3 Lessons from Job 37

Now onto today’s passage.  Today’s passage is Job 37:1-24.  Let’s go!

Job 37:1-24 (NIV) 
¹  “At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
²  Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
³  He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
⁴  After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
⁵  God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
⁶  He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
⁷  So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor.
⁸  The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
⁹  The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
¹⁰  The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
¹¹  He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
¹²  At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
¹³  He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love.
¹⁴  “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
¹⁵  Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
¹⁶  Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
¹⁷  You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
¹⁸  can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
¹⁹  “Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
²⁰  Should he be told that I want to speak? Would any man ask to be swallowed up?
²¹  Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
²²  Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
²³  The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
²⁴  Therefore, men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”

On verses 1-13:  It is possible that just as Elihu is speaking a storm is taking place, and so Elihu invites Job to listen to the thunder in the background (v1-2).  In any event, whether or not a storm was actually taking place while Elihu was talking, here Elihu speaks about how God is behind all kinds of weather and the elements – lightning (v3), thunder (v4-5), snow (v6), rain (v6), strong winds (v9), ice and freezing conditions (v10), and clouds (v11-13).  Elihu’s point is that because we cannot understand all that God does – “how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash…how the clouds hang poised” (v15-16) – who does Job think he is to believe he can successfully argue his case with God, who is so much bigger than human beings? (v19-20)  Just as “no one can look at the sun” (v21), who are we to think we can come directly before such an awesome and powerful God with our complaints and arguments without being swallowed up (v20-22).  Thus, we are to revere this God, Elihu says (v23).

What can we learn from all this?

1. Stand in awe of God.  In so many ways God and the things He does are “beyond our understanding” (v5) and “beyond our reach” (v23).  Elihu’s words here remind me of Paul when he would later write in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!”  If it were not for God reaching for us and revealing Himself through His Son Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, we would have no idea who God is and no way to a relationship with Him. 

2. Be careful how you treat God.  Since God is so much bigger than us, don’t treat God as an employee that you boss around or a heavenly vending machine that you hit and kick when you don’t get your way.  For God is so much greater than us, “exalted in power” (v23).  So speak to God with reverence and humility.  If it weren’t for Jesus Christ who died on the cross and whose blood covers our sins, we would have no way to approach an unapproachably holy and powerful God.

3. God uses imperfect people to prepare the way for Him.  Here ends Elihu’s long speech to Job.  In some ways, Elihu’s words contained more insight than those of Job’s friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.  But by jumping to conclusions about Job’s sin and how much Job’s sin caused his suffering, Elihu did not live up to his claim that his “words are not false” (Job 36:4) and fell far short of being “perfect in knowledge” (Job 36:4).  Still, Elihu’s words will pave the way for God Himself to speak to Job in the next chapter.

What can we learn from this?  Only God is “perfect in knowledge” (Job 37:16).  Just as God sent imperfect prophets to pave the way for Jesus, to this day God still uses imperfect people in our lives to prepare the way for Jesus the Word of God to speak to our hearts.  So when we hear others speak, may we not throw out the good with the bad.  Rather, hang onto the good, true and helpful parts of what others say and try not to be bothered or confused by those parts that are untrue or unhelpful.

Heavenly Father, You are beyond our reach and beyond our understanding, yet You chose to reveal Yourself to us through Your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Thank You.  I open up my heart and ask You to fill me today with Your power, wisdom and love.   In Jesus’ name, AMEN!