Now in Chapter 38, the unexpected occurs. God, whom Job has complained is beyond reach, suddenly appears. But God does not come to be questioned by Job or to answer all his questions and the questions of his friends. Instead, God poses two series of questions and challenges Job to answer them. Primarily, his questions ultimately come down to this: “I’m God, Job, you are not. I’ll run the universe and you trust me.”

Whereas Elihu’s questions (See yesterday’ devotion) were designed to focus Job’s attention on God’s omniscience (He knows everything), God’s questions here are designed to focus Job’s attention on God’s omnipotence (He can do anything!). But I don’t think God is rebuking Job. He’s comforting him. Try reading these chapters aloud, speak gently as you would to your own child who’s been sobbing after an injury. Then you’ll begin to understand that God’s questions were intended to comfort Job, by reminding him, “I’m here. It’s all right. I’m still here.”

God is there for Job. God is here for us. Yesterday I quoted Annie Flint’s poem, but only gave you the first half of it because it dealt with God’s knowledge in comparison to our knowledge. The second half focuses on God’s ability in light of our inability: She writes:

I cannot but God can; Oh, balm for all my care!
The burden that I drop His hand will lift and bear,
Though eagle pinions tire,—I walk where once I ran,
This is my strength to know: I cannot, but God can.

God is saying to Job and to us “don’t worry! I can handle this! I’m your father, I can take care of this problem. Just trust me.”

Chuck
“Jesus replied, If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:40)