Chapter 38

God begins his speech

Chapter 38

About Gods speech

In Jobs speeches, Job said that he wanted to meet God. Job wanted God to act as a judge. Then, Job was sure that God would help him. God would declare that Job was innocent. So Job would feel like a prince when he met God (Job 31:37). However, Job thought that God caused Jobs troubles. Job even spoke as if God was a cruel enemy (Job 16:9-14). So Job argued that he himself was right. And he argued that God was unfair (Job 32:2). In Gods speech, God did not explain Jobs troubles. Instead, God taught Job. God gave a list of many things that Job could not explain. These things are the work of God. Nobody else could do such things. Job had spoken as if he himself was very great. He even spoke as if he should be advising God (Job 23:13-17; Job 24:1). But when Job heard Gods speech, Job realised his error (Job 42:16). Job was not a proud man. His words might sometimes seem proud. But really, Job was speaking about things that he did not know. Gods speech is rather like Jesus reply in Luke 12:13-15. A man asked Jesus to act as a judge. The man wanted his fair share of his familys wealth. But Jesus refused to be the judge. Instead, he taught the man that money cannot provide real security. So, we should trust God. God discussed many subjects in his speech. He spoke about the world, the sea and the sky. He described the behaviour of birds and animals. And he explained why no man should ever accuse God.

God himself answers Job

v1 Then God himself answered Job. The storm hid God. God said: v2 Do not doubt the wisdom of my plans! Job, you have spoken about things that you do not know. v3 Prepare yourself as a man! I have a test for you. And you must answer me. Verse 1 Job had spoken about the clouds in front of Gods throne (royal seat) (Job 26:9). God spoke during the storm. Verse 2 Elihu had already explained this to Job (Job 34:35). Verse 3 In the original language of the Book of Job, Gods speech is a long list of questions. These questions were a test for Job. But Job did not know the answers. Or, the answers reminded Job that God was much more powerful than Job. In Easy English, we prefer to use statements rather than questions. So our translation gives a list of the things that God does. Or, our translation explains the things that Job could not do. This is just the style of our translation. The meaning is the same.

God created the world

v4 The world is like a building that I built. But you did not see this. v5 You did not see when I decided the size of the world. v6 You did not see how I prepared its base. You did not watch when I fitted its rocks. v7 But the angels (servants of God) saw this. And the stars were there. And everyone sang for joy. Verses 4-7 God created the world. This was a wonderful event (Proverbs 8:22-31). This event showed Gods wisdom and Gods skill. Gods servants in heaven were so happy to see Gods work. Job did not even see this great event. But Job had spoken as if he was wiser than God (Job 23:1317).

God created the sea

v8 The sea is like a child whom I created. You did not see when I made the sea. But this event was like the birth of a child. v9 I decided that clouds would cover the sea, like clothing. I decided that darkness would hide (the deepest parts of the sea). v10 And I caused it to have boundaries. I ruled about its limits. v11 I said, The sea is like a proud child. So, I will decide where the sea may go. It can go here. But it must not go further. Verses 8-11 God controls the sea. Job and his friends realised that the sea was a dangerous place. Strange animals lived in the water (chapter 41). The men spoke about terrible floods (Job 22:11). But a great animal, called the hippo, was not afraid of the water (Job 40:23). God described the sea as if it were a child. People cannot control the sea. But God decides its boundaries. And God will not allow the sea to flood the whole world (Genesis 9:11).

God creates the dawn

v12 You did not decide when the morning would appear. v13 But the sun rises on the horizon. Morning comes so that darkness will not always last. And morning comes so that the activities of evil men will end. v14 The light slowly increases. And the world slowly appears. This event is like a pattern that you slowly sew into clothing. Or, like a design that you press into wet clay. (You use clay to make pots.) v15 And, as the light appears, evil men cannot see anything. They die, and their cruel power ends. Verses 12-15 The men were afraid of the night. During the night, evil people seemed to be more powerful (Job 24:13-17). And the darkness reminded the men about death (Job 10:21-22). God explained that he causes the morning to begin. The dawn reminds us that evil people cannot always continue their evil behaviour. Their activities by night must end when the day begins. And so the day will come when their lives will end. They will die and then God will be their judge.

God knows every place

v16 You did not visit the deepest part of the sea. v17 You have not seen hell. You do not know where dead men belong. v18 You do not even know the measurements of the earth. The earth is vast. Tell me, if you know these things!

v19 You do not know where the light belongs. And you do not know where the darkness hides. v20 You cannot take me to those places. You cannot even tell me the route. v21 But you ought to know this! You think that you are so wise! But you are not old enough to know such things. Verses 16-18 Job did not know where people go after their deaths. He thought that they remained in their graves (Job 3:16-19). Later, he thought about hell (Job 26:5-6). Jobs words seemed to confident. But Job did not really know about such places. He did not even know the size of the earth, where he was actually living. So he could not know about places that he had never visited. Verses 19-20 Job did not know where the sun went after nightfall. Today we know that the sun is lighting the opposite side of the world. And Job did not know what happens to the darkness during the day. Verse 21 God was using humour in this verse. The men thought that older people would be wiser (Job 12:12). Job spoke as if he was a very wise man. God joked that Job could not be old enough to be that wise!