God Speaks
God Addresses Job Directly
Verse of the Day: “Where were you when I [the LORD God] laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.” (Job 28:4 NIV)
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Watch TBR Day 014 Job 38-39
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Job 38-39:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Job 38 and 39 comprise one long speech by the LORD God calling Job to account; therefore, they will be taken as a unit.
1. In these chapters God is instructing Job on His sovereign oversight of both non-living and living creation: the foundations of the earth; the boundaries of the seas; the control of daylight; the gates of death; the storehouses for rain, snow, and hail; paths of the stars and the constellations; watching over the wild animals (directing lions and ravens to where they can find food); giving speed (but not wisdom) to the ostrich, strength and courage to the war horse, and flight and keen eyesight to the hawk and eagle.
2. People need to be reminded of the LORD God’s sovereign power and oversight. Human beings have become too “full of ourselves” and think we know better than God.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Job 38-30?
O LORD God, You are so great and mighty. Please forgive me for taking You for granted and relating to You as if You were a frail, fallible human being like me. You exercise sovereign oversight over both non-living and living creation. It was You who laid the foundations of the earth. You set the boundaries of the seas. You control the daylight. You conquered the gates of death by Jesus’ perfect life and death on the cross, proving it by His resurrection. You control the storehouses for rain, snow, and hail. You must laugh at our arguments over climate change and attempts at control apart from relying on You. You plot the paths of the stars and set the constellations in place. After all, You used a star to guide the wise men to Bethlehem. You watch over the wild animals: directing lions and ravens to where they can find food; giving speed (but not wisdom) to the ostrich, strength and courage to the warhorse, and flight and keen eyesight to the hawk and eagle. LORD, I need Your Holy Spirit to watch over me, to give me wisdom so that I am not as heartless as the ostrich. Please make me as courageous as the warhorse in the battles I face. Please give me keen insight into the needs and problems of the people I interact with daily. Help me to remind them of Your sovereign power and oversight, LORD God. Human beings have become too “full of ourselves” and think we know better than You, God. Only You can change our hearts and minds so that we can change our attitudes and actions. May increasing numbers of people repent, turn back to You and Your ways, and bring You glory, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Job 38-39? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will use a concordance to locate and study other passages like this that focus on the sovereign oversight of the LORD God Almighty.
- I will praise God for His creation, sovereign oversight, and offer of salvation.
- I will remind other believers of God’s sovereign oversight and offer of salvation.
- I will gently but firmly discuss God’s sovereign oversight and offer of salvation with at least one unbeliever this week.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.