Sunday Morning Service (Job 40:6-Job 42)

Job 40:6-Job 42

“The End Of Job” •  5.30.21  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- Entering into verse six of chapter 40 has already put our minds on "red alert." God has just pummeled Job with a series of unanswerable questions, all of which expose His wisdom.

- When Job resigned himself to silence, but fell short of actual repentance, God knew that Job needed the rest of the exam, this time, with the focus upon His power. Verse 6.

Text

• Job 40:6-14 : " Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 'Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me: Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified? Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, bind their faces in hidden darkness. Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you." : God wants to know if Job really thinks he can criticize or condemn God in order to present himself as righteous! "Would you lower Me to your level in order that you can be exalted above Me?"

- God will not be judged by men! He is in an altogether separate category from man! Is Job able to act like Him? What can Job's arm do? Is His voice like the thunder? Is he dressed like God?

- Can Job act like Him!? When God allows His wrath to flow, the proud are brought to their knees. All of the wicked are tread down where they stand.

- When Job can reproduce that action, then God will admit that Job's right hand can save him! But be assured: God will never confess that over ANY man!

- Job has no power over wicked men, nor has he been able to save himself! He is powerless in God's world and that is good for us to realize. God will further illustrate in verse 15.

• Job 40:15-19: "Look now at the behemoth, which I made along with you; He eats grass like an ox. See now, his strength is in his hips, and his power is in his stomach muscles. He moves his tail like a cedar; The sinews of his thighs are tightly knit.  His bones are like beams of bronze, his ribs like bars of iron. He is the first of the ways of God; Only He who made him can bring near His sword." : Up

to this point, God has referred to 12 different animals, each speaking of His wisdom.

- When He wants to speak of His power, God need only refers to two, beginning with "Behemoth." The scholars are sharply divided over the identity of this animal.

- According to one commentator, the language indicates that it is the "beast of beasts!" Whether it is a hippo, a brontasaurus or an some other extinct animal, this isn't the point.

- Do I believe that dinosaurs roamed the Earth with men? Absolutely. There is plenty of archeological and anthropological evidence to support that. The point is that this animal is powerful!

- Consider what God says carefully. Job could "look upon" the Behemoth. This is an actual beast that God had made along with Job. In the creation, they are both created on the same day!

- Behemoth is a herbivore with power in it's hips and stomach. He has a long and strong tail. His tendons are woven tightly, his bones and ribs are unbreakable.

- God is proud of Behemoth's construction. He represents a "crown jewel" of the ways of God and only He, as it's Master, is a threat to it's existence! Verse 20

• Job 40:20-24: "Surely the mountains yield food for him, and all the beasts of the field play there.  He lies under the lotus trees, in a covert of reeds and marsh. The lotus trees cover him with their shade; The willows by the brook surround him. Indeed the river may rage, yet he is not disturbed; He is confident, though the Jordan gushes into his mouth, though he takes it in his eyes, or one pierces his nose with a snare." : Behemoth enjoys the higher elevations and loves to play around with those of his own kind. His life is idyllic, living under the shade of trees and by the flowing brooks.

- The images are incredibly peaceful, the scenery, serene. Then the Lord introduces this picture of chaos. Notice the circumstance. The river is raging! This word is widely translated.

- The older translations speak of the river "overflowing" (ASV) or "oppressing." (YLT) The RSV and ESV use the word "turbulent." These are common occurrences, especially with the Jordan river.

- Today, the Jordan river is hardly comparable to it's former, Biblical self. This river was virtually impassable during the springtime. Humans see this overflow as an impassable quandry.

- Behemoth though, is undisturbed. Behemoth is "secure" (NET) and hardly moved by the event. This animal lives out it's existence in perfect peace.

- He is not threatened by drowning, or bothered by getting hit in the eye or worried about being snared by a hunter. None of these things move him! He stands there completely at ease.

- What does that tell you Job? Behemoth doesn't know God like Job does, but it's demeanor is far more calm than Job's! Does Job not possess greater understanding of his own Creator?

- When the river rises in our lives, is there not a reason for and a source of peace? Chapter 41.

• Job 41:1-11 : "Can you draw out Leviathan with a hook, or snare his tongue with a line which you lower? Can you put a reed through his nose, or pierce his jaw with a hook? Will he make many supplications to you? Will he speak softly to you? Will he make a covenant with you? Will you take him as a servant forever? Will you play with him as with a bird, or will you leash him for your maidens? Will your companions make a banquet of him? Will they apportion him among the merchants? Can you fill his skin with harpoons, or his head with fishing spears? Lay your hand on him; Remember the battle—Never do it again! Indeed, any hope of overcoming him is false; Shall one not be overwhelmed at the sight of him? No one is so fierce that he would dare stir him up. Who then is able to stand against Me? Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine." : Behemoth represents the greatest beast of the land. What it is to the land, Leviathan is to the sea! Once again, Leviathan's identity is a mystery. Is it an aligator or crocodile?

- Some hold it to be a "sea serpent." One commentator shared several stories from the logs of Sea Captains regarding notable conflicts with large, menacing sea serpent creatures.

- Still others regard Leviathan as a fire breathing dragon, the sort that is found in nearly every culture's cave drawings! We'll let it suffice that this is a creature that God made.

- His name is interesting, as it is related to being "wreathed, twisted in folds." If it is indeed a fire breathing dragon, we have much to discuss. For now, let's make note of God's point.

- Leviathan cannot be hunted! He will not be reasoned with. If he grabs ahold of you, you won't be able to bargain with him or beg for your life! He's nobody's pet or showpiece.

- You'll never go to a banquet where he is the main course! You don't have enough equipment to take him down! Your first battle with him will genuinely be your last!

- If your dream is to overtake Leviathan, you are certainly fooling yourself! Even the sight of him was too much to consider! Only a fool would rouse this fierce beast. The implication is clear.

- "If Leviathan, one of my creations, is so fierce and invokes so much fear, who would dare come against Me, it's Maker!!" That "thud" you are hearing is Job's gulp!

- Who has given anything to God that He would need to pay back? He owns everything that there is! He does with it what He wants and none can argue that fact! Verse 12.

• Job 41:12-17 : "I will not conceal his limbs, his mighty power, or his graceful proportions. Who can remove his outer coat? Who can approach him with a double bridle? Who can open the doors of his face, with his terrible teeth all around? His rows of scales are his pride, shut up tightly as with a seal; One is so near another that no air can come between them; They are joined one to another, they stick together and cannot be parted." : God that revels in His own genius! "I have to tell you about Leviathan's limbs! I really outdid myself there!"

- Whatever God is speaking of is wonderfully symmetrical, a perfect balance of power and grace. His outer coat, the face of his garment, cannot be discovered.

- In other words, if you wanted to remove this protective outer layer, you wouldn't stand a chance at even finding where to begin! Even more, you couldn't hope to penetrate his double armor!

- The "doors of his face" are nothing less than the fearsome teeth of it's mouth! His scales are airtight, interlocking joints that form a single mechanism over his body. God continues in verse 18.

• Job 41:18-21 : "His sneezings flash forth light, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. Out of his mouth go burning lights; Sparks of fire shoot out. Smoke goes out of his nostrils, as from a boiling pot and burning rushes. His breath kindles coals, and a flame goes out of his mouth." : There really isn't a way out of this. God tells us that this creature sneezes out light! What does that mean?

- While we aren't sure of that, it's eyes look the sun and his mouth brings out fire. The heat that emanates from him feels like a boiling pot or a wildfire.

- Whatever kind of creature this is, I'm glad that I've never encountered him! He is a deadly and fierce piece of machinery! Verse 22.

• Job 41:22-34 : "Strength dwells in his neck, and sorrow dances before him. The folds of his flesh are joined together; They are firm on him and cannot be moved. His heart is as hard as stone, even as hard as the lower millstone. When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid; Because of his crashings they are beside themselves. Though the sword reaches him, it cannot avail; Nor does spear, dart, or javelin. He regards iron as straw, and bronze as rotten wood. The arrow cannot make him flee; Slingstones become like stubble to him. Darts are regarded as straw; He laughs at the threat of javelins. His undersides are like sharp potsherds; He spreads pointed marks in the mire. He makes the deep boil like a pot; He makes the sea like a pot of ointment. He leaves a shining wake behind him; One would think the deep had white hair. On earth there is nothing like him, which is made without fear. He beholds every high thing; He is king over all the children of pride.'" : This animal is mighty and the only response that he gets is terror! He is an inpenetrable nightmare with a fearless disposition that causes even the mightiest to fail!

- Those that oppose him fight with all of their might, using all of their weaponry against him, but it is futile. There isn't a man made weapon that has a chance against Him.

- Whatever you throw at him seems mighty to you, but it's foolishness to him! Iron is like straw, bronze is the same as a piece of rotting wood. Nothing touches him and nothing makes him withdraw!

- You can't threaten him with arrows, slingstones or darts. Javelins are his play toys! When Leviathan moves away, he leaves a notable frothy wake behind him.

- God's decree is that there is nothing on Earth like him! He has no fear! I like the NLT's translation here: "Nothing on earth is its equal, no other creature so fearless."

- He is the most proud and is the ruler over all of the children of pride. There are two elements here that may be equally true. One, he may represent all of the proud on Earth.

- If there is a symbol that captures the proud, it is Leviathan. "Nothing can touch me!" The secondary interpretations may also be that proud men are brought under Leviathan's sway!

- That leads us to a little bit deeper consideration of this creature. There are some who consider Leviathan to be an actual creature that also represents Satan!

- As you go back over God's description, can you not acknowledge statements that could apply to our enemy? Fear and sorrow are his calling cards. He's impervious to human ingenuity.

- You cannot reason with him and whenever he shows up, there is a definite destructive signature left in his wake! As Job considers all of these realities, he knows his own limitations.

- He is powerless against the physical beast, as well as the twisted serpent that he knows God had defeated according to Job 26:13. Isaiah prophecies of Leviathan's final demise in his book.

• Isaiah 27:1 : "In that day the Lord with His severe sword, great and strong, will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan that twisted serpent; And He will slay the reptile that is in the sea." : What "day" is Isaiah referring to? The day when He ushers in His Earthly Kingdom! Who does God defeat in Revelation? The Great Dragon!

- Many believe that God never answered Job's queries, but I believe that this might have sufficed! Job, Satan has been after you and you are powerless against him!

- "If he had been unleashed, you would not have been able to stand, but because I was with you, My power kept him from his purpose!" I admit that I may be alone in this interpretation.

- I only offer it as a valid explanation based upon what we see in chapter 42.

• Job 42:1-6 : "Then Job answered the Lord and said: 'I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." : Job is convinced of what every person eventually comes to know. God's wisdom and power are sufficient!

- Everything that He intends to do, will be done! Nobody has the power to keep what He wants from happening!

- God had asked a question, one that immediately silenced Elihu, but that also pricked Job's conscience as well: "Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge!?"

- Job realizes now that this is the explanation. He spoke of things that were far beyond his pay grade! He's spoken of things beyond his comprehension. Job sees this clearly, albeit a little too late.

- Job is not saying that he didn't know the Lord or have a relationship with Him before this. What he is saying is that compared to what He has now, what he had before was nothing!

- We have watched him wish to speak to God for the better part of this book. Now, when he has the chance, his only request to speak is tied to his desire to repent!

- Having had the experience of hearing Him and seeing Him, Job is left with one conclusion: I abhor myself! The word speaks of "despising" or "rejecting."

- He hates everything that he has said against God and has changed his mind, his thinking about Him. This is no longer just regret, but repentance. There is a difference.

- Regret is based upon actions that were taken. Repentance deals with the root related to why the actions were taken! Regret is temporary. Repentance is permanent!

- This is where God has been leading Job all along. Job sits in dust and ashes physically to show what his heart was toward God mentally! He has fully surrendered himself to God! Verse 7.

• Job 42:7-9 : "And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, 'My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.' So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job." : God has produced the desired affect in Job. It's at this point that he turns to Job's oldest friend.

- Eliphaz has been watching and surprisingly, hasn't run for the hills! I can imagine him standing there believing that God was finally going to deal with Job.

- When that didn't happen, he had to have a bad feeling and indeed, not once but twice God tells him his fault! Elihu's wrath had been kindled earlier, but it was nothing like God's wrath!

- God singles out Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar and directly shares His divine verdict: "You have not spoken of Me what is established." The word speaks of a momument that stands firm.

- God demands that if you speak for Him, BE SURE that you are speaking what is confirmed ABOUT HIM! They had not and He tells them twice in case they missed it badly!

- How are they to appease His wrath? They are to offer a burnt offering! Yes friends, before the law of Moses, God's people practiced these offerings of consecration.

- They were to offer their bulls and rams, Job was to pray for them and God would accept them on Job's behalf! In case you missed it, God calls Job "My servant" a total of four times!

- There is no doubt here as to who knew and belonged to the Most High! These men had sought to convince Job that he wasn't even a God Fearer! God sets the record straight!

- The good news here is that they actually responded to God! They listened and Job did for them what they didn't do once for Him: He acted as their priest and prayed for them!

- God gave them a basis to return to a relationship, based upon sacrifice and His acceptance of His servant Job's sacrifice and prayer! Verse 10.

• Job 42:10-11 : "And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the Lord had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold." : As we come to these final verses of Job, we have slipped into the final section of this magnificent book.

- Chapters 1-3 serve as "The Prologue." Chapters 4-42:9 serve as "The Dialogue." Chapter 42:10-17 is "The Epilogue." As you look back upon this final section, I'd have you note the structure.

- Behemoth is an illustration to Job. He can trust God in the midst of the rising tide. Leviathan is an explanation to Job. Satan has stood against him, but God has kept him for His purpose.

- What is left, but restoration! After Job's business with his friends was complete, God began a new work in Job's life. The Lord "restored" Job's losses. It reads "God turned the captivity of Job."

- It was used to speak of the return of prisoners from regional conflict. It's a figure of speech here relating to the return of prosperity.

- Two interesting elements are involved here, in that God mentions both "when" and "how much" was involved. God restored his losses WHEN he prayed for his friends.

- This is not to say that God was waiting for Job to forgive them or that he was testing Job to see if he would. It's just that this happened after that was concluded.

- What did it take for Job to pray for his friends? They had hurt him. They had maligned his character. They had taken advantage of his calamity. God told him to pray and Job did!

- When his material wealth returned, he found that he had two times as much as he had had before his trial. We're foolish if we think that this was something that God was obliged to give.

- We're even more foolish if we believe that this was what Job had earned. This was simply what God gave him. From there, the floodgates re-opened.

- Brothers, sisters and friends all made their way back into Job's life. He opened his home to them and they were the true comforters that he had been seeking. Please take note of that.

- Even after God had restored Job's fortunes and family, there was still grief that he needed to work through! His family was released at that time to be that blessing to him.

- Each of them brought Job a little something from their own lives to mark their love for him. It is all lovely to see. God gives us a bit more detail in verse 12.

• Job 42:12-15 : "Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers." : All of what we have seen to this point, God's restoration of finances, family and friends, were all expressions of God's blessing!

- His latter days were more blessed than his beginning! Materially, this was true. Look at that countdown and compare it Job 1:3. God has blessed Job abundantly.

- Job's wife even made it through! Remember, we remarked that it was best not to judge her on her worst day. Here she is and the Lord even opened her womb another 10 times!

- Job had 10 children in heaven and at the end of his trial, 10 more on the Earth!

- Job's wife had seven sons whose names are not given to us, nor are they described. Her three daughters however, are named and described as the most beautiful in all the land!

- His first daughter was named "Jemimah" which may be closely related to the word "dove."

- The word is used of one who is affectionate. The second is names "Keziah." This name is reflective of the spice known to us as "Cassia" which has a cinnamon type profile.

- Job's third daughter is Keren-Happuch, which is literally rendered "Horn of antimony!"

- Scholars believe that this refers to cosmetics. Whatever any of these names signify, we can see that their Father treated them quite well, as he gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

- When you read the Old Testament, you'll realize just how rare such a thing was! Verse 16.

• Job 42:16,17 : "After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days." : However long Job had lived to this point, he lived one hundred and forty years more. As with his wealth, so with his days! Tradition holds that Job lived to be 210 years old.

- His trial may have occurred in his 70's, if that is true. The number of days isn't important. It's the quality of that life!

- What he saw in his early days could not have compared with the joy he had in his latter days. He saw children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren!

- In the end, Job died a peaceful man, far removed from the troubles that he had seen, old and full of days, an expression of passing in a state of complete satisfaction!

Conclusion
- As we close the book of Job, may we understand that our God is wise enough to order our lives and powerful enough to affect His purposes, from beginning to end.

- Our enemy is relentless, fearsome, powerful and destructive. He has no ability to touch us unless our God deems it necessary for His glory and our character.

- We can trust Him when the waters rise, just like Behemoth, and we can bless those that trouble us. Why?

- Because One that God accepts has made a sacrifice on our behalf! God wrath was kindled against our sin and rebellion and Jesus offered Himself in our place!

- He is the High Priest who has offered Himself once for the sins of His people! He forever stands as the One who prays for His people and sees to it that God overlooks their folly!

- This is our God and these are His ways! May that be our lasting memory of this mighty book!

Sunday Morning Service (Job 38-Job 40:5)

Job 38-Job 40:5

Audio Access Available Above

“I Will Question You!” •  5.23.21  •  Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- We have come to the final portion of the "Dialogue" section in Job. Elihu has spent six chapters attempting to speak for God. Little did he know that God would soon be speaking Himself!

- The storm that had been gathering was far from a random weather event. God was coming to set the record straight. Job has asked for this, but it will unfold in a way that he is not prepared for.

- Job thinks that he is going to put God on the stand and finally get some answers. Instead, God decides that He is going to put Job on the stand. He will be the One with questions!

- Chapters 38 and 39 will expose the wisdom of God to Job and give him, not the answers that he wants, but the perspective that he needs. Chapter 38, verse 1.

Text

• Job 38:1-3 : "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 'Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." : "The Lord answered Job!" What a fearful verse! The first fearful aspect is found in who is giving the address.

- When you see the word "Lord" in all capitals in your texts, know that the word refers to the Almighty, the self-existent One! This is God, the Supreme One!

- Second, note that the Supreme Being "answers" Job! He hasn't missed a single word! He has heard it all and at the right time, He answers. Notice finally that God absolutely ignores Elihu!

- Some, and I include myself in this group, have questioned why it is that God later rebukes Eliphaz, Zophar and Bildad, but does not rebuke Elihu. I'd offer this moment as that rebuke!

- Elihu, for all of his supposed wisdom and willingness to speak on God's behalf, is not even acknowledged by God! He may even be the target of God's first salvo!

- "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" To "darken" intimates a concealing or obscuring of the purposes of God. How was he doing this?

- By offering words without knowledge! Can you imagine Elihu's response to these few words, especially after all that he has said? "One who is perfect in knowledge is with you!" (Job 36:4)

- God doesn't mention his name and he renders the only judgment that a man like Elihu would feel to the center of his being: This man is ignorant!

- When a person is as greatly inflated as Elihu, popping their bubble is the best medicine and perhaps all that such a person could need! I wonder if Elihu ever spoke again!

- As Elihu is reduced to the underside of a dog's droppings, God turns His attention to Job, who is no doubt, as silent as the grave in His presence!

- He has what he wants, but now that he has it, he's POSITIVE that he doesn't want it!

- God is coming for him and He forewarns him to prepare himself like a man! These words are amazing! God issues a command to Job. "Gird up thy loins!"

- In the ancient world, men wore long tunic robes and when it was time to run into action, the men needed to draw up their robes into their belts.

- God was announcing that there was going to be action and God was now the One who was going to be asking all of the questions! This is not going at all like Job pictured it.

- He thought that he would be the one examining God, putting Him under the proverbial microscope. Job has intimated that he could do a better job than God at being God!

- God is about to give Job the "What-It-Takes-To-Be-God" test, which is a 70-77 question pop quiz on all matter of subjects, beginning with the creation of the Earth! Verse 4.

• Job 38:4-11 : "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut in the sea with doors, when it burst forth and issued from the womb; When I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; When I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop!" : Remember that this is at least, the oldest STORY in the Old Testament and it may well be the oldest book, though scholars believe it to be written at a later time.

- Long before Moses credited God with creating the world, Job heard it from God Himself! "I laid the foundations of the Earth!" What, God doesn't believe in evolution? No He does not!

- God was there at the beginning, but He doesn't recall seeing Job around! God speaks of the creation as a carpenter would of building a home!

- There are measurements and "landings" to secure. There's a cornerstone that God laid down that caused the angels to sing and shout for joy!

- On the third day of creation, God separated the land from the sea by stopping up the seas and separating the waters from the waters.

- The mighty ocean intimidates all of the ancient people but God tells it how far it can go! "Thus far and no farther!"

- Old Testament scholars view the sea as a symbol of chaos. What a picture for Job to consider. God controls the chaos in our lives and will not let it go beyond it's limit!

- "Here your proud waves must stop!" God saw to it that the sea would obey Him! Verse 12.

• Job 38:12-18 : "Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it? It takes on form like clay under a seal, and stands out like a garment.  From the wicked their light is withheld,
and the upraised arm is broken. Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths? Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this." : God moves from the Creation to the operation of the Earth.

- When was the last time that Job made the sun appear in the Eastern sky? Do you know why that's important? To give light to the Earth? No! To move the wicked out of their place. It limits evil!

- As the Earth takes shape in it's brilliant color display, the wicked are stopped cold in their activities. "The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence." (NLT)

- The wicked's preferred "light" is darkness. God witholds it from them and breaks their hold upon the night.

- From the land, God moves back to sea and the springs, the aquafirs, therein. Even today, we cannot walk the the depths of the ocean! Specialized vehicles must be used and they are limited.

- "Job, have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?" What a creepy sounding place! "What about the size of the Earth? Go ahead Job! I'm waiting!" Job is in over his head! Verse 19.

• Job 38:19-30 : "Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you may take it to its territory, that you may know the paths to its home? Do you know it, because you were born then, or because the number of your days is great? Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war? By what way is light diffused, or the east wind scattered over the earth? Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, or a path for the thunderbolt, to cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, a wilderness in which there is no man; To satisfy the desolate waste, and cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass? Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth? The waters harden like stone, and the surface of the deep is frozen." : Did you know that the light had a place to live or that the darkness has a territory? Neither did Job!

- He hasn't been around long enough to have any idea what God is talking about!

- He hasn't led the darkness to it's place nor has he come near the treasuries of snow and hail! God has a special place for hail, which He uses as His ammunition for troubled times.

- Most recently, we read of the hail that God will rain down upon the wicked in Revelation 16:21. You'll recall His use of hail mixed with fire in Exodus 9:24 against Egypt.

- You'll also remember His use of hail against the five Kings of the Amorites in Joshua 10:11. On that day, more were slain by hail than were by soldiers!

- When you wonder about snow, ask the French or the Nazis about invading Russia! Job never thought of these natural phenomena as protective or limiting agents!

- "What about light Job? Can you see which way it's dispersed? Do you know where the wind goes?" God speaks about creating channels for overflowing river banks.

- There are paths for thunderbolts to take! God knows all about this. He is in charge of it all! And why is it this way? Notice this incredible fact. God wants to water areas where no one lives!

- This is a fascinating piece of information, especially given the prevalent theology that has plagued Job's and indeed, our own ears!

- "God does good things for good people and bad things to bad people." What does He do when there are no people? He does good for it just because He is good!

- There aren't any people and there isn't really much of anything. It's a wilderness and God takes it upon Himself to make sure that it's cared for! "If God takes cares of the weeds . . ."

- His sovereign and gracious hand demands this of Him and it's no burden to bear!

- He satisfies the desolate waste and causes growth of simple grasslands that are here today and gone tomorrow! Where does all this rain come from? Who is in charge of the dew?

- "Job, what do you know about ice and frost or the way that rivers are frozen solid?" I'm not a quarter of the intellect Job is, but I imagine even his head is spinning! How about yours? Verse 31.

• Job 38:31-38 : "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loose the belt of Orion? Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?  Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth? Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you? Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, ‘Here we are!’? Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven, when the dust hardens in clumps, and the clods cling together?" : From "earth ops" to "space ops!" The Pleiades, Orion, Mazzaroth and the Great Bear are all groupings of stars visible in the night sky.

- Does Job know anything about the laws that govern these stars, how they are kept in alignment and how they are visible at certain seasons?

- Job can't even make the weather do his bidding! He can't take the phone and call for lightning! It won't report to him!

- Much closer to home and indeed his own person, who is responsible for having put wisdom and understanding in a human being? Where does that gift come from?

- It's interesting that God talks about wisdom in the same sentence as ordering the rotation of the stars in the galaxy! Both are equally simple ventures for Him but are mind numbing complexities!

- How is it that a person has an ability to reason? How is artistic achievement accomplished? How do you explain intelligence? But there is more to man than this.

- Where do feelings come from? How does one account for love? What makes a thing touching and where does sadness arise from? All of these are the operations of a generous God!

- God has taken everything into consideration, even the formation of dirt clods! He has literally thought of everything that Job has never given a second thought!

- Job has never given these things a moment's notice! Like you and I, he's unaware of the inner workings of how a star happens to sit in it's place night by night.

- He sees it and enjoys it, but has no idea that there are rules that govern it! God knows these things and has taken it upon Himself to keep even the simplest activity secret from men. Verse 39.

• Job 38:39-41 : "Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens, or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait? Who provides food for the raven, when its young ones cry to God, and wander about for lack of food?" : God has tested Job with cosmology, meteorology, and everything in between. He moves now to zoology! "Job, how involved are you with the nutritional needs of lions?"

- "Job, if I gave you a SINGLE lion, would you be able to meet it's nutritional needs?"

- The fact that there is concern for the lion's family food in God amazes our minds! God is thinking about the appetite of the young lions!

- He knows where they wait and sees them in need of food. God speaks as if He is the One that stalks their prey! He speaks as if He has programmed their hunting behavior!

- When they crouch and lurk, their pre-programmed instincts from God signal the time to eat! God does the same for the ravens. Their young ones cry to God and God takes note! Chapter 39.

• Job 39:1-8 : "Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young? Or can you mark when the deer gives birth? Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young? They bow down, they bring forth their young, they deliver their offspring. Their young ones are healthy, they grow strong with grain; They depart and do not return to them. Who set the wild donkey free? Who loosed the bonds of the onager, whose home I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwelling? He scorns the tumult of the city; He does not heed the shouts of the driver. The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searches after every green thing." : God moves from the ravens to the gestation cycle of goats and deer!

- God is intimately acquainted with their birthing cycles, how they proceed to deliver their offspring and what they do after their offspring has been weaned.

- In the case of the goats and deer, when they have performed their duty, they leave their young to fend for themselves! They spend the rest of their lives roaming the wilderness.

- What about the wild donkey and the onager, an ancient relative of the wild donkey.

- The donkey is free, living happily in the wilderness where there is barely any food and guess what: They like it that way! They love the peace and won't give into domestication.

- All of their days are spent wandering the mountains, looking for any green food that they can find. They are satisfied with their lives. They have been made to subsist this way.

- God has worked out their personalities and anticipated their needs accordingly. Verse 9.

• Job 39:9-18 : "Will the wild ox be willing to serve you? Will he bed by your manger? Can you bind the wild ox in the furrow with ropes? Or will he plow the valleys behind you? Will you trust him because his strength is great? Or will you leave your labor to him? Will you trust him to bring home your grain, and gather it to your threshing floor? The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s? For she leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust; She forgets that a foot may crush them, or that a wild beast may break them. She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers; Her labor is in vain, without concern, because God deprived her of wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding. When she lifts herself on high, She scorns the horse and its rider." : The wild ox, a now extinct "Aurachs" is like the wild donkey, is not capable of being domesticated. It won't act like a pet or be put to service in the fields.

- These animals, according to scholars, were as hefty as a Rhinoceros! Huge animals.

- You wouldn't trust him with your grain because he'll eat it before he brings it home! Oxen that are born and bred for such purposes, are trustworthy, but not the "Aurachs."

- You'd think that their size would make them a perfect beast of burden. If you like that contradiction, what about the ostrich? They have wings that spread out for 6 feet on both sides.

- They are the largest bird on the planet, but they can't fly! Their wings can't support their girth!

- Yet, she waves her wings proudly. When she lays her eggs, you'd think that she would consider them, but she essentially leaves her clutch in the ground to incubate them.

- Ostriches end up sitting on other clutches of eggs and can't remember which one was theirs! Why do you think this is? Because God did not give her the wisdom or understanding to be otherwise!

- She thinks very highly of herself but she is truly an ignorant animal! Her one saving feature is her speed.

- She can run nearly 45 miles per hour, which outclasses a horse and rider by nearly 10 miles per hour! God may not have given her smarts, but He made sure she was quick! Verse 19.

• Job 39:19-25 : "Have you given the horse strength? Have you clothed his neck with thunder? Can you frighten him like a locust? His majestic snorting strikes terror. He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms. He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; Nor does he turn back from the sword. The quiver rattles against him, the glittering spear and javelin. He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; Nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of captains and shouting." : When one considers the horse, it's not long before you acknowledge it's power. Cars are measured in it!

- It's long neck feels like a single muscle and it's neighing startles you if you aren't prepared for it! That isn't impressive to God. He wants to point out the fearlessness of the horse.

- In ancient times, when countries went to war, they did so upon horses that not only transported them to the battle sight, but actually joined in with their riders!

- Can you imagine the sights that a horse would be seeing? There's a flash of metal this way, a human body laying out in front of him that way. Then think of the sounds of battle.

- Other animals scurry away from the action. War horses seem like this is what they have been waiting for! Verse 26.

• Job 39:26-30 : "Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high? On the rock it dwells and resides, on the crag of the rock and the stronghold.  From there it spies out the prey; Its eyes observe from afar. Its young ones suck up blood; And where the slain are, there it is.'" : When you speak about majestic creatures, you have to consider the hawk and the eagle!

- Who endowed them with the abilities that they possess? Who put their minds and their bodies together to accomplish what they do on a daily basis?

- They have the instinct and the ability to set up their nests in otherwise inapproachable places. How do they hunt? The Lord has outfitted them with astounding, nearly binocular vision!

- A hawk or an eagle have the capacity to see a medium sized mouse, with clarity, at the distance of 17 football fields lined end to end! Our equivalent would be to read a paper a mile away!

- When they have completed their hunts, they fly toward mountainsides and dwell safely in the crags, until they search out their prey for the next day.

- Their young eat up all that their parents bring them and when there is a carcass anywhere, you'll find them right on top of it! Chapter 40.

• Job 40:1,2 : "Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.'" : After all of these unanswerable questions, God asks if Job wants to respond. He is the contender, the one who "strives with words." The word can also mean to "conduct a law suit."

- Can you imagine standing before God, especially after He has just spent these chapters unveiling the knowledge that we have no knowledge of!?

- Who has sought to reprove God? Every eye and every finger pointed toward Job!

• Job 40:1a (NASB) : "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?" What a freezing cold moment! Job's heart would have stopped in his chest if God wasn't keeping it pumping!

- I don't think any of us wants to have the following verbs attached to us when it comes to God.

- The NKJV says, "He who rebukes God." The NIV, "let him who accuses God." The NLT, "You are God's critic." The ESV, "he who argues with God."

- The person who is doing any of these is called upon by God to answer! It's Job's turn to speak and he does so in verse 3.

• Job 40:3-5 : "Then Job answered the Lord and said: 'Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.'" : While we don't want to be found to be a critic, an accuser, et all of God, we may want to consider Job's opening admission!

- "I am insignificant!" (NASB) "I am unworthy!" (NIV) "I am nothing!" (NLT) "I am of small account!" (ESV) "I am nought!" (DBY) It'd be great to hear some churches begin with this!

- In the light of God, WHAT are we and WHO are we to respond to Him? Job will happily and forcefully put his hand over his mouth! He has already said more than he should have!

- On the surface, this may seem like repentance from Job but we don't really see that until chapter 42. What we see here is a man who regrets what his actions have caused.

- One might say that Job affirms the wisdom of God in ordering the Universe, but he doesn't have to like it! That isn't what God wants to affect from this session with Job.

Conclusion
- As we close this section, I hope that you are as impressed with God's wisdom as Job was. The point has been made: God is God and we are not!

- He has ordered the entire universe and keeps it running with a precision that makes our hearts marvel when we consider it.

- From the farthest star, to the indescribable center of a man's consciousness, His wonders never cease to amaze. When we look at what He has done, we can't help but worship!

- If He can keep all of these things, how can we not trust Him with our lives? It would be insane to think otherwise!