Sunday December 4
Out of the Whirlwind
Read Job 38:1.
What happens here that is different from everything else in all the other dialogues?
Suddenly and unexpectedly, the Lord now appears in the book of Job, the first time since Job 2:6—“And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life’ ” (NKJV).
Nothing really prepares the reader for this sudden appearance of God. Job 37 ends with Elihu’s speech, and the next thing we know, “the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1). Instantly it is just God and Job, as if the other men are irrelevant, at least for now.
The word whirlwind comes from a Hebrew word that means “storm” or “tempest,” and it has been used in connection with the appearance of God to humans (see Isa. 29:6, Zech. 9:14). It was also the word used in the context of Elijah’s being taken to heaven: “When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal” (2 Kings 2:1, NIV).
Though we are not given any physical details about this “theophany” (a visible manifestation of God to humanity), it is clear that God isn’t speaking to Job in a “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12). Instead, the Lord manifested Himself in a very powerful way, one that certainly got Job’s attention.
Of course, this isn’t the only time God had revealed Himself to fallen humans. Again and again, the Scriptures show us the closeness of God to humanity.
What do these texts teach us about how near God can be to us? Gen. 15:1–6, Gen 32:24–32, John 1:29.
The Bible teaches us the great and important truth that our God is not a distant God who created our world and then left us to ourselves. Instead, He is a God who closely interacts with us. No matter our sorrows, our troubles, or whatever we face in this life, we can have the assurance that God is near and that we can trust Him.
It’s one thing to believe intellectually in the nearness of God to us; it’s quite another to experience that nearness. How can you learn to draw close to God and to derive hope and comfort from this relationship?
Today's lesson, as presented, is far from the truth being taught in the Book of Job. First, we read in 38:1 God speaking just after He sent a message through His servant Elihu. God confirms the message He sent through Elihu. And, His manner of speaking to Job is not without strong rebuke. He does not speak of one thing that Job does not understand, or cannot do, but God goes on and on until there is no way Job can ignore his sin. When Job does respond, as God commanded, it is with much repentance. Job is left with nothing else to say. It is so obvious to Job and to all who have some Spiritual discernment, Job was far removed from God when he fell after being unfairly attacked by his three friends. Elihu's reproof was not an unfair attack, it was reproof of Job's sin and it was inspired by the Holy Spirit, both in Spirit and in truth.
Let us read all of what God has to say to Job. Don't skip any verses. We must get the same understanding given to Job. He is being rebuked for his sins. Don't rely on others to do your study. Read it all or do not do as Job did, and pervert God's truth because you never took time to even read it. If you reject what God says, then don't open your mouth in your Sabbath School and bring reproach upon God, His Word, and His church. It is God speaking, not man. It is not hard to understand Job sinned, when God says he was perverting the truth, contending with God, and was self righteous.
38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
38:2 Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
38:4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
38:5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
38:6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
38:7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
38:8 Or [who] shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, [as if] it had issued out of the womb?
38:9 When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it,
38:10 And brake up for it my decreed [place], and set bars and doors,
38:11 And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?
38:12 Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; [and] caused the dayspring to know his place;
38:13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
38:14 It is turned as clay [to] the seal; and they stand as a garment.
38:15 And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken.
38:16 Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth?
38:17 Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death?
38:18 Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.
38:19 Where [is] the way [where] light dwelleth? and [as for] darkness, where [is] the place thereof,
38:20 That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths [to] the house thereof?
38:21 Knowest thou [it], because thou wast then born? or [because] the number of thy days [is] great?
38:22 Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,
38:23 Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
38:24 By what way is the light parted, [which] scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
38:25 Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
38:26 To cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is; on] the wilderness, wherein [there is] no man;
38:27 To satisfy the desolate and waste [ground]; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?
38:28 Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?
38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?
38:30 The waters are hid as [with] a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.
38:31 Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?
38:32 Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?
38:33 Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?
38:34 Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
38:35 Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?
38:36 Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart?
38:37 Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven,
38:38 When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together?
38:39 Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions,
38:40 When they couch in [their] dens, [and] abide in the covert to lie in wait?
38:41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
39:1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? [or] canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
39:2 Canst thou number the months [that] they fulfil? or knowest thou the time when they bring forth?
39:3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young ones, they cast out their sorrows.
39:4 Their young ones are in good liking, they grow up with corn; they go forth, and return not unto them.
39:5 Who hath sent out the wild ass free? or who hath loosed the bands of the wild ass?
39:6 Whose house I have made the wilderness, and the barren land his dwellings.
39:7 He scorneth the multitude of the city, neither regardeth he the crying of the driver.
39:8 The range of the mountains [is] his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing.
39:9 Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?
39:10 Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?
39:11 Wilt thou trust him, because his strength [is] great? or wilt thou leave thy labour to him?
39:12 Wilt thou believe him, that he will bring home thy seed, and gather [it into] thy barn?
39:13 [Gavest thou] the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?
39:14 Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,
39:15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.
39:16 She is hardened against her young ones, as though [they were] not hers: her labour is in vain without fear;
39:17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.
39:18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.
39:19 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?
39:20 Canst thou make him afraid as a grasshopper? the glory of his nostrils [is] terrible.
39:21 He paweth in the valley, and rejoiceth in [his] strength: he goeth on to meet the armed men.
39:22 He mocketh at fear, and is not affrighted; neither turneth he back from the sword.
39:23 The quiver rattleth against him, the glittering spear and the shield.
39:24 He swalloweth the ground with fierceness and rage: neither believeth he that [it is] the sound of the trumpet.
39:25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
39:26 Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, [and] stretch her wings toward the south?
39:27 Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?
39:28 She dwelleth and abideth on the rock, upon the crag of the rock, and the strong place.
39:29 From thence she seeketh the prey, [and] her eyes behold afar off.
39:30 Her young ones also suck up blood: and where the slain [are], there [is] she.
40:1 Moreover the LORD answered Job, and said,
40:2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct Him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.
God is not finished by any means, but Job has heard enough for him to know how vile he has been, no matter how perfect he had been before his fall.
40:3 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
40:4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
40:5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.
God continues His strong rebuke of Job adding more of Job's sins to the list.
40:6 Then answered the LORD unto Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
40:7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
40:8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous?
40:9 Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
40:10 Deck thyself now [with] majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
40:11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.
40:12 Look on every one [that is] proud, [and] bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
40:13 Hide them in the dust together; [and] bind their faces in secret.
40:14 Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.
40:15 Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee; he eateth grass as an ox.
40:16 Lo now, his strength [is] in his loins, and his force [is] in the navel of his belly.
40:17 He moveth his tail like a cedar: the sinews of his stones are wrapped together.
40:18 His bones [are as] strong pieces of brass; his bones [are] like bars of iron.
40:19 He [is] the chief of the ways of God: he that made him can make his sword to approach [unto him].
40:20 Surely the mountains bring him forth food, where all the beasts of the field play.
40:21 He lieth under the shady trees, in the covert of the reed, and fens.
40:22 The shady trees cover him [with] their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
40:23 Behold, he drinketh up a river, [and] hasteth not: he trusteth that he can draw up Jordan into his mouth.
40:24 He taketh it with his eyes: [his] nose pierceth through snares.
41:1 Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord [which] thou lettest down?
41:2 Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
41:3 Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft [words] unto thee?
41:4 Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
41:5 Wilt thou play with him as [with] a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
41:6 Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
41:7 Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
41:8 Lay thine hand upon him, remember the battle, do no more.
41:9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain: shall not [one] be cast down even at the sight of him?
41:10 None [is so] fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?
41:11 Who hath prevented me, that I should repay [him? whatsoever is] under the whole heaven is mine.
41:12 I will not conceal his parts, nor his power, nor his comely proportion.
41:13 Who can discover the face of his garment? [or] who can come [to him] with his double bridle?
41:14 Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth [are] terrible round about.
41:15 [His] scales [are his] pride, shut up together [as with] a close seal.
41:16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
41:17 They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered.
41:18 By his neesings a light doth shine, and his eyes [are] like the eyelids of the morning.
41:19 Out of his mouth go burning lamps, [and] sparks of fire leap out.
41:20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as [out] of a seething pot or caldron.
41:21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.
41:22 In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him.
41:23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved.
41:24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether [millstone].
41:25 When he raiseth up himself, the mighty are afraid: by reason of breakings they purify themselves.
41:26 The sword of him that layeth at him cannot hold: the spear, the dart, nor the habergeon.
41:27 He esteemeth iron as straw, [and] brass as rotten wood.
41:28 The arrow cannot make him flee: slingstones are turned with him into stubble.
41:29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
41:30 Sharp stones [are] under him: he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire.
41:31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
41:32 He maketh a path to shine after him; [one] would think the deep [to be] hoary.
41:33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear.
41:34 He beholdeth all high [things]: he [is] a king over all the children of pride.
After reading what the Bible says, and what God Himself said to Job, will you still say Job did not sin? Will you still say that Elihu was arrogant and doing the same as Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite? Where is Elihu wrong when he said he was moved by the Spirit to reprove Job of the same thing for which we now hear God reproving Job?
There are important lessons for us in our day in the Book of Job. The lesson does not bring them out. There are two different religions involved. Be as the faithful Bereans and study this Book for yourselves, not depending on the wisdom of man. We will find many truths uttered by Job and his three friends, but Satan has always mingled truth with error. Present truth is found in the Words of God in chapters 1,2, and again in 32-37 with the words of Elihu, ending with these: "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: He will not afflict. Men do therefore fear Him: He respecteth not any that are wise of heart." 37:23,24. Then we read the Words spoken by God Himself in the last five chapters, 38-42. We have shared all of the Words spoken by God from chapter 38 to 41, but now we will continue with the last chapter wherein God continues to reveal who it is that has sinned. He tells us who has repented and who needs yet to repent. Some will still reject the truth and attack the character of Elihu just as Job's three friends had attacked the character of Job when he had not sinned.
42:1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
42:2 I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.
42:3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
42:4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
42:6 Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.
42:7 And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].
42:8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you [after your] folly, in that ye have not spoken of me [the thing which is] right, like my servant Job.
42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite [and] Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.
42:10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
And, we have confirmed the truth by God again. Who repented? Job. Who did not repent? Job's three friends. Who did not need to repent? Job's fourth friend. And, when did God turn the captivity of Job? When he prayed for the ones who falsely attacked him. If he had done this much earlier, God would have ended his great trial sooner.
We still have a few more weeks to bring to a conclusion the important lessons we are to learn from our study of the Book of Job. It is an important Book for us who live in the last days of this Earth's history. Job is a shadow of what those who will live through the "time of trouble such as never was." They will not make the same mistake as did Job. They will learn the lessons from His experience.