READ JOB 38
Something very significant happens in Chapters 38 and 39. Up to this point, the three friends have given their opinions about Job's situation. Job responded to every one of his friends through three rounds of speeches. Then Elihu appears on the scene and says he has heard all the conversations. He gives his monologue and disappears as quickly as he appeared. He didn't even wait for a response after he criticized Job and his friends.
In Chapters 38 and 39, someone speaks who has not spoken before. Like Elihu, He has heard all the conversations, and He remained silent. Now He speaks, and He says nothing that Job expected to hear.
Now, it is time for Job to be silent as God answers him out of the whirlwind. God did not answer Job directly. Instead, He gives Job a series of rhetorical questions. While most people mistakenly think the Book of Job is all about suffering, we find that God gives the true meaning of the Book of Job and what He hopes people will learn from the book.
God does not speak about Job's suffering. Instead, God questions Job about His creation to prove His power, majesty, glory and wisdom. This is to show Job how powerless he is in comparison to what God can and will do in the world.
Notice that God did not lump everything together. Instead, He took the time to list each part of creation. Read what God says about part of His creation. Scriptures are provided for you to read and pay attention to.
God questions Job about His Creation by asking, "Where were you when all this took place?"
1. the earth (38:1-7, 17-18)
2. the oceans (38:8-11, 16)
3. light (38:12-15, 19-21)
4. snow and rain (38:22-30, 34-38)
5. the stars (38:31-33)
Notice that God moves from cosmology to geography and oceanology. Next, He paints vivid pictures of His control over light. Then God questions Job about the weather before He asks Job questions about the constellation.
READ JOB 39
God now moves from the inanimate object and questions Job about His Creatures, every living thing:
1. lions (38:39-40)
2. ravens (38:41)
3. mountain goats (39:1-4)
4. wild donkeys (39:5-8)
5. wild ox (39:9-12)
6. ostrich (39:13-18)
7. horse (39:19-23)
8. hawk (39:26-30)
Notice that God reminds Job that He is the only one who knows and understands the gestation period and birth habits of animals and some birds.
Job responds in the final chapters in the book (Chapters 40-42).
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