Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage. Today’s passage is Job 40:1-24.  Let’s go!

Job 40:3-5 (NIV) 
3  Then Job answered the LORD:
4  “I am unworthy–how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
5  I spoke once, but I have no answer– twice, but I will say no more.”

On verses 1-14:  Before Job wanted nothing else but to confront God with his arguments and prove God wrong.  However, after hearing God speak, Job realizes how unworthy he is to even approach God (v3-5).  To paraphrase the Lord’s next words in verse 6-14, “Job, who do you think you are?  On what basis do you think you have any ability or standing to condemn me and justify yourself?  If you think you are so powerful and wise, then try doing what I do, reigning in perfect majesty and splendour while at the same time dealing justly with the wicked.  If you’re able to do that, then I’ll admit to you that you are as great as God and qualified to accuse Me.”

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage.  Today’s passage is Job 39:1-30.  Let’s go!

On Job 38:39 to Job 39:30:  After silencing Job with questions about the origins of the universe (38:4-18) and about outer space (38:19-38), God now questions Job about the animal kingdom (38:39 to 39:30): lions (v39-40), ravens (v41), mountain goats (v3-4), donkeys (v6-8), wild oxen (v9-12), ostriches (v13-18), horses (v19-25), hawks (v26), and eagles (v27-30).  When God asks questions about each animal, there is an attention to detail and a sense of wonder and excitement in God’s voice.

For example, here’s God talking about a horse:

Job 39:19-25 (NIV) 
19  “Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?
20  Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?
21  He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.
22  He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword…….

Hi GAMErs,

Now onto today’s passage.  Today’s passage is Job 38:19-41.  Let’s go!
 
Job 38:19-21 (NIV) 
19  “What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? 
20  Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings? 
21  Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!

On verses 19-38:  Out of the storm God is answering Job.  God moves from asking Job questions about the origins of the universe (v4-18) to questions about the skies and outer space in verses 19-38. 

Notice that in response to Job’s highly confrontational and adversarial way of talking to God and about God, God responds in a confrontational and adversarial way as well.  Just look at God’s tone in verses 19 to 21.  Or in verses 3 and 4.  Or verse 18.  This is perhaps the closest you will find in the Bible to God trash-talking a person whom He loves and will later bless.  

Hi GAMErs,
Now onto today’s passage.  Today’s passage is Job 38:1-18.  Let’s go!

Job 38:1-3 (NIV) 
1  Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2  “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
3  Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.

On verses 1-18:  Here we see the Lord’s long awaited reply to Job.  Interestingly, God does not directly answer Job’s question about the reason for his suffering.  Rather, in response to Job’s adversarial and confrontational way of approaching God, God asks Job all sorts of questions about the origins of the universe that Job cannot answer.

Notice verse 1 says that the Lord answered Job “out of the storm”.  The storm being referred to here could possibly be an actual weather storm going on while the Lord is speaking to Job.  The “storm” is also referring to the spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and financial torment that Job has faced in losing his family, his fortune, his friends and his health.