Key verse:
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements – surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Application
Job is a book in the Bible, where God allows Satan to attack a man (Job) who was faithful to God. In Job, we see an example of faithfulness as he loses everything important to him. Through this book, we also see God’s sovereignty and faithfulness during a time of great suffering.
In Job 38, we see the LORD answering Job. Through this address, God shows that neither Job nor his counsellors possessed complete knowledge and how limited human understanding really is. When God responds through this passage, He is teaching that there is something more fundamental than an intelligent solution to the mystery of innocent suffering.
Similarly, when we suffer, we often question God about our situation and even be angry at Him. It is not an easy thing to go through suffering. This is the time you need to understand who God is and put your faith into action. Job wavered in his confidence in God and doubted if God was for Him and by doing so, he began to insist on his righteousness at the expense of God’s justice. Job thought God was treating him as His enemy.
When God responded to Job; He did not mention anything about his suffering or his innocence or anything else. God was questioning Job to teach him a lesson of who “God” is. God was in the process of building up Job’s confidence in Jehovah and by revealing that “God is God”, Job can have a full assurance that all is well.
Likewise, you may not know the answer to “why” you are suffering, but you can have complete assurance that God is your creator, sustainer, friend, Father and redeemer. Amen! To understand this, you need to know who God is, and this is what Jehovah was teaching Job. God is ultimately good, and He is a God of righteousness and justice.
Through this dialogue, God displayed the limitations of man in comparison to God’s power and wisdom in creating and sustaining the universe. The amazing outcome was that God was able to bring Job into complete confidence in God’s goodness without receiving a direct answer to his questions regarding suffering and God’s justice.
Through his speech to Job, God shows his absolute control over His creation in the natural world (Job chapter 38 and 39), but He also reveals His power to crush the wicked and to humble the proud (Job 40:8-14). Not only is God creator and sustainer of the world, but He is also Lord over the moral order as well.
Job could only respond in one way to the LORD, and this must also be our response. Job 40:4-5 says “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Job confesses and repents in Job 42:2-3 says “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
Friends, take a moment to realise how limited you are in your knowledge. Sometimes we come before Almighty God and accuse Him because of the situation we are in. Sometimes you even begin to manifest a hatred towards God and His people. I urge you to put away all those behaviours and trust God completely and humbly. Then God will surely bless your future more than your past. Job 42:10 says “And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” And continuing in v12 saying “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, take a moment to look around you and realise the might of Jehovah’s power and his infinite wisdom. He is in total and absolute control. You may not see everything or understand all that is going on around you. But, there is one sure hope, and that is your “faith” in Jesus Christ. Persevere in your walk with the Lord. Make Jesus the treasure of your life. God bless.
