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Job 39 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Many times it’s true that our expectations of God are outmatched by His unfolding plan. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worried about certain outcomes only to be surprised when God delivers in a different or abundant way. I actually get really upset at myself that I am still so surprised because it happens all the time. I think my trust and faith do grow slowly, but it’s so easy to slip back into processing things through our own dysfunctional methods.
The way we think about and process situations tends to become more “human” the further removed we are from His glory and His presence. This is true of Job. In God’s presence, though still seemingly in his suffering, Job has to feel extremely humiliated by his former attitude and language toward God. It’s moments like this that remind us of our place and just how much God is working when we don’t see Him or feel Him.
In a rapid-fire series of questioning, God continues to rhetorically illustrate His great and mighty power. Specifically, he uses the animal kingdom to make his point. At this point, Job is receiving exactly what he had prayed for. His day in court has arrived. He is being put on the stand to be prosecuted by God. The only difference is, God is answering him from a storm instead of a court room. The anwers to God’s question are obvious.
I want us to think about that. The answers are obvious. All the questioning Job did. All the whining. All the debating and processing with his friends. All of the suffering and wondering and waiting led to this moment of truth. God is gently and firmly putting Job in his place.
“Job had identified himself closely with the ostrich (Job 30:29). Therefore, the Lord ironically agrees that there are similarities. Both are deficient in knowledge (v. Job 39:17; Job 38:2). But although the ludicrous-looking ostrich is no doubt laughed at (as was Job; Job 30:1) and experiences misfortunes (vv. Job 39:14-16), the ostrich is not concerned about the situation. This contrasts with Job, who has been full of worry (Job 3:25; Job 15:24).”
Nelson’s New Illustrated Commentary
Many of us will read this chapter with 20/20 vision wondering why Job was so intent on questioning God, but the truth is, we do it all the time. And the answers are obvious (even more obvious) for us who have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t question God. It just means that when we do, we need to remember who we’re talking to.
I’ve said this many times but it remains true – we aren’t unintelligent, but we do need reminders. God is reminding Job who is really in control and shifting his vision back to spiritual lenses.