Job 38

Verses 1-18, “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. “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place, That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken. “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.”

After observing all of the words exchanged back and forth between Job and his friends, God finally spoke. Sometimes the patience and longsuffering of God gets misunderstood as His acceptance, but when He does finally speak, His words cut through all the half truths and no one is going to debate Him. Remember that His voice is described as thunder, which causes men to tremble, and here He spoke from out of a whirlwind.  Hebrews 4:12‭-‬13, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are  naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”

God asks the question, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”  If you are going to speak on behalf of God, you better be prepared to answer for what you have to say. God's word is powerful and effective, but our opinions are useless and do the hearer no good...they are idle words.  Matthew 12:36‭-‬37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Consider the abundance of idle words that are preached from the pulpit of the modern church. The sheep are tired and weary and in need of care, yet they receive nothing to refresh their spirit. God has compassion on these sheep, which is likely why teachers are warned about receiving a stricter judgement. 

Job had all these unanswered questions for God, but in the end God would question him. The point being made here might be that if Job is able to answer Him, then he would have the right to demand answers from God...which we know he does not. There are just too many mysteries for man to figure out God; although we search for understanding, we realize that we will never fully know on this side of eternity.  I Corinthians 4:1‭-‬5, “Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”