When difficulties come, instinctively we ask, “Why is this happening?” Several times in the Bible, God’s people questioned Him as to why they were experiencing hardship. In many cases, God responded by pointing them to His great power demonstrated in creation. The Lord did not punish them for their questioning, but He drew their focus to ponder His Almighty nature.
We will bring our attention to the interactions Job had with God. Much of this lengthy book includes the numerous accusations that his friends made of Job. Over and over, they insisted that the great losses of family members, possessions, and good health must have been a result of God’s punishment for Job’s sin. Trial after trial came his way. Yet, Job continued to honor God by not turning away or accusing God of wrongdoing. We see Job defend himself declaring that he lived a righteous life. In fact, Job 26-31 is Job’s discourse describing his exemplary behavior. I encourage you to read these chapters as they are a good guide as to how to live a godly life. Near the end of his prayer, he says, “I sign now my defense – let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing. Surely, I would wear it on my shoulder, I would put it on a crown. I would give him an account of my every step; like a prince I would approach him” (Job 31:35-37).
The Lord answers Job’s request and responds with a long speech describing His great might and sovereignty over all creation. In Job 38-41, God answers Job by asking the question if he or any other human could create such an amazingly complex creation. He points out that the brilliant stars and the worshipful angels sing of His grandeur. The rolling waves, no man can stop. No one comprehends the vast expanse of the earth and the depths of the sea. God is sovereign over the lightning, the rain, and the snow. The weather must respond to His beckoning call. Only God can bring forth the constellations. Only He has dominion over the earth. Only God can create living creatures that have wisdom and understanding. It is God who put instincts in animals so they will hunt for their prey and run from danger. In each of His animals, He placed unique behavioral characteristics that enable them to reproduce, flourish, and adapt to the environments for which He placed them. The Lord drew Job’s attention to the distinctive features of the mountain goats, bears, wild donkeys, wild oxen, ostriches, storks, horses, hawks, eagles, and two of the Lord’s most powerful creatures at that time: the behemoths and the leviathans...
A Moment to reflect:
Have you taken some time lately to enjoy the budding nature around you?
Have there been times in the past where God has taught you something about Himself or ministered to you through creation?
Take some time this week, or plan a time soon when you can, to go out and take a walk with Jesus, reveling in His creation.
By Sue Corl - an excerpt from For Such A Time As This: Walking Through Crisis
*A moment to reflect is added for this post.
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