Job

Job Chapter 38

The Lord Answers Job

Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

Perhaps He came in a dark cloud or tempest. He speaks to Job specifically.

Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;

God is asking Job and perhaps He is addressing His visitors as well. Where were you when the earth was created? If you have understanding, answer me. We must remember Job assumed God had brought these troubles upon Him and took the lives of His children. So perhaps God is showing Job what little they know about who God is even though they have believed in Him. Their knowledge was in part. Through Jesus we know more about the nature and heart of God than was previously known.

Job 38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

These words are a joy to hear. When He laid the foundations, imagine the angels of God shouting for joy at the creation of the earth. We see from the very first chapter of Job that the sons of God presented themselves to God on occasions. These were the angels. Some of them rebelled and joined Satan but they still came before God to give account.

Job 38:8 Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

God made the seas to stay within bounds. Storms like hurricanes will bring the sea into land causing destruction. Only the power of God can stop it. The sea when allowed to break forth is compared to the water coming out of a woman's womb when the baby is about to be born. The water coming forth is sudden even though the baby takes more time to appear.

Job 38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,
10 And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors,
11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Oh the matchless power of God that only He can calm a troubled sea and cause the waves to go so far and no further. Man has built dams to control the rivers but they can't control the sea. God is powerful. There is none like Him. Who cannot believe in His majesty?

Job 38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place;
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
14 It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment.

My favorite time of day is in the morning. I sometimes get up and thank God for getting us through another day. It's like we were in darkness and couldn't see what was around us if we were outside without a light but when them morning comes it is so peaceful and shows us the faithfulness of God to bring the morning light just as He ordained at the beginning of creation.

Job 38:15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.

The morning brings light that exposes the wicked in their place. No one can hide from the power of God's light when it shines upon them.

Job 38:16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?

Here is something I didn't know. I knew rivers flowed into the oceans but I had no ideal the ocean depths had springs of water springing up constantly. In all this God sets boundaries for the seas. They are only dangerous when there are storms and hurricanes.

Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

Its seems that the place where the dead's souls goes have doors and openings.

Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

The door to the bottomless pit has a key in which an angel has to open.

Job 38:19 Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?

God created light and commanded it to return every morning. Awesome to think about. I love the mornings. The diameter was not known to anyone back then. It's about 8 thousand miles or so.

Job 38:21 Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?
22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

God has used storms and hail to help Israel win battles. It will be also used as judgment during the latter day tribulation.

Revelation 11:19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.

God helps Joshua to defeat the enemy:

Joshua 10:11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

Judgment upon those that persecuted God's people.

Revelation 16:21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Even when they had the plagues and it was obvious that God's judgment had come, many blasphemed God instead of repenting. I use to wonder about that when I read this in my younger days. How could they not repent and save themselves? Yet as I've gotten older I have seen that same attitude in some today. Some have parades in the streets where God is mocked and people dance naked and do vulgar acts in open rebellion against God and Jesus Christ. God is sure more patient and merciful than I am to put up with this stuff. Yet I know their day of judgment will come if they do not repent. They call good evil and evil good. They do think it strange that not everyone agrees with their evil ways.

Job 38:24 By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
26 To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

I do believe there was rain on the earth long before the flood of Noah's day. It is just speculation and assumption that causes us to assume there was not rain just because of one verse about a mist.

Genesis 2:6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

In Genesis chapter one there was water covering the whole earth until God divided the waters and created life upon it. Some have believed the creation we read about in Genesis is actually a restoration of the earth from a previous flood. I have no clue whether that is true or not and do not want to get sidetracked off the main topic here of God's greatness.

God created and set in order all these things to provide for mankind before He created man. He provided vegetation, seasons, light, and everything we read about here before He created animals and man to live upon the earth. It is so awesome that God prepared a place for living humans and animals before creating them. It is so unbelievable to think this all happened by accident as some modern scientists so called claim.

Job 38:31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?

All this has to do with the stars and how they are placed to do their part in signs and seasons. God set them in order as well as the earth, moon and the sun. Everything is well ordered to revolve and travel in an orbit. All this by accident??? It cannot be.

Job 38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?

We can't make it rain or send the lightning. We can pray for God to send it but we have no power in ourselves to do anything about the weather at least not in Job's day. There are some that believe weather manipulation is going on with modern inventions like seeding the clouds and such. Whether this is true, I know not.

Job 38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait?
41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

Our wonderful God does all these things. Just stop and think for a minute. Even the animals are provided for. There are things humans do that may stop the divine order at times but God's original creation was perfect, without any flaws. He put all things in proper order and made provision both for us and for the animals. We messed things up when Adam allowed sin to enter in. It opened the door for Satan to have limited access but God is still here for those that choose to call upon Him and live for Him instead of following the sinful nature that entered in when Adam and Eve believed the word of Satan instead of the word of God. Obedience is important even today. DC

Job Chapter 39