OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND

OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND
Thursday, July 11, 2024 by LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”

Job 42:5-6**

After rounds of discourse with Job’s not-so-helpful friends, Job demanded the Lord give him reasons for his suffering:

“Oh, that I had someone to hear me!
I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me;”
let my accuser put his indictment in writing;

Job 31:35

Now God speaks out of the whirlwind.

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

“Who is this that obscures my plans
with words without knowledge?

Job 38:1-2

The Lord does not respond to defend his reasons for allowing calamity in Job’s life. “But out of the awesome majesty of the thunderstorm, he reminds Job that the wisdom that directs the Creator’s ways is beyond the reach of human understanding—that humanity’s wisdom should not presume to mat God’s wisdom.” *

For the next few chapters, God explains His power through the examples of Leviathan and Behemoth, both powerful land animals.

Behemoth is described as a large land animal. Possibly a hippo, possessing great strength. Some theorize that Leviathan is an animal that was a crocodile that is exceedingly powerful and unable to be subdued. Yet these enormous beasts whom He created are no match for God’s power.*

Ultimately, Job is humbled, as the beginning verses demonstrate. And we are reminded that

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more

than the former part

Job 42:12a

*NIV Study Bible, Zondervan 2022, p.870 & 874

** All verses are from the NIV

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