The Greatness of God - Job 38:4-8, 22-29; 42:1-3

by David Woods

Read Job 38:4-8, 22-29

These verses contain many questions about our world that Job was unable to answer, yet we have many of the answers - or at least partial answers - today.

God asked Job about the measurements of the earth. Today we know that the circumference of the earth is 25,000 miles. The diameter at the equator is 7, 927 miles. The diameter through the poles is 7,900 miles and the distance from the sun is 93 million miles. Earth's surface is 71% water and 29% land. *(p. 191)

God also asked Job questions about weather and precipitation.

Weather is produced by the heat of the Sun and the effects it has on the atmosphere. The Sun's heat causes water to evaporate. The water vapor forms clouds in the atmosphere, which give rain or snow. Heat from the Sun warms the air, which rises, creating areas of low pressure. Wind is air moving from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. (p. 751)

God also asked Job about light.

The waves of electromagnetic radiation that make up light do not involve the movement of any material such as air. This means that light can travel even in a vacuum where there is no material of any kind. (Sound waves are a different kind of wave which involve the movement of air and so cannot travel in a vacuum.) Light waves, like other electromagnetic waves, are made up of particles of energy called photons. This energy can be absorbed and reflected. Most of the light we see comes originally from very hot objects. The hotter the object, the farther toward the blue end of the spectrum is the light that it gives out. (A piece of iron heated in a fire becomes red-hot, then yellow and finally it glows white-hot…. In empty space, light travels at about 186,000 miles (300 million meters) per second! The light from the Sun takes 8 minutes to reach the Earth. (p. 400)

God asked Job about lightning and thunder.

Lightning may be though of as a huge spark of electricity caused when there is a difference in electrical potential between some part of a thunder cloud and the ground, within the thunder cloud itself, or between two clouds. (p. 403)

Lightning flashes produce about 100 million volts of electricity and heat the air to over 60,000 degrees F …. It is this rapid heating of the air that causes thunder. The buildup of an electrical charge in a thundercloud may last for more than an hour. (p. 403)

God talked to Job about stars.

Stars are shining globes of gas. Their heat comes from deep inside, where hydrogen is turned into helium, giving out nuclear energy. Many stars, like our Sun, shine steadily for thousands of millions of years before they run out of "fuel." (p. 656)

When Job was alive the world knew very little about the earth and our universe compared to what we know today. God established the fact of His greatness to Job by bewildering him with questions about nature, many of which we have some knowledge today.

Discussion: Since we know so much more today about our universe, are we entitled to question God about His ways? Why not?

Discussion: Because we know so much about our world today, can we still establish God's greatness through creation? How?

Actually, today it seems that many are not as worried as they once were about disproving God through science. Instead, they look to their feelings/personal existence/personal experiences as supreme indicators of their "righteousness".

Discussion: How can the Church respond to people who say, "You can believe that Gospel if you so desire - that's your truth. But my personal beliefs are my truth. I can go to Heaven/will be reincarnated/live a good life by my truth as much as I can through your truth"?

Discussion: What is the basic attitude behind such questioning and/or disbelief of God's ways?

List: What happens in the world when the "world" loses perspective of God's greatness?

List: What happens in the Church when Christians lose perspective of God's greatness?

Read Job 42:1-6

Discussion: What happens when people receive a fresh vision of God? (Consider different Bible experiences - Moses & burning bush, Israelites at Mt. Sinai, Isaiah & his vision, etc.)

The Bible says that Job was a righteous man and that he maintained his integrity despite all the bad things that happened to him. Yet when God appeared to Job, Job repented.

Discussion: Why did Job need to repent?

I would like us to note that when we receive a fresh vision of God, we become less aware of our proclaimed righteousness and more aware of our sinfulness or, at the least, our lack of Christlikeness.

We holiness people believe that true Christians can and do live above willfully committed sin. We cannot practice sin and remain a Christian for long.

Discussion: If we were to gain a fresh vision of God, would we holiness people have need to repent of anything? If so, what perhaps?

I would also like us to note that Job had loudly proclaiming his innocence and righteousness before God spoke. Afterwards, he seemed content simply to enjoy God's mercy.

Discussion: Do we face the danger of proclaiming our righteousness so loudly that we take for granted the mercy we have received?

I would also like us to note that before God spoke Job had been very intent on challenging God, but afterwards he became quite concerned about obeying God.

Discussion: Is our church committed to obeying God and His Word as closely as possible?

Discussion: How does or should a fresh vision of God change people's perspective?

Discussion: How can we keep our vision of our great God fresh?

* All science quotes and facts taken from The Kingfisher Science Encyclopedia, Headlam, Catherine. Kingfisher Books, New York: 1991.