Job 38:1
And now, finally, GOD answered Job from the eye of a violent storm
Introduction
Some of you grew up like I did. When thunderstorms would arise, mamma would call us in the living room, make us sit down, turn out the lights and caution us to be quiet because every time it thundered that meant God was talking.
And now, finally, God answered Job. Job had been through hell. He lost family, property, wealth, and reputation. All while maintaining his integrity and clinging to his finite knowledge of God. After praying and fasting, while enduring his affliction along with emotional trauma, God had said nothing.
And Now, Finally, God Answered. Can you hear Job’s exasperation? Job, the man God loved. Job, the man God bragged to satan about his righteousness and faithfulness. Job suffered without hearing a Word from God. Can you with Job the test of his faith?
And now, finally, God answered. God chose to answer Job in God’s own timing. God chose to answer Job from within the eye of a violent storm. From a interlude, a quiet place, within a violent storm, before the worst of the storm would pass. God answered Job from within the eye of the storm. From the eye of the storm that Job was in or the eye of the storm God created just from which to talk to Job. But Job had to be still so Job could hear God’s answer. Is there a storm raging in your life? Are you expecting, are you listening for God?
Transition
The text says: And now, finally, GOD answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. Job has waited. Job is suffering. He and his friends have debated the righteousness of God and the sinfulness of man and how justice is administered within that context. And now, finally, God speaks from the eye of a violent storm. In other words, God has decided God has heard enough of human reasoning about a situation that God created. Lord, have mercy.
But the question I’m wrestling with in this text is what does the context of God’s answer say about God?
Move 1
First, it says God knows. God knows everything concerning you. Job declared, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold.” God is intimately aware of what you’re going through. God is not in some far off universe, taking care of other things and leaving you holding the bag. No, God, the Holy Spirit is present in the earth and God knows what you’re going through.
Our ancestors left us the knowledge of the spirit world complete with angels, ancestors, and God. This world is not our home nor is it the only dimension of existence. And declared to us that God operates in every dimension. They said God is everywhere present at the same time and God knows all things. Somebody say God knows.
Beloved, nothing that you experience is experienced apart from the knowledge of your God. He knows. Hallelujah!
Move 2
But let us move on. Second, it says God is Sovereign. God answered Job from within the eye of a violent storm. God met a storm with a storm. And spoke with Job in the most dangerous, deceitful part of the storm. It’s called the eye of the storm.
The eye of the storm is the only peaceful part of the hurricane. … The center of low pressure in the storm is the eye. The lower the central pressure, the fiercer the storm, and the higher the winds – nevertheless, the eye is calm and peaceful.
God said time out to both storms and showed his sovereignty over both storms. The storms in Job’s life and the storm he came to speak with Job from. This shows us Beloved that God is Sovereign over any circumstance or situation you face in life. God is not intimidated by any storm that comes up in your life. Lord, have mercy.
Move 3
Third, it says God can be trusted and that God wants us to trust Him. Trust His Knowledge, His Judgement, and His Power all of which are rooted in His love. I hear Job speak his faith when says, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”
Job is determined to trust God despite the violent storm he is experiencing in his life. All his foundations have been destroyed, his reputation, his family, his prosperity. Yet, Job holds on to his faith. Job keeps on praying, refusing to accuse God of injustice concerning him, and praises God no matter how tough his life gets.
Job is determined to trust God even if he died. He declares, “If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.” Anybody here determined to trust God even unto death. Hallelujah!
Move 4 Conclusion
The fact of the matter is that there will be storms in your life. But be of good cheer, because God your God knows all about you. Not only that, but your God is Sovereign over your life. Is there anything too hard for God? So, beloved you can trust God when you can’t trace God. Hallelujah!
God came to Job in the eye of a violent storm, the winds were gushing over 120 mph, the rain was falling with cyclone force, the trees were toppling over, and the roofs were torn from the foundations, property was demolished and God came to Job in the eye of a violent storm.
Somebody say, the storms are passing over hallelujah! The context of God’s answer indeed says that our God is an awesome God. He knows, He is Sovereign, and He can be trusted no matter the test.
BARRIER BREAKING ENTERPRISES 