Thursday December 3
The Lord Answered Job
Read Job 38.
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.
What does this teach us about God, not just as the Creator but as the Sustainer of all life? How should this important truth impact how we understand the arts and sciences?
First let's see why God has shared this chapter. It was a very strong rebuke to a man who had led many astray by words which were untrue. How does God look at such that would open their mouths and speak things which are contrary to truth that God has revealed? Have you ever erred in words that turned out to be untrue? It has an evil influence on others who hear it.
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.
This is the very first thing that God said to Job. Does this give great importance to His Words? Absolutely. Something educators need to take to heart. They are accountable for all they have spoken in the presence of their students. And, God did not stop in His rebuke with one chapter. He wanted Job to understand He was serious about what Job had done. How does God conclude His message to Job and what was Job's response? Did he repent? Do you really want wisdom, or will you just let these truths which are contrary to what is being taught in our schools drift away? As a teacher in God's schools, it would be wise to consider more than what has been asked in today's lesson. Job sinned and his sin is sitting in front of you beginning with this chapter. God loved Job and led him to repent. He expects the same from you and me. But, if we resist His work, then where does that lead us and those we love?
“Many teach that matter possesses vital power – that certain properties are imparted to matter, and it is then left to act through its own inherent energy; and that the operations of nature are conducted in harmony with fixed laws, with which God Himself cannot interfere. This is false science, and is not sustained by the word of God. Nature is the servant of her Creator … . Nature testifies of an intelligence, a presence, an active energy, that works in and through her laws. There is in nature the continual working of the Father and the Son. Christ says, ‘My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.’ John 5:17.” — Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 114.
Unfortunately, as stated earlier, so much of science works on atheistic, materialist presuppositions. This means, then, that a scientist could be staring at something of the utmost beauty, of the utmost complexity, even of both the utmost beauty and complexity together, and yet claim that it arose by chance, with no forethought or intention behind it.
This is, in fact, what science claims all the time. Life on earth, in all its beauty and complexity – from butterflies to humans – is explained as nothing but the result of chemicals billions of years ago forming by chance into simple life that, through random mutation and natural selection, evolved into all that lives and moves and breathes today.
Yes, false science does claim this, but not true science which is in harmony with God.
Science, as now constituted, argues that the very idea of a supernatural Creator is “unscientific,” since it cannot be tested scientifically, and thus it is a notion that science cannot deal with. This presupposition is not anything that science itself teaches (in fact, science would seem to teach the opposite: all the beauty and complexity of the world do, indeed, point to a Creator), but is, instead, a philosophical position imposed upon the discipline by scientists themselves.
This has a two-fold source. First, education has led many to believe a lie. We have been taught error by those who were taught error. God's Words to Job, the very first ones, reveal how destructive are our words when not in harmony with truth, when they darken God's truth, the only truth. Secondly, when truth is rejected when is interferes with our "truth," we see the workings of Satan in opposing God. There is a hate for God and truth in the world who know not God. Thus the lines are drawn between those who love God and truth, and those who do not love God, but hate Him and truth. We see this in the world today where in the United States there is a battle between those who love truth and those who do not. There are those in politics who voice and carry out programs that are anti God, they want nothing to do with God's leading, and will fight with all their strength to oppose moral law.
The problem, however, is that Scripture teaches that God not only created everything but that He sustains everything, as well. This means that any true Christian education in science would have to work from radically different assumptions than what science in general claims. Inevitably, clashes will occur, especially when it comes to origins.
Again, there are two groups in the world, those who are at enmity with God and truth, and those who are at enmity with Satan and sin. In what group are you? If you do not love God with all your heart, then you are at enmity with Him, but you do not have to remain opposed to God. He has given us a promise that we may hope for. It is found in Genesis 3:15. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." This promise has conditions. First is the fact that in order for us to gain a hated (enmity) towards Satan and sin, Christ must suffer and die for our sins, which He did do. But, even though that condition has been fulfilled, not all will receive the promised gift. There is another condition that we must do in order to gain a hatred of sin. We must die to self. We must be born again of the Spirit. All have been born of the flesh which is evil and at enmity with God. How then can we fulfill our part? We must spend time with Jesus that we will trust Him with all we are and all we have. Until that is done, we will remain aligned with the world, Satan, and sin, and at enmity with God and truth. Something to ponder and pray about.
Once converted and at enmity with satan and false truth, we are enabled to be teachers of truth.
