Introduction
America is in something of a holiday family feud at the moment. Aunt Lucy has had too much to drink. Cousin Curtis has decided to finally speak his mind. And Niece Jenny has brought some chump who nobody likes, though he fits right in, his house being as miserable as this one. We desperately need the I AM to grab us by the collar and march us out back to have a word with us. That kind of answer from the LORD doesn’t justify anyone in the fight. It doesn’t resolve the conflict as much as it shows that the conflict is irrelevant. It opens new vistas, ones that make everyone pipe down and offer a humble sacrifice. When God finally speaks to us from the whirlwind, it is as if He opens a window that nobody knew was there in order to let in some fresh air, which we desperately need. It is quite stuffy.
Summary of the Text
Job was a wealthy man in Edom, likely a king (Job 1:3; 19:9). He was a righteous man, who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:8). The LORD pointed him out to Satan, who in turn said that Job feared God because of all of the blessings, but would curse God to his face if afflicted. The LORD granted permission for Satan to afflict Job, stripping him of children, wealth, and health. Job replied faithfully, “the Lord gave and the LORD hath taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
But Job went round and round with three friends and eventually gave way, having to repent by the end of the book, though he came out more righteous than his friends. After the back and forth with his three friends, the young and wise Elihu faithfully answers Job and then God Himself answers him in our text.
Elihu takes Job to the root of the matter, which is that man cannot find out God (37:23). You will know Him plenty when He visits you and that knowledge will be more intimate than you can describe. But you will never get underneath Him and stand Him up. There will always be things about Him and His ways that flummox you. So men should fear Him; He does not set His favor on those who are wise of heart (37:24).
God Himself then answers Job out of the tornado, asking who this man who has turned off the light of real counsel by heaping up so many hollow words (v. 2). Job should tie up his robe and prepare to be tossed around. Questions are incoming from more directions than Job will be able to handle (v. 3). Where were you when I laid the concrete of the world (v. 4) or stretched out the tape measurer to determine its foundation (v. 5-6)? Did you hear the song of my angels at that time (v. 7)? Remind me where you were Job when I wrapped up the roaring sea like a newborn baby, letting it fuss only so far (v. 8-11)? Were you indeed the one who told the sun to rise and drive out all those who love darkness? Did you make it shine on the earth to display its beauty (v. 12-15)? Have you ever entered into the depths of the Pacific, down there where I have placed the gates to Sheol (v. 16-17)? In your great knowledge, have you reached the boundaries of the earth, or found the place where light and darkness live (v. 20)? Do you know these details of creation because you were born back then (v. 21)?
Warning to the Wise
The troubling thing about God tying up Job in knots is that Job was a righteous man, a successful man, who feared God and turned away from evil. We are far more comfortable with the suitedness of Deuteronomy’s blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. And we should be more comfortable with them. The wise man must know that “God is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). But with every bit of wisdom you get there is temptation to think you must now have all of it. The Lord deals you another card and you think you have the whole deck. More importantly, you think the cards you hold are your own. But the wisdom you have is like the righteousness you have. You have it, but it is not your own (Philippians 3:9).
We Cannot Find Him Out
Job knew that righteousness would be rewarded and wickedness punished. He also knew that he was righteous. So he eventually wore down to think that God multiplied his wounds without cause (Job 9:17-18). Sympathize with him a moment in order to gain the increase of wisdom he received in the end. Job essentially says, “If I hid my sin like Adam, then I would expose it in order to be rid of the curse and receive a blessing. But I haven’t!” (Job 31:33). “I believe in confession of sin such that God remembers His covenant promises and blesses. But there is no sin for me to confess in order to be relieved.”
Job was right that he had not been afflicted due to his sin. And He was also right that God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. He was wrong to say God multiplied his wounds without cause. There was a cause. It was simply one that Job did not know about. The wonder is that God never tells Job. Rather than sitting Job down and saying, “Let me explain it to you.” He speaks to Job from the whirlwind and asks him, “Did you give the peacock its feathers” (Job 39:13)?
And that really does settle the matter.