God Answers!

In the movie The Wizard of Oz, in that climactic scene where Dorothy and her little dog too, and her three travelling companions finally find themselves having an audience with the Great Oz! There is great fear to the point that the tin man is rattling he’s shaking so badly. After a few verbal exchanges Toto pulls the curtain back and you realize the wizard is not some “Great and powerful”, thing to be feared. No, he’s just a man. As he’s asked about the promises he made to the travelers he begins to confer upon them his gifts.

To the scarecrow - not a brain, the Wizard says he already has one and confers upon him a a Th.D - a Doctor of Thinkology. To the lion - not courage, the Wizard says he already has that, instead he awards him a medal for meritorious conduct, extraordinary valor, and conspicuous bravery against wicked witches.

To the tinman - not a heart, but a testimonial: a small token of esteem and affection in consideration of his kindness.

If you were to read the book, you would know: None of them received anything they did not already have. The scarecrow already had a brain; the lion, courage; the tinman, a heart.

Why bring this up?

Because in many ways this is similar to what Job is going to be discovering in our text this morning. The three characters mentioned above believed they were lacking. In reality they didn’t realize the truth of their situations. Much like Job.

We’ve been working through this book of Job, this is our 9th week in it. Throughout the book we’ve had three questions that have risen to the top:

Is God fair? Is God listening? Is God hidden?

Job had a litany of other questions and charges challenging God as he’s been suffering not only the devastation that had befallen his family, but he also had to endure the comments of his friends.

Today, we get God’s response! He lets Job know that he’s going to question him:

1. Whirlwind of Wisdom

Throughout the Bible God speaks to humans in different ways, one could argue, as they need. For Adam and Eve we find God walking in the garden. For Moses it was on a mountain top with thundering clouds and lightning. For Elijah it was in the “still small voice”. For Job, it’s from a whirlwind.

This is important to note. The three friends and Elihu that we’ve looked at in the past few weeks all assumed in one way or another that Job’s circumstances and his response to them revealed God’s punishment despite Job’s constant insistence that he’d done nothing wrong. They warned Job that if he did not repent and accept his affliction as corrective, he would only be subject to further judgment. Then we read v.1 as God responds:

Job 38:1 (ESV)

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

This heading suggests that God reveals himself to Job in a display of both majestic power and relational presence: “The LORD” in the Hebrew YHWH, is th ename most ofen used to signify God’s covenant character and promise.

The fact that God answers Job contrasts with what the friends and Elihu indicated he should expect. Now though, instead of punishment the Lord reveals his power and presence as he speaks to Job out of the whirlwind.

This presence comes int he context of steadfast love toward Job, not judgment for what his friends assumed he might have done.

Perhaps the question that summarizes the first exchange is in verse 4:

Job 38:4 ESV

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.

Remember Job lamented the day of his birth, YHWH takes Job back to the birth of the universe. Can he explain the origin of the cosmos?

Coming from the whirlwind demonstrates God’s authority over nature, establishing his role as Creator - not Job’s. This point emphasizes trusting God’s divine order and control, reminding us that amidst all the chaos in this life, God’s wisdom surpasses our own understanding.

We see this in the Gospels when Jesus calms the storm, or stills the waves.

2. Dawn of Divine Knowledge

As we continue in God’s challenge to Job we get to another question, this time about the dawn.

Moving through God’s speech to Job he says in verse 12 -

Job 38:12–13 ESV

“Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?

Another rhetorical question, perhaps? The obvious answer to both of these questions are that Job wasn’t around. He wasn’t. And neither were you, nor I. Yet how often when we don’t understand what is happening to we cry out in presumptive wisdom?

We make the assumption that we have all the details.

We make the assumption that we have an answer.

God reminds Job and in so doing reminds us that God is the one who created the dawn shining light into the world, echoing Jesus as the light of the world dispelling darkness.

You and I are reminded of our limited perspective and the call to trust the One who designs the dawn and leads us through the darkest moments.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

God’s rod and staff - tools of the shepherd to guide and protect His flock. As Christians we are followers of the “Good Shepherd.”

3. Snow-Clad Sovereignty

As we continue in this intro we see the Lord continue to show his authority over all of Creation. We’ve already seen the idea of YHWH over the dawn, now over the weather:

Job 38:22–23 ESV

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?

I don’t know how you feel, but for me there is something magical about snow. I have many fond memories of standing in the mountains and hearing the ominous silence of a heavy snow fall. It’s soft. It’s fluffy. It’s mysteriously silent.

And the polar opposite is hail! Often falling out of a thunderstorm with flashes of lightning. I remember being in a office supply store when it began hailing hard outside. The sound of the hail hitting the roof echoed throughout the store as it ricocheted off the metal roof. It was loud, it was raucous, it made people sit up and take notice.

The God we serve is sovereign over all of these.

The one thing about these storms is that they are not permanent. They pass.

4. Constellations of Care

As the Lord winds up his argument in chapter 38 he points to the constellations.

Job 38:31 ESV

“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades or loose the cords of Orion?

The Lord begins naming some of the constellations by which the Hebrews determined the seasons.

What is being demonstrated in chapter 38 of Job is God’s sovereignty over the massive grandness of the universe. As he continues through the end of the chapter and chapter 39 he brings it down to the animals within that Creation.

The Lord speaks of goats, lions, proclaiming his sovereignty not only over the celestial realms but the earthly realm as well. This reveals God’s meticulous care for each creature inviting us to rely on his providence in our lives. Just as Jesus knows and sustains his flock calling us to trust in the Good Shepherd’s comprehensive care and cosmic sovereignty.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by societal issues or current events, take time to breathe. Take a breath. Before commenting or sharing your views, spend some time in prayer. Pray for wisdom and peace, ask God to guide your words.

I remember one speaker I heard saying, “Remember that his story is “His-story”, meaning the Lord’s story. So in the midst of all this chaos going on around us with the election, with what some are saying is inevitable

God has been sovereign over history in the past and we can trust God with our future as well. You can use this as an opportunity to discuss issues but also share hope through a Christ centered perspective helping others to see God’s sovereignty even in the midst of chaos.

Conclusion

We live in chaotic times. Let’s remember that no matter what is going on around us does not change who God is nor the character of God. Just as God reveals Himself to Job in the whirlwind, God was revealed in the person of Jesus, the Christ, God’s one and only Son. It was a time of severe oppression for the Jews and Gentiles alike under the Roman empire and still Jesus reminded us again and again not to worry.

He gave us focus on love for God, and love for our neighbor. Jesus challenged us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us.

It’s ironic that all of the characters in the Wizard of Oz already had what they needed to get what they wanted. It wasn’t provided by some Wizard.

Scarecrow already had a brain.

Lion already had courage.

Tinman already had a heart.

Even Dorothy already had her way home with her the entire time.

No matter what storm we are facing in our lives, we too need to recognize that what we need is with us.

Lamentations 3:22–23 ESV

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

God is with us. Thanks be to God.

What is the significance of God's response to Job in chapters 38-41?

How does the imagery of God as the Creator help us understand His authority over our lives?

In what ways do the attributes of God revealed in Job 38-41 provide comfort during personal struggles?

How does seeing Christ as the Creator change our perspective on chaos in our lives?

What implications does God's sovereignty have for our understanding of suffering and peace?

To combat the feelings of anxiety that come from constant news cycles and family pressures, create an environment of worship at home. Designate a time each week for personal/family worship, where you listen to praise music, pray, and reflect on God’s sovereign nature. Let this routine be a reminder of His ultimate control, helping you and your family shift your focus from chaos to the steadfast faithfulness of God that undergirds everything.