JOB LESSON 36
We will begin this lesson in Job 37:1 "At this also my heart
trembleth, and is moved out of his place."
The last lesson ended with a terrible storm, that even frightened
the cattle. This was a storm that God had sent. This lesson picks up
in the middle of the storm. The storm was as frightening to man as it
had been to the cattle. Mankind has never learned to control storms.
Storms are actions of God, not man.
Job 37:2 "Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound
[that] goeth out of his mouth."
God spoke to Moses and the people thought it thundered. It is not
unusual for the voice of God to be spoken of as thunder. That is not
the voice of God, necessarily, but sometimes the thunder is manifest
as His voice. God speaks in a still quiet voice at times. His voice
fits the occasion, as His actions do. Elihu was just saying, here,
they should listen carefully to everything God had to say.
Job 37:3 "He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his
lightning unto the ends of the earth."
Lightning and thunder seem to cover the entire heavens in a very
bad storm.
Job 37:4 "After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice
of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard."
The thundering seems to follow the lightning by a few minutes.
Some people believe you can tell how far away the lightning struck
something on the ground, by the length of time between the lightning
flash and the time they hear the thunder. No one can be in a thunder
storm of great magnitude, and not be in awe of God. It was God who
started the thunderstorm, and it must be God who stops it.
Job 37:5 "God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great
things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend."
Elihu was in awe of the thunderstorm, and realized how marvellous
the workings of God were. He, also, realized that this was beyond the
comprehension of mankind.
Job 37:6 "For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth;
likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength."
Snow is a mystery to all people, and especially the orientals,
since they see so little snow. I have been told that no two snowflakes
are identical. God is in control of all rain, great or small. He,
also, determines whether sleet or snow falls. All the elements of
nature are at the command of Almighty God.
Job 37:7 "He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may
know his work."
The hand symbolizes work. To seal the hand would be to stop the
work, then. Perhaps, this Scripture, coupled with the one before could
mean that during snow time very little work is done.
Job 37:8 "Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their
places."
Many animals hibernate when the snow is on the ground. The bear
is a good example of that.
Job 37:9 "Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of
the north."
This was a statement of the laws of nature that God set into
motion. The south and the southwest are where many tornados come from.
This whirlwind, above, was speaking of a very violent storm.
Job 37:10 "By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth
of the waters is straitened."
In this particular instance, breath, possibly means the will of
God. It is God who brings the frost, and it is God who makes it thaw.
Job 37:11 "Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he
scattereth his bright cloud:"
In the very dry countries of the desert, it is very important to
have rain to make the crops grow. It is said that God sends the rain
in due season to His children.
Job 37:12 "And it is turned round about by his counsels: that
they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world
in the earth."
We discussed that God is in control of all of nature. Everything
and everyone was created by God. The creation must obey the commands
of its Creator.
Job 37:13 "He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for
his land, or for mercy."
God uses different amounts of rain to bless, or to punish. It was
God who caused the flood in Noah's time. He repented that He had made
man. He saved Noah and his family because Noah pleased God.
Job 37:14 "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider
the wondrous works of God."
Elihu had said all of this to prove to Job that everything was in
the control of God. He wanted Job to believe that God sent his
problems to him, because he was out of fellowship with God. We have
said so many times in these lessons, that was not the reason at all
for Job's problems. In fact, the opposite was true. Job's problems
came, because he followed God so closely.
Job 37:15 "Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the
light of his cloud to shine?"
His word to Job was that he could not know when God gave the
command for any of these things.
Job 37:16 "Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the
wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?"
The answer is no. He knew God and His perfect ways, and that was
enough for mere man to know. Job, nor anyone else, does not know the
workings of God in the clouds.
Job 37:17 "How thy garments [are] warm, when he quieteth the
earth by the south [wind]?"
The wind from the north is cold and from the south is warm. We do
not know why, only God can give that answer. We could say that is part
of the law of nature that God established for the earth.
Job 37:18 "Hast thou with him spread out the sky, [which is]
strong, [and] as a molten looking glass?"
Elihu was making slight remarks to Job. He was insinuating that
Job thought he knew as much as God. Job had never said any such thing.
Job 37:19 "Teach us what we shall say unto him; [for] we cannot
order [our speech] by reason of darkness."
He was speaking in an insulting way to Job. He said, if you are
so smart, why do you not teach us? You claim to be in the light, and
we must have our understanding darkened. He had no idea how true his
statement really was.
Job 37:20 "Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak,
surely he shall be swallowed up."
No one had to tell God what Elihu had said. God had heard every
word. Elihu said, if a man spoke directly to God, he would be killed.
Job 37:21 "And now [men] see not the bright light which [is] in
the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them."
The Light of God is so great it outshines the sun. A person
cannot look directly at the sun without damaging his eyes. If the
Light of God is stronger that the light of the sun, you could see the
impossibility of seeing it direct. That Light cleanses everything.
Job 37:22 "Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God [is]
terrible majesty."
Elihu made a correct observation. Cold weather comes from the
north, and generally speaking, fair weather does, too. The majesty of
God is beyond the comprehension of man. He is, indeed, a mighty God.
Job 37:23 "[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he
is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he
will not afflict."
Part of Elihu's statement was true. We cannot find Him out. He is
all Power and Judgement and Justice. He does afflict, however. The
tenth plague on Egypt was a very good example of that, when all the
firstborn of Egypt died. God does not have to answer to man for the
actions He takes.
Job 37:24 "Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any [that
are] wise of heart."
All of mankind should fear and respect the God that made them. No
man is capable of coming against God. We are nothing compared to His
Wisdom, Strength, and Majesty. God should receive our greatest
respect. He does not have to answer to man.
Job 36 Questions
1. What was going on when this chapter begins?
2. What was Elihu telling Job to listen attentively to?
3. Lightning and thunder seem to come from where?
4. The thunder seems to follow the lightning by a few _________.
5. How do some people measure how far the lightning is away?
6. Elihu was in awe of the ______________.
7. What is interesting about snowflakes?
8. All the elements of nature are at the command of ___________
_____.
9. The hand symbolizes __________.
10. To seal the hand would be to stop the _________.
11. When do animals hibernate?
12. The whirlwind comes out of the _________.
13. Cold comes out of the _________.
14. Breath, in verse 10, possibly, means the ________ of _______.
15. What is very important in the very dry countries of the desert?
16. The creation must obey the ___________.
17. What does God use different amounts of rain for?
18. What did Elihu tell Job to do in verse 14?
19. What caused Job's problems?
20. What is the answer to verse 16?
21. What answer does the author give for the south wind being warm?
22. What was Elihu insinuating in verse 18?
23. What was he saying to Job in verse 19?
24. Who told God what Elihu said?
25. The Light of God is so bright, it outshines the _______.
26. What part of verse 23 is true?
27. Who should fear and respect God?
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