Job

Job Chapter 37

Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty

Job 37:1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

Hear Elihu describes the thunder storm as the voice of God upon the earth. We live in a day though with those that are trying to manipulate the weather patterns. Whether that is true or a conspiracy theory, I can't say for sure but I would not fear storms as much if I knew God was completely in charge of them and not any evil powers that be. In Job's day most believers in God would have thought that all the weather good or bad would be from the Lord.

There is a verse about this in Revelation:

Revelation 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

What the seven thunders uttered has not been made known to us yet but John heard and knew what was said. He was commanded to not write them so to speculate is something we should avoid but it does show a connection between God and thunder in this passage in Revelation. It is amazing that as I'm sitting here proofreading and getting ready to put this chapter online, there is thunder and lightning flashing right now outside.

Job 37:6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.

Beasts know to go into safe places during storms. Some dogs tremble and are afraid of the storms. If they are loose and not safe within a home somewhere, they will run and try to find shelter. I feared storms as a child.

Job 37:9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:

Where I live it seems that tornadoes and bad storms comes from the southwest and travels to the northeast. There are exceptions to that. I've seen rain clouds coming from the north at times but the bad storms usually come from the southwest. Cold air does come from the north rather than the south from the direction of Canada traveling south west and also some coming from the western United States to the east. In the south though the hurricanes seem to come from the south east to the northwest from the coast of Africa to the southern area of the United States above Florida, west of Florida and also the islands south of Florida. Some consider this an act of God. Some do not but I've heard of some that pray for these things to go away and have gotten answers to those prayers.

Job 37:12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.

At His word storms can start or stop. That we know for sure. Sometimes the bad ones are sent for correction according to what we read in the bible. Sometimes in His mercy he will send rain when needed.

In Joseph's dream recorded in the book of Genesis, he is warned that a famine was coming and God showed Joseph how to save a whole nation from starvation. God used Elijah to withhold the rain because of the sin of the nation, then allows Elijah to pray and allow it to rain again. I've prayed for rain for the farmers and have seen rain come when the weather apps said there was none. Sometimes I've had to wait a day or two. Right now after a long period of hot and dry weather, we have had rain for two days. Like I said above, I hear the thunder and rain right now. We live by the mercy and grace of our God.

Job 37:14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

God is so great that many times we do not know how to speak to Him or what to speak, which is why I wonder why the visitors to Job didn't just come and pray with him and sought answers from God instead of accusations. Job would have gotten through this a little easier I believe. He probably felt so abandoned by everyone. We see though that this is a time of testing for Job to see if he would curse God or remain faithful.

Job 37:21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

That last verse I take to mean God does not respect any that are wise in their own eyes.

What beautiful words this would be if given at a different time and to a different audience. God truly is all those things he mentions. It is sort of like something King David would write. This young man seems to truly know the Lord for how could he say all these things if he did not know Him or about Him. Yet as with all of us, we see flaws in that they all use good things to say about God to cast them at Job with assumptions, judgments and accusations. If our motives are evil our words even if they are true in general do not bring forth the fruit of righteousness, comfort and proper direction.

We now can read starting with chapter 38 of the words of God Himself. DC

Job Chapter 38