Dr. Mark Scott wrote this treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson. Scott teaches preaching and New Testament at Ozark Christian College, Joplin, Missouri. This lesson treatment is published in the June 2020 issue of Christian Standard + The Lookout. (Subscribe to our print edition.)
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COMPANION RESOURCES:
Application: “The Cross Examination,” by David Faust
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Lesson Aim: Bow before the full view of God’s integrity and power.
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By Mark Scott
God is not everything—that is pantheism. But God can be seen in everything (Romans 1:19, 20; Colossians 1:16). Job needed to learn that, and in doing so he would find the answer to his suffering. Chapter 38 is a significant marker in the book of Job. God finally shattered his silence—as James Strauss put it in his commentary The Shattering of Silence—and interrogated Job. By this moment in this dramatic wisdom literature, all of Job’s friends have weighed in, and Job has responded to them.
Job’s real friend, Elihu, began his discourse in chapter 32. He rebuked Job’s friends, condemned Job’s attitude, and extolled God’s greatness. Elihu encouraged Job to consider the wondrous works of God (Job 37:14). At this point, God stepped up and addressed Job in a whirlwind. This would not be fun for anyone. God interrogated Job as to his lack of knowledge and challenged him to look around. God’s argument with Job had to do with his being Creator. In the first part of the chapter (vv. 1-15), God asked Job about the measurement of the earth, the foundation of the earth, the boundaries of the waters, the rhythm of morning, and the handling of the wicked. It’s obvious God alone can handle those things.
God used 28 questions to interrogate Job in our lesson text. The questions deal with cosmology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy. God used a method of speech known as personification, so we probably should not interpret everything in this text in the purest scientific terms. But that is not to say there are not scientific statements in these verses.
God Is Creator of the Unseen Realms (16-18)
The springs of the sea and the recesses (unsearchable) of the deep refer to fountains of the oceans (Genesis 7:11). No one has seen these except God. The gates of death and the gates of deepest darkness are known only to God. These hidden places and even the vast expanses (broad places) of the earth are some of God’s secrets.
God Is Creator of Light and Darkness (19-21)
Light and darkness were created by God (Genesis 1:3-5). But where do they dwell? From where do they come? Do they have houses in which they reside? Could Job possibly know where to take them? In this section God even chided Job with sarcasm, “Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!”
God Is Creator of the Sky (22-30)
The physical heavens came into existence when God separated the waters (Genesis 1:6-8). The sky became a great storehouse for God. It held snow, hail, lightning, wind, rain, and thunderstorms (flashing light). The purpose for this was to water the earth—even in the most barren of places.
Water in its various forms (rain, dew, frost, and ice) is held in the sky. The sky acted as a father in withholding water from the earth or flooding the earth with water.
God Is Creator of Stars and Clouds (31-38)
Even amateur astronomers can identify various constellations of stars. Pleiades is a constellation of seven stars. Orion is another belt of stars. God could bring forth these constellations (12 signs of the zodiac) in their seasons. Some have suggested the Bear was a reference to the Big Dipper. God set these things in place with various laws as he manifested his dominion over the earth.
Clouds are unique in nature and in the Bible. Clouds become symbols of divine presence and power. They are a significant part of the sky (mentioned earlier). As a human being, could Job possibly raise his voice to them in rebellion against God? Could he do anything to extrapolate water and lightning from them? Could he count the clouds? Could he predict the floods or droughts? The answers are obvious.
God Is Creator of the Animals (39-41)
On the fifth and sixth days of creation God made the birds of the air, the creatures of the sea, and the animals on the land (Genesis 1:25). Earlier in our text roosters were mentioned (v. 36). Now God mentioned the lioness, the lion, and the raven. God provided for them both shelter and food.
Maybe Satan asked the key question in this book. “Does Job fear [or serve] God for nothing?” (Job 1:9). Essentially the answer is yes, because God is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe.
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Lesson study ©2019, Christian Standard Media. Print and digital subscribers are permitted to make one print copy per week of lesson material for personal use. Lesson based on the scope and sequence, ©2019 by Christian Standard Media. Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, ©2011, unless otherwise indicated.
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