Job 36-39

Job 36

Elihu is speaking to Job about the power of the Lord. Elihu clearly reveres the Lord and understands His might and power. Elihu gives lots of good advice concerning the Lord, such as: to remember all the great things He has done and to praise Him always.

However, Elihu misses the mark and accuses Job of being wicked and that Job somehow brought this upon himself. Even though Elihu understands the glory of God, he doesn’t understand the nature of God’s will (do any of us, really?). All we know is that God’s will is complex. Sometimes, we tend to think that God’s justice is black/white, good/evil, righteous/wicked, blessed/punished, etc. but His will is too complex for us to understand. Job was a righteous man (God said so in the first chapter of this book) but he went through great adversity. God’s will is always perfect, even if we don’t get to understand why certain things must happen.

Job 38

Finally, the Lord speaks! This is the chapter I’ve been waiting for during the entire book. God reveals Himself, His great might, and His many responsibilities. It’s a very humbling passage.

Job 38:22, “Have you entered the treasure of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail?” God as treasuries of snow and hail, what?!? That is so cool. There is so much about our Father that we do not know and cannot understand. What else does He have treasuries of?

The next verse, 23, says that He reserves the hail for battle and war. God does control the weather and use it for His purposes. He also is speaking to Job out of a whirlwind right now. But just like this bible story is trying to teach us, not all weather is either a punishment or a blessing- God is complex and not black and white. All of verses 25-29 also show that God is the father and controller of weather.

I think another point God is trying to make here to Job is, “alright, you may have been a righteous person, but what is human righteousness? You’re not God and you really don’t deserve anything. Just because you farmed and took care of your family? Look at all this stuff that hangs in My hands…” Like maybe God was trying to make Job a little more humble? I don’t know.

The passage then switches from weather to animals. God doesn’t just take care of humans, He takes care of everything. Job 38:39-41, “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens, or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God and wander about for lack of food?” Even the animals cry out to God, He hears them and takes care of them!

Job 39

It’s clear here that God really loves animals and cares for them. Maybe this is why the role of the Shepard is so huge in the bible.

Finally, today I pray for wisdom. I pray that God grants me the wisdom to maneuver through these hard times. Without Him, I am nothing. Praise God that He is in control and has the world in His hands. Lord, I trust you and submit to Your perfect will. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.