Job 38 New International Version (NIV)
Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
“Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me”…
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And then God goes on to question Job.
I think many people simply see these concluding chapters in Job as God putting Job in his place, that even the very righteous need to be reminded that God is in control and they are not. There is profound truth there, and certainly we are called to surrender all to the will of God in recognition of His sovereignty. However, to stop there would still paint an incomplete picture. It would be very easy to read this as a reminder that we have no right to question God but it seems to be better framed as a reminder that the Lord who is both Sovereign and Good is the one who has charted eternity past to our forever future.
So, when I start thinking about this it seems to naturally relate to a passage in Matthew 6 about how God cares for everything down to the lilies and sparrows. With these thoughts we see that God is over the micro and the macro, which ultimately frees us to live without fear and worry for what may come.
This seems to be not as much “putting Job in his place” as it is a reminder of God’s place as sovereign Lord over all, with love and our best interest in His heart. Enjoy this song as a reflection on that.
If you want a fuller explanation of all the depth captured in these concluding chapters in Job, click this link to listen or read a sermon by John Piper.
Ben Panter