An Involved God

In the second half of Chapter 38, God continues to question Job. In mercy, God is helping Job see how little he understands about the created order. It is important to see that none of these questions directly addresses Job’s complaint. None of them is touching on either Job’s suffering or God’s justice. It is not that God is ignoring those issues; on the contrary, he is setting the stage so they can be discussed in a proper context.

But in this opening section of his discourse, God piles up rhetorical question after rhetorical question. God began by pointing out that Job was not there when he created and formed the universe (vs 4-21). Job simply does not know how, where, or why God shaped things as he did. Job’s experience is limited and his knowledge is partial.

God continues in verses 22-41 to teach Job that he is not just the Creator. He is not a deistic God who wound up the universe and then let it go. God is in sovereign control of the created order. It does not merely rain: God sends the rain. Lightning does not flash haphazardly: God scatters the bolts abroad. Even the stars, constellations, and galaxies that make up the universe are upheld and governed by the hand of almighty God.

None of this means that there are no regularities or law-like structures in the universe. It is essential, however, that we realize that this universe does not operate in a mechanical fashion apart from God. The biblical revelation is clear at this point: God not only creates, he guides, sustains, and controls the universe on a constant basis. He is an involved God.

Respond in Prayer

Creator God, we praise you for all that you have made. We thank you that even at this very moment, you are sustaining the entire universe. It is amazing to think that you are upholding the stars and are also mindful of my life. Help us live in this knowledge. Amen.

Steve West

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).