- What is your favorite part of creation (ie. snowfall, sunsets, oceans, lakes, trees, stars, etc.)? Spend some time worshipping God in prayer for what He has created, and ask Him to increase your affection for Him whenever you are out among His creation.
- Read Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Do you believe that even in hard seasons, when you can’t comprehend what God is doing, that He is working all things together for your good?
A Quote
“When the Lord seals up a man’s hand, he is unable to perform his labor. The Lord has an object in this, namely, ‘that, all men may know his work.’ When they cannot do their own work, they are intended to observe the works of God.” — Charles Spurgeon
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3 responses to “Job 37”
Comprehension
I believe that our comprehension of God is so meniscal. We do not have the ability to truly know how great, vast, infinite God is. We think we have some level but I see not even the tip of the iceberg of knowledge. He’s worthy of worship, even when things are falling apart. He’s good. And he’s great. He’s just, he’s righteous. He’s wise. He loves you. He’s working for your good, and there is reward that’s found in him. And even when everything in this world is gone from us, we will realize he is worthy. “To live as Christ, to die is gain,” Paul says. “Even when I don’t have breath anymore, I’ll have Jesus and he will be worth it.”
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
God the overwhelming never ending, amazing love You have for this world and the things You have created is vast. Thank You for me being a part of this. Continue to help my comprehension of what part I play. Thank You for wisdom and knowledge that is glorifying and honoring to You. God I every jot and tittle that You have helped some man write in Your word is beneficial to me. It is incredible to have the vastness of You open. This chapter just exalts You in the weather outside. I see the drops of rain, the wind blowing the trees, the smell of moisture, the clouds moving and changing, with the moon and stars, shining and being darkened by the clouds. I wish I could so much more eloquently say how majestic is the sight and beauty of what I see. I praise You with my whole being, I worship You with all my senses. God thank You for this imagery.
God thank You for this day, these minutes that all I say and do can be an honor to You. God give me Your love goggles to see others as You see them and to love them well in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
23 “The Almighty is beyond our reach . . .”
At first reading, I questioned these words. How can God be beyond our reach?
Upon further reflection though, I have come to agree that the almighty is beyond OUR reach. However, we are not beyond the ALMIGHTY’s reach!
God moves in strange and mysterious ways remaining supreme over all his creation. His ways are unfathomable far beyond human understanding. Every detail of creation carries his divine nature and fingerprints. May we be astounded at his wonders and worship him alone, letting our hearts be radically drawn to his.