.38:1-38.

Back to Job~

Back to Contents

Job 38:1-42:17 GOD’S ANSWER

Control of the natural world (Job 38:1-38 ) Possibly an approaching storm was what prompted Elihu’s poetic praise of the God of nature (see Job 36:27-37:5).

If so, that storm now broke, and through it the voice of God spoke to Job. Job had repeatedly challenged God to a contest. God now accepts (Job 38:1-3).

In his reply, God asks Job questions that he cannot answer, in order to show him how little he knows of the mind and activity of the Almighty.

God begins his ironical questioning of Job with a poetic description of his work in creating the world, something that he did long before Job or any other human being was born. Only angels witnessed his work (Job 38:4-7).

God separated the waters in the atmosphere from the waters on the earth and caused dry land to appear (Job 38:8-11).

God asks Job if he is able to make the sun rise, so that those who rely on darkness to do evil are exposed. They are ‘shaken’ out of their hiding places as insects are shaken out of clothing (Job 38:12-13).

Can Job use the rays of the rising sun to create beautiful patterns and colours on the earth’s surface (Job 38:14-15)?

Has Job been to the depths of the sea or the ends of the earth? Does he know where the sun dwells so that he can make it rise each morning and take it to its resting place each evening? He should, if he has such great knowledge as he claims (Job 38:16-21).

Does Job know how God controls the weather (Job 38:22-24)?

Who is it that makes snow, hail, wind, rain and lightning (Job 38:25-30)?

Can Job control the stars (Job 38:31-33)? Can he send floods or create drought as he wishes (Job 38:34-38)?