Page 36 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Study Section 4- The Book of Job - Continued

4.1 Connect

Eliphaz may have been inspired by a coming storm. In the middle of his explanation, the
tone of his words changes. It is as if the group is watching clouds and lightning and is
listening to thunder rumble in the distance. The sound of Eliphaz and the sound of the storm
match. “Listen! Listen,” says Eliphaz, “to the roar of his voice (37:2).” “Listen to this, Job; stop
and consider God’s wonders (37:14).” God is approaching. This is no ordinary storm. “Out of
the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty (37:22).” His majesty includes
power, justice, and righteousness.

4.2 Objectives

1. You will hear God speak to Job and us in nature to speak of his character.

2. You will reflect on the cultural use of Leviathan and Behemoth to communicate.

3. You will evaluate God’s purpose for pain in our lives.

4. You will hear Job’s witness to God’s work in his life.

5. You will come to a decision about when Job is satisfied with God’s treatment of him.

4.3 God Speaks and Job’s Lesson: Job 38:1-40:34

As Yahweh begins to speak, he zeros in on the relative puniness of human knowledge. “Who
is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge (38:2)?” Tied to knowledge is
power, creative power and providential power to govern the natural world. “Who shut up
the sea behind doors (38:8)?” “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the
dawn its place (38:12)?” The language is highly poetic, this combination of God’s knowledge
and God’s sovereignty.

God quizzes Job about knowledge. “Tell me, if you know all this (38:18).” “Surely you know (38:21).” “Do
you know (38:33; 39:1; 39:2)?” “Who has the wisdom to count the stars (38:37)?” In a more extended
description, he discusses the ostrich and the fact that God “did not endow her with wisdom,” laying eggs
on the ground for any animal to trample (39:13-18). Likewise, the horse and hawk are described. It is
God’s wisdom that gives birds flight. They soar and build nests on the cliffs through God’s command
guided by his wisdom (39:19-30). The implication is easy to understand. If human knowledge is so tiny in
comparison to God’s, why would any human think to question God’s running of the world or of one life?
To question God’s knowledge is to question his existence.

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