18th.: God's Perspective
For the first 37 chapters, Job complained about his suffering,
or heard out the rebukes of his friends.
No one expected what happened next.
God personally, verbally, intervened (beginning with chapter 38).
Earlier, Job had said, “Will he [God] plead against me with his great power? No. But he would put strength in me.” (Job. 23:6)
But watch how God spake, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Where was thou, when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:2, 4).
For the next two chapters, perhaps about five to ten minutes of monologue, God asked Job to prove that he was as wise as God.
Job’s responded, “Behold I am vile. What shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once, have I spoken, but I will not answer. Yea, twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job. 40:4-5).
God was bigger than Job expected. Job realized that he better keep quiet.
We can present our points, and thoughts, and ideas, to God.
Yet, we must remember that God is indeed bigger, wiser, and more broad-hearted than we are.
We usually have only one frame of reference in mind, namely, ourselves, our families, our feelings, and our pain.
But God has all of humanity (every person on the earth, past, present, and future), and all of eternity, in His mind.
Keep this in mind, when we pray.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)