Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
God’s turn! It’s one thing to get advice from others, but all will remain silent before the voice of God – including Job.
Job 38: The LORD Answers Job
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
2 "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements---surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 "Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,
9 when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10 and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,
11 and said, 'Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed'?
12 "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,
13 that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken.
16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
19 "Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness,
20 that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?
21 You know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
22 "Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?
24 What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth?
25 "Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt,
26 to bring rain on a land where no man is, on the desert in which there is no man,
27 to satisfy the waste and desolate land, and to make the ground sprout with grass?
28 "Has the rain a father, or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb did the ice come forth, and who has given birth to the frost of heaven?
30 The waters become hard like stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
31 "Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?
32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, or can you guide the Bear with its children?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you establish their rule on the earth?
34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are'?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts or given understanding to the mind?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass and the clods stick fast together?
39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens or lie in wait in their thicket?
41 Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry to God for help, and wander about for lack of food?
Job 39:
1 "Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the does?
2 Can you number the months that they fulfil, and do you know the time when they give birth,
3 when they crouch, bring forth their offspring, and are delivered of their young?
4 Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; they go out and do not return to them.
5 "Who has let the wild donkey go free? Who has loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,
6 to whom I have given the arid plain for his home and the salt land for his dwelling place?
7 He scorns the tumult of the city; he hears not the shouts of the driver.
8 He ranges the mountains as his pasture, and he searches after every green thing.
9 "Is the wild ox willing to serve you? Will he spend the night at your manger?
10 Can you bind him in the furrow with ropes, or will he harrow the valleys after you?
11 Will you depend on him because his strength is great, and will you leave to him your labour?
12 Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain and gather it to your threshing floor?
13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are they the pinions and plumage of love?
14 For she leaves her eggs to the earth and lets them be warmed on the ground,
15 forgetting that a foot may crush them and that the wild beast may trample them.
16 She deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; though her labour be in vain, yet she has no fear,
17 because God has made her forget wisdom and given her no share in understanding.
18 When she rouses herself to flee, she laughs at the horse and his rider.
19 "Do you give the horse his might? Do you clothe his neck with a mane?
20 Do you make him leap like the locust? His majestic snorting is terrifying.
21 He paws in the valley and exults in his strength; he goes out to meet the weapons.
22 He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; he does not turn back from the sword.
23 Upon him rattle the quiver, the flashing spear, and the javelin.
24 With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; he cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
25 When the trumpet sounds, he says 'Aha!' He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
26 "Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars and spreads his wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?
28 On the rock he dwells and makes his home, on the rocky crag and stronghold.
29 From there he spies out the prey; his eyes behold it from far away.
30 His young ones suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is he."
Things to think about…
I have often wondered how God answered Job ‘out of the whirlwind’, Job 38:1. Was His voice in the wind, or perhaps in Job’s conscience or some other way. Job was under no illusions however as to who was responding to him. Job had finally received his wish – a meeting with the Lord. But did he need an arbitrator? Not needed when the testimony all comes from one side. This is true for Jesus as well. God the Father speaks against us, but God the Son arbitrates and mediates on our behalf. The law is satisfied by the offering.
God says even Job ‘darkens counsel’ and he is now required to ‘dress for action’, Job 38:3,4. Job is about to be put in his place by the Lord. Even when we have gone through incredible suffering and loss, at the end of the day the fact that we can complain to the Lord about it means that we have breath and life – both of which were graciously given by God. What can you give thanks for in this life – even when things have been tough.
The Lord uses creation to speak about His power and counsel. We should be no different. Evangelism through proclaiming the wonder of creation and the works of God is powerful. If God did it to speak about Himself as he does here in Job 38-41 surely this is a pattern and example for us.
When were the angels created? Well in Job 38:6, 7 it says they rejoiced at the creation of the earth, so obviously before that. I believe when it says ‘In the beginning God created the heavens..’ – this is when the angels were created. What do you think? We have speoken about this many times at CBC and have also been blessed by Creation Ministries International over the years.
The wicked will one day be shaken out of the earth Job 38:13 – fearful and true.
We are only now just starting to understand just how big the universe is and yet the Lord only gives three verses to explaining how he gets glory from it here in Job 38:31-33. The Lord has so much more wonder and power that we do not see at this point, but he shows us His glory in the context of the things we do see – things here on earth. One day we will know more fully and continue to do so into eternity. Does it get any better than that?
Notice how God is speaking about creation to Job. He is following the account order given in Genesis 1. He begins with the angels, the heavens and the earth, then the water – the oceans and the weather cycle, he speaks about the stars, then he speaks about the plants and land animals. He will finish with the highest point of creation – man. In this case Job. More evidence for the creation order as described in Genesis in my opinion.
Vision Point for Cell groups
CBC's Vision "To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission".
Cell group questions from Sunday morning’s sermon “God’s taking a break” Job 23.
1. Ever felt like God was on vacation in your life? You have been praying for years about something and nothing has been happening. Jay shared about Doug and Elma McPherson and Doug’s conversion after 50 years of marriage. Discuss.
2. Job felt forsaken by God. Jay asked would God forsake God. We know Jesus was forsaken “My God, My God why have you forsaken Me”, Mt 27:46. Discuss the significance and meaning of this statement by Jesus.
3. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Is 53:3. We are being conformed into the image of Christ, Rom 8:29 and not our fallen image. Discuss the role of suffering in conforming to Christ, 1Pet 4:12-16.
4. Prayer and praise points below.
Prayer Points
1. Joe Biden been elected President, but a peaceful transition is not looking likely with supreme court challenges. Pray for truth, grace and peace.
2. Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington is now moving around. Miraculous really.
5. People who have visited the church that they settle in.
6. Sunday’s messages. The message this week – “God’s got this” Job 40-42, Jay.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors on Sunday.
2. Communion – thankyou Gary and Christine.
3. Our worship team on Sunday – thanks Rod, Riley and Molly. Sounded amazing. Rin did a great job with the words and streaming.
4. Angelo, Helen, Doug, Maddison, Yuki thankyou for your efforts every week.
5. Young Life will be using our facilities on Friday afternoons. Zach Lipp heading this up. Contact Zac for more details. Starts after school on Fridays 3:30pm.
6. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Praise God for all those who helped clean up after the storm, Richard, Sally, Murray, Rhonda, Steve.
Announcements
1. Carols Sun 20thDec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. AGM – this Sunday 15thNovember after the morning service. Open for all.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Kids Church activity sheets provided – either in the house or church.
