Job 38
In Job 38, God responds to Job out of the whirlwind, challenging Job’s understanding of the world. After Job's long dialogue with his friends, and his plea for God to answer him, God speaks, but not in the way Job might have expected. Instead of providing direct answers, God questions Job, emphasizing the vastness of His wisdom and power in creation. Through a series of rhetorical questions, God highlights Job's limited knowledge and inability to comprehend the workings of the universe.
Job 38:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said:
2 "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?"
God begins by addressing Job directly, questioning him for speaking without full knowledge. God's response from the whirlwind emphasizes His majesty and Job’s limited perspective. By asking Job where he was when the earth was created, God highlights the vast difference between divine wisdom and human understanding. These questions are meant to humble Job, as he has no way of answering such immense and complex inquiries.
Job 38:6-11 (NKJV)
6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8 Or who shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth and issued from the womb;
9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band;
10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors;
11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’"
God continues His challenge, describing the creation of the earth as if it were a construction project, with foundations and a cornerstone. The "morning stars" and "sons of God" likely refer to heavenly beings rejoicing at creation. Then, He speaks of controlling the sea, limiting its reach, and setting boundaries for the powerful forces of nature. God demonstrates His sovereign authority over all things, from the earth’s structure to the chaotic seas.
Job 38:12-15 (NKJV)
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, And caused the dawn to know its place,
13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it?
14 It takes on form like clay under a seal, And stands out like a garment.
15 From the wicked their light is withheld, And the upraised arm is broken."
God asks if Job has ever commanded the dawn to rise or caused the morning to bring light. The imagery shows God’s daily control over time and the world’s order, with morning reshaping the earth like clay under a seal, bringing light and new form. The dawn also serves to disrupt the plans of the wicked, withholding their light and breaking their power. God’s questions illustrate His intricate involvement in the world, something far beyond Job’s reach.
Job 38:16-18 (NKJV)
16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the doors of the shadow of death?
18 Have you comprehended the breadth of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this."
Here, God challenges Job with the mysteries of the deep oceans and the hidden realms of death. These questions emphasize the limits of human exploration and understanding. The depth of the sea and the gates of death are unknown and inaccessible to Job. God’s point is that Job cannot grasp the full expanse of creation, let alone the realities beyond life and death.
Job 38:19-21 (NKJV)
19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place,
20 That you may take it to its territory, That you may know the paths to its home?
21 Do you know it, because you were born then, Or because the number of your days is great?"
God asks Job about the origins and paths of light and darkness, forces that Job cannot direct or control. The rhetorical nature of these questions underscores Job’s lack of knowledge. God sarcastically asks if Job knows because he is so old, driving home the point that Job’s understanding is minuscule compared to the eternal Creator.
Job 38:22-24 (NKJV)
22 “Have you entered the treasury of snow, Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
23 Which I have reserved for the time of trouble, For the day of battle and war?
24 By what way is light diffused, Or the east wind scattered over the earth?"
God continues with imagery of snow and hail, which He has reserved for specific purposes, such as judgment or battle. These natural elements serve God’s plans in ways Job cannot fathom. The diffusion of light and the movement of the wind are further examples of the complexity and power of God’s creation, far beyond Job’s understanding or control.
Job 38:25-30 (NKJV)
25 “Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water, Or a path for the thunderbolt,
26 To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one, A wilderness in which there is no man;
27 To satisfy the desolate waste, And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?
28 Has the rain a father? Or who has begotten the drops of dew?
29 From whose womb comes the ice? And the frost of heaven, who gives it birth?
30 The waters harden like stone, And the surface of the deep is frozen."
God shifts to the natural processes that bring rain to desolate places and cause plants to grow. Even in areas uninhabited by humans, God provides life. By asking about the origin of rain, dew, ice, and frost, God emphasizes that even these basic elements of nature are part of His vast, incomprehensible design. He brings life to the barren and controls forces beyond human power or knowledge.
Job 38:31-33 (NKJV)
31 “Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, Or loose the belt of Orion?
32 Can you bring out Mazzaroth in its season? Or can you guide the Great Bear with its cubs?
33 Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? Can you set their dominion over the earth?"
God now focuses on the stars and constellations. He asks if Job can control the Pleiades, Orion, or other star formations, alluding to Job’s lack of power over the universe. The "ordinances of the heavens" refer to the natural laws that govern the cosmos. God alone understands and controls the stars and their influence on the earth, something beyond Job’s capacity.
Job 38:34-38 (NKJV)
34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That an abundance of water may cover you?
35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, And say to you, ‘Here we are!’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven,
38 When the dust hardens in clumps, And the clods cling together?"
God asks Job if he has the power to control the weather, such as commanding rain or sending lightning. These forces of nature respond only to God, who created them. God also asks about the source of wisdom and understanding, pointing out that even human intellect is a gift from Him. The questions continue to highlight Job's limitations in comparison to God’s wisdom and authority over creation.
Job 38:39-41 (NKJV)
39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 When they crouch in their dens, Or lurk in their lairs to lie in wait?
41 Who provides food for the raven, When its young ones cry to God, And wander about for lack of food?"
God finishes this chapter by shifting to the animal kingdom, asking Job if he can provide for the lions or the ravens. These creatures depend on God for their sustenance, highlighting His care over all living beings. Job, with his limited power, cannot fulfill even these basic roles, further underscoring God’s vast, sustaining presence in the world.