Quick Note – Can you…?

Job 38-39

Job 40:1 – “And the LORD said to Job: ‘Shall a faultfinder contend with the almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.'”

I was reading Job 38 and 39 today for my daily Bible reading, and it forced me to consider the magnificence of God’s creation and how powerful our God must be.  Like Job, when troubles and trials come, it is easy for us to forget that our God is all-powerful and all-knowing and is in control of every part of life.  But when I read these two chapters, I was encouraged to remember who our God is. 

Job was struggling with the biggest trial he would ever face in his life.  He had just lost his cattle, his camels, his sheep, and his sons and daughters.  Following those troubles, he lost his health.  Then, when his friends came to comfort him, you could say he lost his friends, because rather than supporting him, they accused him of wickedness and said that he deserved what was happening.  Because of these trials, Job began to question God’s presence and love.  After Job had finished pouring out his heart, God responded to Job by asking him to consider creation and who has control of it all.  God constantly asked Job, “Can you…?” God told Job to think about the light in the day and the darkness at night and consider whether Job had the power to make sure everything would happen at the correct time.  God told Job to think about the stars and consider whether Job had the power to make sure that they were in the right place at the right time.  God told Job to think about all the animals in the world and consider whether Job could feed each and every one of them with the right food when they were hungry.  God even told Job to think about the weather and rain and to consider whether Job could make sure to provide rain in the desert when nobody is there.  God was basically asking Job, “Can you do what I do each and every day?” To these statements, Job could only reply by saying, “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?  I lay my hand on my mouth.  I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.” (Job 40:4-5)  Eventually, Job would say that he repents with dust and ashes (Job 42:6).  He realized how powerful God really is. 

As I reflected on what God said to Job, I placed myself in Job’s place and asked myself the same things.  If it were up to me, could I make sure that every place in the world received rain when it needed it?  Could I make sure that the sun would shine each and every day at the appropriate time and set in the evening?  Could I feed every sparrow that flutters in the wind and every fish in the sea?  I can barely keep up with my own daily issues and problems, much less the rest of the world’s!  Yet our God handles each and every situation with His personal touch.  He takes care of every piece of land, every animal, and every person.  Our God is a great and powerful God, and He loves us so much that He still wants to spend personal time with each and every one of us. 

During this time of COVID-19 and civil unrest, when the world seems to be falling apart, it is easy to fall into discouragement and think that God is not there.  But if you consider all the things it takes for this world and this universe to run, how intricate each system needs to be in order for everything to continue functioning, you will be awestruck by the magnificent power of God.  So the next time you feel like doubting whether God is in control, just take a moment to reflect on just one part of nature (animals, land, weather, stars) and whether you could make everything concerning that part of nature work as it should.  You will quickly realize how powerful God really is!