THE ASTONISHING VOICE OF GOD (PART ONE)

Job 38-41

“During World War 2, a young Jewish girl in the Warsaw ghetto of Poland managed to escape over the wall and hide in a cave. Tragically, she died shortly before the Allied army broke into the Ghetto to liberate the prisoners. But before she died, she had scratched on the wall something very powerful, “I believe in the sun, even though it’s not shining. I believe in love, even when feeling it or not. I believe in God, even when He is silent.”

This last statement “I believe in God, even though He is silent” Comes close to the problem experienced by Job in his sufferings, Job was certain that God was silent in all this. Job said “If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice. For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause; he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.” Job 9:16-18. But Elihu argued to Job that God has been speaking all along, but the problem wasn’t God, but that Job wasn’t listening. 

Job 33:14-28.

The Hebrew writer wrote “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” Heb 1:1-2. In our time, God speaks to us through the Written Word in His sixty-six letters. And in the time period of Job, the patriarchs, and leading up to the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God spoke in a variety of ways to the children of God. (Dreams, visions, burning bushes, audible…etc and through the prophets.) See! What Job failed to realize is that God Almighty had not left him at all; He has been speaking all along, but Job wasn’t listening. In the process of all this, Job accuses God of injustice and demands a day in His court. Job also accuses God that He is unfit to run the universe, because He was absence as it pertains to his situation. Job wanted God to explain Himself to the plaintiff. Job said “Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat! I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.” Job 23:3-4. Job also said “Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!…Job 31:35

Did Job get his wish?

Yes! Job gets his wish and I sure he wished he never blew out the candles on his cake vindication. Because! As we go through this conversation we will see there is only one person sitting in the witness seat and that is Job as God examines and questions him. Side note! This is the longest conversation recorded in the Bible in which God audibly speaks. Think about this for moment! 

How would you respond? If God came up to you and said, “If you think you can run the Universe

better than why don’t you?”

How would you respond? Because what Job desired for, and feared the most, has now become to true. When I think of this encounter I’m reminded what Paul Washer said in on his messages “I have Good News and Bad News. The Good News is God is Here, The Bad News is God is here. It depends on which side of the Line you're Standing On.” It’s one thing to know that God is transcendent, perfect, sovereign and omnipresent to name a few of the perfections. But it’s a whole other divine encounter to hear the audible voice of Almighty God.

So let’s set the stage to the main event of this whole letter. This encounter begins with a fierce windstorm approaching the location of Job and people around him. I would call this grand, red carpet entrance. It’s an entry to say the least to get the attention of, let’s say, “EVERYONE.” This isn’t something new by Scripture’s standard, but for Job it was.

In times past God would enter a conversation 

in similar fashion…..

God spoke to Moses out of a turbulent storm “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.” 

Exodus 19:16-17

The Almighty encounter when Elijah who was hiding in the cleft of the mountain “And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13

God even delivered Elijah to the Heavens in this fashion. “And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” 2 Kings 2:11

Zechariah prophesied that “the LORD God….will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south.” Zech 9:14

See! This great God speaks when and to whom He chooses, He never hurried or humbled Himself to do what Job demanded. This “whirlwind” is the awesome power of God over everything, over storms like Elihu explained to Job. This whirlwind speaks of the sovereign power of God and authority over the entire universe. God speaks directly and personally to Job, because he had incorrect opinion of God through his suffering. But as one man said when asked his opinion of God he said “I should think it a great insolence were I to express my opinion about God. The only constant anxiety of my life is to know what God’s opinion of me is.”

  

“This whirlwind that God is over speaks into the storm

that Job’s own life has become.”

There is something to be said about the majestic and fearful power of a storm. But it’s a whole other fear to know that God is the One who is over it and controlling the storms in my life. For Job and others, no one in that place, at that time, had ever seen, or even met anyone who had seen, the visible appearance of God in any form. This divine encounter is about to give a whole new meaning to their concept of God.

What do I mean by that?

J.B Phillips wrote a short book titled, “Your God Is Too Small” it had a teddy bear on the cover! One theologian said, “It was a helpful book because it made people rethink their idea of God.”

See! In lots of ways, we think of God as if He were a big person or a big brother who is just like us but without a body. We think that God is just as much a part of Creation as we are, and here lies the problem with our small view of God. Our assumption brings God down to our level, this leads us to having a small view of God. 

When God speaks to Job….. the first thing He points out to Job is that He does not have a place or dimensions. (v4)

This means that God isn’t part of this creation. Meaning God is not bound by laws and physics as we are. God isn’t subject to anyone’s concept of justice or wisdom; these things are defined by His perfections/character. God is the one who created time! In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." And it was so. God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:1-10. God is the one who created space and time. Everything starts when He spoke it into existence.

“This is the One who speaks

from the whirlwind!”

The Sovereign Creator who is infinite and transcendent; not part of the creation. But the Creator of creation of time and space is the one who is speaking. So God says to Job, “dress for action like a man,” (v3) Meaning it’s time to get ready for battle. Like a man of valor that tightens on his harness for battle. This refers to how people in the ancient Near East would tie their garments into their belt to ensure that they could run quickly. This was Peter’s battle cry to children of God “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13. And Job is about to get into the ring with Almighty God.

God starts by asking! “Where were you?” (v4-v41)

The questions are sarcastic and intend to show Job, the limitation of his knowledge and understanding. God’s asks about His perfect created order and His perfect care and they obey His commands. (v5-v7) God continues His questions, moving to the realm of the sea. Instead of construction language, He uses birthing language to describe His creation of the seas. (v8-v11). Moving to the creation of day and night, God continues to show His power to Job.

It’s interesting to point out that the ancient Near Eastern worldview saw the rising of the sun occurred not because of natural laws, but by the command of God. (v12-v15). God has the power over death and knows what awaits man when they die. (v16-v18). God has power and rules over rain, lighting, snow and hail. (v22-v30). God uses snow and hail for battle against His enemies “And the LORD will cause his majestic voice to be heard and the descending blow of his arm to be seen, in furious anger and a flame of devouring fire, with a cloudburst and storm and hailstones.” Isaiah 30:30

God is supreme and sovereign over the galaxies; He controls the movement and clusters of nebulae above. (v31-v33) Puny created man cannot orchestrate the galaxies. And the implications here is that Job couldn’t control God either, God controls everything. And if God controls the galaxies, then He is only one who controls the meteorological forces as well. (v34-v38) And yes God is over the wildlife kingdom as well, as God supplies for their needs of daily being. (v39-v41) And He does the same for us as Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matt 6:26

If God cares for their needs, how much more do you

think He will care for ours?

How is Job doing so far on his test?

Results! God gets100% and Job gets 0%.

So let’s continue! Chapter 39

God questions Job about the birthing process of the animal kingdom, and God knows and is present, with every birth of His creation. (v1-v4). God is the one who assigns the location for His creation and the same is true of Job and his sufferings. (v5-v8) . God is the only one that can take a wild beast and make it submit under His sovereign command. (v9-v12). God uses the ostrich as an illustration of God’s great wisdom. (v13-v18). The mystery that boggles our thinking about this bird, is the same mystery of what God was doing in Job’s life. God is the only one who knows the answer to the riddle and the mystery. Again God continues to speak of the creative design of the animal kingdom. (v19-v30)

How is Job doing so far on his test?

Results! God gets100% and Job gets 0%.

Where were you when I did all this Job? 

What would you say if this was you instead of Job? What would you say to the Creator of the Universe as He speaks these realities into your heart?

Well Job responded this way. "Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further." Job 40:3-5. A better translation of this verse is “Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.” Job 40:3. Job was not equal to the task enforced, because God is God and Job is Job. What Job is saying is, “Instead of being able to argue my cause, and to vindicate myself as I had expected, I now see that I am guilty, and I have nothing to say.” Job demanded answers from God, and instead of getting answers he received a flurry of questions and in return this exposed his heart. 

Christopher Ash wrote “Amazingly to the man whose wealth God has confiscated, whose family God has taken away, whose greatness God has removed, and whose wealth God has ruined, God says in summary, I have made no mistakes. I know exactly what I am doing in your life and in every detail of the government of the world. My counsel is perfect; I have got nothing wrong.”

This is what God is saying in (v2) of chapter 40. “How will you respond?”

Job responds correctly! Let’s get a picture of this in our minds! Job takes both hands, not one, but both, to cover his mouth from speaking again. He gagged himself; and covered his lips so that no more foolish words would proceed out his mouth. Job was sorry that he challenged a holy God, and now he recognized his words were audacious. Job knew he crossed the line, because to clear his name and stand vindicated in front of his friends; God would have to be guilty of evil. (v7-v8). What Job did here is something every one of us could learn to do as we go through seasons of sufferings.

   “Close our mouths”

We read in Habakkuk “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." Hab 2:20

The CN Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in Canada, towering to a height of 1,815 feet. J Standing at the base of the Tower and looking straight up can strike awe in the heart of onlookers. When you look at from that perspective it seems to go on forever. The clouds moving behind it the tower give an eerie illusion that the building is swaying. Look at it long enough your head will begin to spin and your knees shake as you stare at its imposing height. This is Job as God continues to speak to him; this conversation is reducing Job in size. In the towering presence of God, Job was overwhelmed and was clearly aware of his smallness in light of God and His glory. And rightfully so! As Isaiah said “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

Isaiah 6:1-5

Like Isaiah, Job gets the message; he is utterly in awe of God and His infinite power. Throughout Job’s discourse he pressed God to present his case and prove his innocence.

“But what Job got instead was a reality check

to God’s greatness and Job’s smallness.”

Here is a man who is in awestruck by the magnitude of God’s supremacy as he covers his mouth with both hands firmly. And so should we, as we live each aching moment for His glory!