Have you ever had a whirlwind tour of a city? In 1992 at the end of a European trip my family of four did a whirlwind tour of Paris. It was at the end of a three-week trip and we just had one day there. We got into the city on a train from Germany at 6 in the morning, checked into our hotel, and then went to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, along with a few other places. We weren’t able to spend more than a couple hours in any one place, but we got an overall impression of the largeness and greatness of this favorite city of many.
During the entire time that Job has been complaining and asking questions, God remained silent. But now God speaks and counters Job’s questioning with a verbal whirlwind tour of the history of the world. God effectively puts Job in his place as a human being.
Then, in chapter 40 the Lord asks Job: “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?” Job responds appropriately by saying “I am small, but you are big; what can I say?” God then challenges Job to “gird up your loins like a man; I will question you, and you declare to me.’ (Job 40:6) Dwarfed by God, it finally leads Job to humble himself and acknowledge God’s majesty: “I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know…. therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” And the Lord accepts Job’s humble prayer of confession. Ultimately, the Lord restores Job’s fortune double. Job was blessed again.
There are many lessons from the book of Job. The primary one for me is that we will never fully understand why things happen as they do. We will always be overwhelmed and in awe of the good things that happen in the world, and wonder at those things we experience that aren’t so good. Yet God gives us an answer in sending us a Mediator, a Redeemer, who reveals God as God truly is—gracious and loving and seeking a relationship with human beings.
Sometimes, when we are overwhelmed with life, it is just good to sit and reflect on all the things we cannot understand, and then to express our gratitude for God’s claiming us as God’s children and blessing us with love.
“Majestic God, lead us to seek wisdom in all ways, but ultimately to pay homage to your overwhelming grace and love. Amen.”
Pastor Roger Black
