Thursday 10 October 2024
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. (v. 1)
Background
God can now speak to Job. Think of all that Job has been through: he is a righteous man to whom dreadful things have happened; a well-respected man who has been shamed and patronised by unhelpful counsel; a terrified man hemmed in by God, the mighty, fearful and overwhelming God. Job has been brought low, but still held. And now God speaks to him and challenges all his complaining and weakness.
Job has been questioning God: the plaintive, haunting searching “But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?” (28:12). It is now matched by the impossible questioning of God.
God seems to be saying, “Just who do you think you are? Where were you when I was busy being God! Get a grip, Job! Grow up!” This may sound like ‘tough love’ in its most extreme form. God’s bedside manner is not of the highest order. But, from a different perspective, it is probably what Job needs to hear. He needs to know that God is still God and that Job’s suffering is not the consequence of an enfeebled God who doesn’t know any better. Job needs to know that he can get a grip, that he will cope, and that even after all his losses he himself is not lost. With the taunting challenge of God, “Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this” (v. 18), Job must sense both the gravity of God’s almighty power, and the hope that such an awesome reality must have in his life. It is because God is God and Job isn’t, that Job can begin to hope. It is because God expects him to 'gird his loins', that he has a chance of survival. Sometimes it is only when you are utterly out of your depth that you discover you are in God’s depth!
To Ponder:
- Have you ever felt utterly out of your depth? Where was God in that difficult time?
- Christians tend to focus on the Resurrection rather than on the Cross of Christ; on light rather than darkness. Is this why our spirituality is not as deep as it could be?
- When have you had to trust someone else completely?
First published in 2018.