7 June Job 38
- Werner Jansen van rensburg
- Jun 7
- 3 min read
In Job 38, God responds to Job's complaints by speaking from the whirlwind, challenging Job to prepare for divine questioning. God reveals His immense power and wisdom, emphasising humanity's limitations in understanding divine purposes.
The pivotal moment
Job 38 marks a pivotal moment in Job's life when God responds to his complaints, revealing His sovereign power and wisdom. This chapter shifts the narrative from human dialogue to a direct encounter with God, where Job is called to face divine questioning. It is a moment of revelation that deepens Job’s understanding of God's greatness and exposes the limitations of human knowledge. Job 38:3 (NKJV) "Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me." Here, God commands Job to “prepare yourself like a man,” signalling a call to maturity, courage, and readiness for the divine interrogation. This phrase is a challenge to Job to stand firm and face the questions with resilience. The wording “like a man” emphasises the need for strength and maturity, calling Job to rise to the occasion and accept the coming challenge.
A direct call from God
This direct call from God marks a significant turning point. Up until this point, Job has questioned God’s justice, wondering why he, a righteous man, has suffered. His frustrations reached a peak in the silence he endured from God. Yet, in Job 38:3, God speaks directly to him, signalling that Job's long-awaited moment has arrived. God is now ready to respond, but not before Job is given the task of answering the questions that will come his way. This moment of confrontation invites Job to examine his understanding of God’s role in the world.
1 Peter 1:13 (TPT) "So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvellous grace that is coming to you." This passage encourages believers to remain alert and prepared, much like Job, who is summoned to prepare himself for a difficult and life-changing encounter. God's challenge to Job echoes this call to readiness for what God will reveal, a moment that requires spiritual preparedness and humility.
The phrase “gird up your loins” found in Job 40:7 (AMP) and Jeremiah 1:17 (AMP) is an ancient idiom signifying preparation for action or an upcoming challenge. It implies that Job, and we as readers, must brace ourselves for what’s to come. In this case, Job's encounter with God is not simply a rebuke but an opportunity for profound revelation. As David Guzik states in his Enduring Word Commentary, God’s questions to Job are meant to show the futility of human understanding when it comes to the mysteries of divine wisdom. Job's greatest pain was his sense of abandonment by God, but now, God’s presence assures him that he has not been forgotten.
Job 38:3 marks a crucial shift in the story. Job, having felt abandoned, is now confronted by the very God he sought answers from. The challenge is not just to answer God’s questions but to recognise God’s ultimate authority and wisdom in a way that transforms Job's perspective. Rather than seeking answers, Job is being invited to acknowledge God's majesty and greatness.
Psalm 145:1-7 (NLT) describes the greatness of God: "I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendour and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness." This passage calls us to declare God’s greatness, much like Job is being asked to do. Instead of questioning God’s ways, we are invited to proclaim His glory and majesty, acknowledging His sovereign power in our lives.
In Job 38:3, God commands Job to prepare for a revelation of His greatness and wisdom, a moment that will change Job’s understanding of divine justice. In the same way, we are called to prepare our hearts to recognise and declare God’s magnificent work in our lives. Let us, like Job, stand firm and acknowledge the greatness of God, ready to answer Him not with questions, but with praise and recognition of His majesty. Job’s journey reminds us that in our suffering and questions, God’s presence is the ultimate comfort, and His voice is the answer to all that we seek.