[What we're skipping:
We're skipping 36 chapters of discussion between Job and his friends:
* Job curses the day he was born. Eliphaz explains his theory that innocent people all prosper (so...apparently Job must have done something to tick God off). Job says that he didn't do anything wrong, so he feels justified in complaining to God. He feels as if his life has no hope. Bildad tells Job that he should repent from whatever sin caused this. Job explains that there is no one to work any of this out with...where is God? Zophar tells him that he deserves even worse than what he got. Job says that God is the one who is causing this...not him. But he says that he will still hope in God because, shoot, everyone dies. Then Eliphaz says that Job doesn't fear God. Job then tells him and the other two friends that they are pretty lousy friends. Job feels hopeless. Bildad says that God punishes the wicked. Job says that the One who can redeem him from all of this is alive. Zophar explains that wicked people suffer. Job says that all wicked people DO NOT suffer; some actually prosper. Eliphaz continues to say that Job must have done something wrong. Job asks where God is right then and there? Bildad says that it's impossible for a man to be righteous. Job says that God's ways are too difficult to understand, but he will still maintain his integrity. Job tries to figure out where to find the wisdom to deal with all of this because he thinks that he didn't do anything wrong, still. So...he appeals to God.
* Then Elihu, a younger guy, had had enough of these old guys' theories; and he told them that they were wrong to be harassing Job with stupid theories. Also, he rebuked Job for trying to justify himself. He reiterates that God is just...bottom line. He says that Job is not as holy as he thinks he is if he is so preoccupied with making himself look good. Elihu talks about how great God is. And then...]
God talks. All of these chapters upon chapters of man’s theories, and finally God talks.
1. God is talking out of a whirlwind. Wow.
2. God first says, who is trying to darken the light of knowledge with stupid theories. Bow up because I’m about to ask YOU some questions. Uh oh…
3. I’m just going to answer God’s impossible questions as best as I can from Job’s perspective: a) I wasn’t even an idea yet, b) um…I don’t know, c) don’t know, d) don’t know times two.
4. It’s cool to see that the “morning stars,” the angels, sang for the joy at the work of God’s hands (like that song, Shout to the Lord).
5. Again, don’t know who did all that with the ocean.
6. Nope…haven’t commanded the morning or the dawn. Have not done that thing with the sea…and I definitely don’t know how to see the gates of death. Also, don’t know the expanse of the earth.
7. You know…I have a sneaky suspicion that God is trying to prove a point by asking all these questions.
8. Don’t know how to control light and darkness.
9. Whoah! In verse 21, God is definitely being sarcastic!
10. Don’t control snow or hail or light or wind or rain or thunder or dew or ice or the constellations.
11. And I don’t know how to create intelligence. I also don’t know how to hunt for lions or ravens.
OK…so I’m thinking that there is a reason that God asks all these questions.
First of all…He doesn’t answer any questions from Job or his homies. What do you think of that?
Second of all…what do you think of him railing Job with these impossible to answer questions? I mean, I don’t know the answer. But I would say that most of the real answers would be: “you did it” or “you can.”
So…what are you thinking right now?
