What does God's questioning in Job 38:35 reveal about human limitations? Setting the Scene Job, a righteous man suffering inexplicable loss, has poured out his confusion. After long silence, “the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind” (Job 38:1). God’s interrogation shifts Job’s focus from his pain to the majesty of the Creator. The Question in Focus “Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?” (Job 38:35) In one vivid line, the Almighty contrasts His own sovereign command over lightning with Job’s utter inability to direct or even summon it. What the Question Reveals About Human Limitations • We lack sovereign control – Humans can harness electricity in limited ways, yet no one can command a streak of lightning to strike at will. – Psalm 135:6-7 reminds, “Whatever the LORD pleases, He does… He makes lightning for the rain”. • Our knowledge is finite – Lightning “reports” to God, implying personal obedience to His voice—something Job cannot fathom. – Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God”. • Creation is not merely impersonal; it responds to its Maker – The imagery portrays lightning as a servant awaiting orders. Job—and we—stand outside that conversation. – Psalm 104:4: “He makes the winds His messengers, flames of fire His servants”. • Our place is humble dependence – Romans 11:33 praises the “depth of the riches… of God,” underscoring that His wisdom dwarfs ours. – Job’s silence after God’s speech (Job 40:4-5) shows the proper response: humility. Why Embracing Our Limits Matters 1. Cultivates reverence When we see God’s rule over forces we cannot tame, worship flows naturally (Isaiah 40:25-26). 2. Guards against pride Recognition of our boundaries keeps us from exalting human achievement above God (Proverbs 16:18). 3. Deepens trust The One who commands lightning also orders every detail of our lives (Matthew 10:29-31). 4. Offers comfort in suffering If God oversees thunderclouds, He surely oversees the storms of human experience (Psalm 29:10-11). Living in Light of This Truth • Acknowledge God’s daily sovereignty: thank Him for each display of creation’s power. • Seek wisdom where He has spoken—Scripture—rather than speculating about what He has kept hidden. • Approach trials with Job’s later posture: “I know that You can do all things” (Job 42:2). • Replace self-reliance with prayerful reliance, submitting plans to the One who commands even lightning. Job 38:35 stands as a clarion reminder: humanity is brilliant yet bounded; God alone is limitless and commands creation with a word. |
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