The Lord’s Turn

Job 38-41

            At long last, the Lord makes an appearance—in a storm. The storm, it seems to me, has two purposes. On the one hand, it makes the Lord’s appearance terrifying. Job is put in his place; he doesn’t fully appreciate Who he is dealing with. The Lord spends chapters 38 and 39 cataloguing His works of creation, and reminding Job that a human has no ability to do all the things the Lord does. From the earth’s foundations to the springs of the deep to the stars in heaven to the secret wisdom of the animals’ character—it is all the Lord. “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge,” indeed!

            On the other hand, the storm is reminiscent of God’s appearance on Mt. Sinai and the cloud in which He dwelt in the tabernacle. The all-powerful Lord condescends to talk to his unruly servant. There is a certain kind of grace in that, demonstrating that He has heard Job’s cries, that He has seen, that He does care. The Lord’s purpose is not only to put Job in his place but also to comfort Job with His presence.

            It turns out young Elihu was closest to correct: Job needs to learn humility; the sufferer needs to learn his place. We readers know from chapters 1 and 2 that the Lord is not punishing Job. Indeed, the Lord has been bragging about Job. The whole thing is a chance for Job to prove his faithfulness, a faithfulness the Lord never doubted. If in his suffering Job has overreached and has become too strident in his objections, the Lord still considers him faithful. Job just needs to be reminded that the Lord is God and that Job is but one of His creatures. Job needs to learn what he confessed in chapters 1 and 2, namely, that the Lord can be counted on in trouble as in blessing.

            That seems like an apt lesson for all of us.