The Silence of Job

All right, open your Bibles, if you would, to Job 38.

If you're using the pew Bible, it's on page 443.

Job 38.

God has finally spoken.

He's broken the silence, as it were.

And Job has been longing for this day.

He's been pleading for God to speak and answer the pleadings of his heart.

God, where are you?

Why is this happening?

What's going on here?

I don't understand.

I just want to be able to hear from you so I can understand what's going on.

And so God breaks the silence.

And we began to look at that a little bit last time together,

where God answers Job and then God questions Job.

And the truth is that in summary, in God breaking the silence,

it was really about God saying,

Job, I'm here.

I'm present.

I haven't left you.

I'm still in control.

It's okay.

You can trust me.

I know you don't understand what's taking place.

But Job, you don't have to.

You don't have to.

I have to understand what's taking place.

And so as we're going to continue to move our way through these chapters this morning,

the weight and the gravity of God's words to Job is,

Job, you don't have to understand, but that's okay.

I do understand.

I understand.

I've got it under control.

I'm present with you.

I have purposes that are beyond your mind, will blow you away.

But you don't have to hear all of the complexities of my explanation.

All you need to have is to be reminded of who I am.

Job, of course, and his friends had experience and had access to parts of God's revelation.

We saw or we see from Psalm 19 that the heavens declare the glory of God.

And so God speaks.

He proclaims.

He declares.

His speech is heard.

His voice is known through creation.

The problem is there's difficulty for us in translating what that means and how that relates to our life.

And that's what Job has experienced.

He's one who is dark in counsel.

He hasn't quite understand and applied the truths that God has given to him through creation.

He hasn't applied it rightly.

And here we find ourselves again where God will remind Job of the things that he knows from creation.

And just through the declaration of God's knowledge to Job, now things will be able to make sense.

Job will finally come to the place.

We're going to see this in Job chapter 40 where he's going to cover his mouth.

Job 40 · chapter mention

He's going to be in silence.

He's going to stand in awe.

He's going to recognize his smallness in God's greatness.

And he's just going to bow his heart in reverence, in quietness to God.

God, I trust you.

I don't know what's going on.

But that's okay.

You know what's happening.

And I can believe you.

As we've made our way through the centuries and even here we are thousands of years after Job.

And you would think that with all the discoveries and all the technological developments and equipment that we have,

that we would be able to recognize or understand, maybe even be able to answer some of the questions that God will pose to Job.

We'll be able to answer them better.

And it mystifies me how some simple things seem to be so complicated still.

Like, for example, weather.

You find it fascinating that we still can't figure out weather?

Like, what it's going to do tomorrow or next week?

Like, I was looking on my weather app this past week.

I was really excited because we're going to have a four-day stretch where the evenings were going to be cool.

Like, down in the 60s.

At least that's what it said.

And then I'm like, woo, wow.

It would be nice and cool in the evening.

We'll be good.

I've got to open up the windows and pour it in.

But then I'm like, it's not 68 degrees out yet.

And then I would get up in the morning and for whatever reason my app said it was 68 outside.

My thermometer said it was 77.

77.

Now, some of you may know this, but I used to build satellites.

And one of the satellites that I helped to build was a GOES weather satellite.

And it would try to correlate all this information from all these different places

and try to assemble the data so that we could figure this out.

We could predict what was going to happen next week.

There was something called an imager, which would take pictures of weather patterns as they were moving across the country.

There was something called a sounder that would measure the temperature of surface temperatures and moisture.

And we could do that of the ground and also of currents and sea temperatures.

There was something called a sun sensor.

And we could detect solar flares and sun spots.

And we could figure out how the sun was affecting our weather.

There was something called a magnetometer, which measured magnetic fields.

And something called a volcanometer, which measured volcanic ash.

We would assemble all this information.

At least that was the goal.

You assemble all this information.

And weather should be like a piece of cake.

Guess what?

It's not a piece of cake.

And what's fascinating is the more we discover, the more we learn, the more we open doors to our own ignorance.

And that's the whole point of this speech of God to Job.

Job, you understand enough.

But you don't understand it all.

That's okay.

You don't have to.

Because I got it.

You can trust me.

So as we head into Job 38, we see the grace of God.

The grace of God in calling Job to consider.

And then there's two main things that God calls Job to consider.

And we're going to try to cover them as quickly as we can with the time that we have.

And we'll see how things go.

We'll pick up next week what we miss today.

But the first is, Job, consider the world that I made.

Consider the world that I made.

And that begins in verse 4 of chapter 38.

Let me just read the first couple of verses as we jump into this study.

God says,

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know.

Or who stretched the line upon it?

On what were its bases sunk?

Or who laid its cornerstone?

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy.

See, God takes up this line of questioning.

And his desire is to raise awareness for Job of who he is.

And remember, Job, you've called me the creator.

But let's just think about what that means.

And let's think about how that applies to your life.

How does that address your current situation?

I would like to think that God isn't so much rebuking and condemning Job.

Job is just reminding Job.

Job, remember these things about me.

Remember what you have already said.

And of course, Job knew something about God.

And that's what I want to just briefly cover in the next few moments here.

Is Job's knowledge of God through creation.

It was fairly comprehensive.

And you have there in your outlines this morning this table.

And it's not meant to be a comprehensive list of all the attributes that God has.

Or even all of the subjects that Job will cover and his friends cover throughout the book.

But just a sampling.

And these are just some of the references.

Not all the references that relate to these subjects.

And you can see how incredible.

How broad.

How thorough Job's understanding of God's attributes were.

At least in terms of recognizing the parts.

Not the whole.

His holiness.

His wisdom.

His omnipresence.

His omnipotence.

And his forgiveness.

That he judges.

That he is merciful.

That he is a friend.

And all of these things that we see and know to be true about God.

Through God's grace.

Through his creation.

He makes these parts of his attributes.

His character known.

We find that in Romans chapter 1.

Romans 1 · chapter mention

That God has revealed all of his divine attributes.

His divine nature can be clearly seen.

And this is a wonder.

This is a grace.

A gift of God.

To make all of this so accessible to us.

We can see this.

I want to just touch on a few.

Okay.

And it's not meant to.

We can't work our way through the entire book.

But I want to just address a couple of passages.

That Job rehearses for himself the wonders of God's character.

Beginning in Job 1.

Right at the outset.

Right at the very beginning of this book.

In Job 1 verse 5.

Job 1:5

Job points to a God who is holy.

And who forgives sin.

God is holy.

And forgives sin.

Notice.

And when the days of the feast had run their course.

Now remember.

Job's family is gathering.

His sons and daughters are having a feast together.

And Job is interested about their spiritual well-being.

And Job would send and consecrate them.

And he would rise early in the morning.

And offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all.

For Job said.

It may be that my children have sinned.

And cursed God in their hearts.

Thus Job did continually.

It's incredible that Job has an awareness of sin.

He recognizes where we stand.

Where we all stand before God.

As sinners before him.

Separated from God.

Because of our rebellion against him.

All have sinned.

And come short of the glory of God.

And Job understood that.

And passed down through Abel.

And then through Noah.

And then through others.

He understood that there was some measure of atonement for sin.

That was represented in taking the life of a lamb.

And so he does that.

And he consecrates his family.

He dedicates them.

And offers some level of forgiveness.

Asking forgiveness for them to God.

Because he knows that God is holy.

And forgives sin.

In chapter 1 also.

He recognizes that God is benevolent.

And is over his creation.

In verse 21 it says this.

And he said.

Naked I came from my mother's womb.

Naked shall I return.

The Lord gave.

And the Lord has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

And then in chapter 2.

He points to his benevolence again.

In chapter 2 verses 9 and 10.

He says.

Then his wife said to him.

Do you still hold fast your integrity?

Curse God and die.

But he said to her.

You speak as one of the foolish women would speak.

Shall we receive good from God?

And shall we not receive evil?

In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Job recognized that God was over all.

And that God as the benevolent God.

Has the right.

Has the prerogative.

To give and to take away.

To bless and to curse.

That is God's prerogative.

It's under his control.

And that he is a God.

Who does bless.

And who does care for his creatures.

He recognized this.

He saw God's kindness to him.

He experienced that.

But he knew that God wasn't beholden to him.

He recognized that God didn't exist for him.

But as a creature.

He existed for God.

God.

In chapter 7.

We see that God is an all-knowing God.

Who removes iniquity.

Verse 20 of chapter 7.

If I sin.

What do I do to you?

You watcher of mankind.

Why do you not pardon my transgression.

And take away my iniquity?

For now I shall lie in the earth.

You will seek me.

But I shall not be.

He recognizes again.

That God is a God who watches over.

That nothing escapes his attention.

That in his omniscience.

In his omnipresence.

He is the watcher of mankind.

And that nothing escapes his attention.

Which means that the sin.

That he has committed.

Has come to the eyes of God.

And he needs forgiveness.

And that only God.

Can remove and pardon.

His transgressions.

In chapter 9.

We find that he is a wise God.

Who is mighty in strength.

And for the sake of time.

We find in chapter 10.

That he is the eternal God.

Who grants life.

And love.

Chapter 10.

Verses 8 to 12.

Says this.

Your hands fashioned and made me.

You clothed me with skin and flesh.

And knit me together with bone and sinew.

You have granted me life.

And steadfast love.

And your care.

Has preserved my spirit.

In chapter 12.

He points to God.

As the source and sustainer.

Of life.

And breath.

And then chapter.

After chapter.

After chapter.

Job in his anguish.

And in his suffering.

Continues to point his heart to God.

And by the way.

He serves as an example.

To all of us.

That whatever we are experiencing.

Whatever suffering.

Whatever trial.

The way that we.

We find solace.

And help.

Is to point our heart.

Towards a God.

Who is overall.

We find this.

Repeated theme.

And I.

I think I put this in.

Your study guide.

This morning.

Your outline.

We see his faithfulness.

In chapter 13.

We see his omniscience.

In chapter 14.

We see his wisdom.

In chapter 21.

His greatness.

In his self-sufficiency.

In chapter 23.

His sovereignty.

In power.

In chapter 26.

His wisdom.

In chapter 28.

His presence.

In friendship.

In kindness.

In chapter 29.

And then.

Chapter 31.

I haven't even touched on.

Where Job will recount.

All the things.

That are true.

About his life.

He has.

Kept his eyes.

Pure.

He has kept his heart.

On.

He set his heart.

On those who are.

The least of these.

He cares.

For the widow.

And for the orphan.

And all of these things.

That he recounts.

That he has.

Directed his heart towards.

Which essentially.

Is an emulation.

Of the character of God.

His mercy.

His impartiality.

Recognizing that God.

Has placed his image.

On people.

And so they carry dignity.

He recognized.

These things about God.

God's.

God's.

Job's knowledge.

Of God.

Is incredible.

But it's limited.

It's limited.

And that's why God.

Needs to step in.

And so in verses 4.

Chapter 4.

To.

Excuse me.

Chapter 38.

Verse 4.

All the way to the end.

Of chapter 41.

We see God's voice.

God speaks.

And in verses 4.

Of chapter 38.

To.

Verse 30.

Of chapter 39.

We see.

God's declaration.

Of his attributes.

That God will speak.

That God will declare.

That God will.

Will help.

To.

To remind Job.

Of what he already knows.

Beginning there.

In verse 4.

We've read this already.

But just.

Remind us of this.

Where God says.

Where were you.

When I laid the foundation.

Of the earth.

Tell me.

If you have.

Understanding.

What determined.

Its measurements.

Surely you know.

Or who has stretched.

The line upon it.

On what.

Were its bases sunk.

Or who laid.

Its cornerstone.

When the morning stars.

Sang together.

And all the sons of God.

Shouted for joy.

Job.

Where were you.

When God spoke.

In the beginning.

God created.

The heavens.

And the earth.

Where were you Job.

When that happened.

God's pointing.

To that.

Which seems.

Secure.

We think about the earth.

We think about stability.

We think about longevity.

We think about something.

That has some measure.

Of permanence.

And yet.

Even Job.

Will mention.

He hung the world.

On nothing.

How does it even happen?

Where are those foundations?

It blows my mind.

And it should blow our minds.

We can't even begin.

To comprehend.

How God put all of this together.

Now.

Certainly.

We understand something about gravity.

We understand something about the solar system.

Something about revolving around the sun.

Orbiting the sun.

But.

But.

But when it all comes down to it.

There.

There's so much that blows our mind.

About the way that God did things.

And even to be just a few feet out of orbit.

And the.

And the.

Significant.

Implications of that for us.

As a people.

In terms of survival.

God did this.

And he moves on in verse 8.

Or who shut in the sea.

With doors.

When it burst out from the womb.

And I believe this is just a.

A reference to the flood.

And how the.

The fountains of the deep.

Burst forth.

And.

And spilled out onto the.

Onto the whole planet.

And.

And.

And of course.

Nobody.

Who was living there at the time.

Could do anything about it.

And.

And nobody.

By the way.

Living during this time.

Could do anything about stopping.

Those waters.

No one could set the boundaries.

God is the one who.

Who established.

The limits.

Of where.

The sea would stop.

And allow that land.

To be inhabited again.

Allow life to exist again.

And it was God who.

Who established those boundaries.

And kept the waters where they.

Were meant to be.

So that mankind.

And creatures.

Could live on the earth.

With.

And God is the one who did this.

Now God is the one who is.

Holding them back.

So the.

Earth can flourish.

And.

Any of you.

Who.

Who've done any.

Plumbing.

Will.

Will.

Will.

Understand.

The frustration.

Of trying to hold back water.

And.

You think you get all of the solder.

Done.

Just correctly.

Or that bond.

That's in place.

Just.

A few weeks ago.

We.

We were.

Trying to do some.

Water.

Sports.

Out here.

In the front yard.

And.

Things keep.

Kept bursting apart.

And we.

You can't hold back the water.

And it's.

It's a frustrating venture.

But it's not frustrating for God.

God.

It's like.

I got this.

It's not a problem.

Job.

And if I can do that.

If I can hold back.

The chaos.

Of the.

Of the sea.

And the.

The bursting forth.

Of the waters.

If I.

If I'm over that.

Job.

I'm over the chaos.

Of your life.

I'm over.

The.

The things that seem.

So out of control.

For you.

You can trust me.

In verse 12.

He says.

Have you commanded the morning.

Since your days began.

And caused the dawn.

To know its place.

Again.

It's a reminder.

Of what we find.

In.

In Psalm 19.

Where.

Where the psalmist.

David.

Is pointing to the.

The sun.

Which.

Which courses.

Across the sun.

Sky.

And it's.

It has.

It's.

It's course.

It has.

It's line.

It starts.

At a certain time.

It ends.

At a certain time.

And God.

Is over.

The limits.

Of those.

That consistency.

The regular parts.

Of the sun.

Rising.

And setting.

You can depend.

Upon it.

And it points.

To his faithfulness.

And consistency.

And reliability.

You.

Can depend.

On God.

Job.

Do you.

Do you.

See.

How in creation.

Things work.

The right way.

They're predictable.

That's.

That's.

That's.

That's me.

Who did this.

In verse 16.

Have you entered.

Into the springs of the sea.

Or walked.

In the recesses.

Of the deep.

God is saying.

Basically.

I'm the one.

Who knows.

The deepest places.

Of the earth.

The places.

Where you'll never discover.

You'll never go.

You'll never walk.

Or swim.

These are the places.

That I'm familiar with.

It's a reminder.

Of Jonah.

Who is in the.

The big fish.

And.

And in the fish.

He's.

He's praying.

To God.

And.

And one of the things.

That he's praying about.

Is.

As he's pointing.

And directing his heart.

Back to God.

In the temple.

Is.

Is recognizing.

That.

That.

This is the end.

This is likely.

The end.

For him.

And he's in the.

The depths of Sheol.

As it were.

This is in the deepest.

Parts of the water.

And.

And he's so close to death.

In the darkest.

Unexplored.

Kinds of places.

And yet.

God is there.

And again.

That's what the psalmist says.

If I ascend to heaven.

You are there.

Or.

If I make my bed.

In Sheol.

In the deepest.

Parts of the earth.

Earth.

Behold.

You're there.

Where can I go.

From your spirit.

Where can I flee.

From your presence.

You're there.

I could trust you Lord.

To be there.

In verse 19.

God says.

Where is the way.

To the dwelling of light.

Where is the place of darkness.

Verse 22.

Have you entered into the storehouses of snow.

Have you seen the storehouses of hail.

Which I have reserved for time of trouble.

For the day of battle and war.

In verse 25.

Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain.

And away for the thunderbolt.

Verse 27.

To satisfy the waste and desolate land.

And to make the ground sprout with grass.

Verse 28.

Has the rain a father.

Or who has begotten the drops of dew.

Job.

I'm over the rain.

I'm over the hail.

I am the one who even spreads the rain in desolate places.

The places where you wouldn't expect.

The places that you don't think it even matters.

Those desolate wastelands.

Where no person even inhabits.

I care even about those places.

I send the torrents of rain.

I direct the channels.

It goes and allows that grass to flourish again.

I'm the one who does this.

I'm the one who cares about those forgotten wasteland places.

And every time that grass will sprout in desolate places.

It's a reminder of God's creative work.

That he can bring things out of nothing.

He allows things to sprout in the least likely places.

And any of you who have watched those nature programs.

Will be reminded of those places that seem so barren.

Seem so out of in the nowhere.

And the rain comes through.

And all of a sudden those places come to life.

God is bringing some reminders to Job.

I am the one who recreates and who allows and cultivates the earth.

In verse 31 he says.

Can you bind the chains of Pallades and loose the cords of Orion?

Can you lead forth the Maseroth?

Which is the constellations in their season.

Or can you guide the bear with its children?

And any of you who are fascinated with the stars.

Will recognize the significance of just the beauty.

That we get to experience.

And enjoy on a nightly basis.

And especially since we've had the Hubble telescope.

And now the James Webb telescope.

Those of you who may be familiar with that.

In December 25th of 2021.

The James Webb telescope was put in place.

And it makes the Hubble telescope look silly.

Here's a picture that I'm going to show you here.

So this may look a little blurry.

But it's actually.

These are entire solar systems.

That this is a picture of.

And this is just a sampling of the picture.

There are 10,000 galaxies in this picture.

10,000 galaxies in just this composite picture alone.

And just to give you some perspective.

These 10,000 galaxies are in a very small window.

And I'm showing you the moon.

To kind of give you some perspective.

Two and a half arc seconds.

And an arc second is a degree.

Okay.

Very, very small degree.

And if you can see that red spot in the moon.

That is reflective.

Of the two and a half arc seconds.

Square.

Of where this picture was taken in the sky.

Imagine.

We can take it one more.

Zoom.

Let's zoom in on that.

That is one tenth of the moon.

Okay.

In one tenth of the moon's.

Area.

Area.

They took a snapshot in the sky.

And the James Webb telescope.

Got 10,000 galaxies.

That are perceptible.

And this is just the beginning.

Of what is there.

And we can't even see further on.

How immense.

How amazing.

How marvelous.

How glorious.

Is our God.

God.

Verse 34.

Can you lift up your voice to the clouds.

That flood.

That a flood of waters may cover you.

And while God does challenge Job.

To answer these questions.

Really it's.

It's a.

Job stop and consider.

Consider my wisdom.

My power.

My sovereignty.

My design.

And as you look at the design of creation.

Understand it's order.

It's mystery.

It's boundaries.

It's consistency.

It's depths.

It's eternality.

God exposes the limits.

Of Job's understanding.

And this is a grace to Job.

That while he doesn't understand.

How the earth is created.

He doesn't have to.

Job there's a lot.

You don't understand.

About the world.

I'm summarizing.

What made you think.

That you could understand this.

What made you understand.

Think you could understand.

Your suffering.

Your challenges.

But.

But God doesn't owe us.

An explanation.

He doesn't owe us.

An explanation.

And by the way.

It is a mercy.

To us.

That God doesn't.

Often give us an answer.

And.

And.

Not answering.

And.

And continuing.

To point to himself.

And continuing to.

To uphold.

His grandeur.

In his greatness.

It just.

It points our heart.

Not to.

A solution.

But it points our heart.

To him.

Not to.

Fixing our problem.

But to find.

That he is.

All we need.

That he really is.

The solution.

Just.

Trust me.

Trust me.

My yoke.

My yoke is easy.

My burden.

Is light.

You don't have to carry.

This pressure.

Cast your care.

Upon him.

Because he.

Cares.

For you.

That's all you need to know.

Job.

It's all that matters.

I'm over it.

I understand it.

I have a purpose for it.

You can trust me.

So God.

Will.

Will.

Encourage.

Job.

To consider.

The world.

But.

But then in chapter 38.

Verses.

39.

To chapter 41.

Verses.

34.

He will.

He will encourage him.

To consider the creatures.

Consider the creatures.

That I made Job.

You see.

As God will.

Will recount.

For Job.

He's going to demonstrate.

To Job.

A couple of important truths.

That God.

Not only knows.

But he cares.

For his creatures.

I know these creatures.

I made these creatures.

I have an intimate understanding.

Of how they work.

But Job.

It doesn't stop there.

Because I not only know them.

But I am the one.

Who cares for them.

And this is important.

To consider.

Especially.

When we think about.

What God commissioned.

And delegated.

To his creation.

To mankind.

In particular.

Remember.

In Genesis.

Genesis 1 · chapter mention

Chapter 1.

Verse 26.

God says.

Let us make man.

In our image.

After our likeness.

And let them have dominion.

Over the fish.

Of the sea.

And the birds.

Of the heavens.

And over the livestock.

And over all the earth.

And over every creeping thing.

That creeps on the earth.

We're going to make them.

In our image.

We're going to delegate.

This task.

This dominion.

This authority.

We're delegating.

This authority.

So they can act.

As representatives.

Of us.

On this planet.

And exercising.

Some level.

Of dominion.

Over fish.

Over birds.

Over creatures.

And so guess what.

God's going to do.

In his speech.

He's going to identify.

The limitations.

Of Job.

I'm going to.

I'm going to recount.

To you.

A number of creatures.

Job.

That you not only.

Don't know.

What they're doing.

And where they're doing it.

But you can't tame them.

You can't control them.

You can't.

Put them to work.

And that's.

Mostly the case.

In the examples.

That he gives.

He begins.

In chapter.

Chapter 38.

Verse.

38.

Where he says.

Can you hunt.

For the prey.

For the lion.

Or satisfy.

The appetite.

Of the young lions.

Answer.

No.

I can't.

I don't want anything.

To do with lions.

But God does.

God cares about.

The lions.

God knows the lions.

God is feeding the lions.

He moves on.

To chapter 39.

Verses 1 to 4.

Speaking about the goats.

Do you know.

When the mountain goats.

Give birth.

Do you observe.

The calving.

Of the does.

And he'll use now.

Three examples.

For goats.

And then donkeys.

Wild donkeys.

And wild oxen.

And the reason.

I think.

These three examples.

Are significant.

Is because.

Job.

Has.

Or at least.

Had.

In his possession.

The domesticated version.

Of these things.

He had 7,000 sheep.

He had.

500 donkeys.

And 500 yoke of oxen.

But.

But.

But.

But.

God is pointing.

To the wild ones.

That he has.

No control over.

Those mountain goats.

You don't even know.

When they give birth.

How in the world.

Can you care.

For them.

In that process.

Those donkeys.

In verse 5.

Who has let the wild donkeys.

Go free.

Who has loosed.

The bonds.

Of the swift donkey.

He moves on.

To the ox.

In verse 9.

Is the wild ox.

Willing to serve you.

Will he spend the night.

At your manger.

Can you bind him.

In the furrow.

With ropes.

Or.

Or will he harrow.

The valleys.

After you.

Verse 13.

The ostrich.

The wings of the ostrich.

Wave proudly.

But they're.

But are they.

The pinions.

Of plumage.

Of love.

For the.

For she leaves.

Her eggs.

To the earth.

And.

And lets them be.

Warmed on the ground.

Forgetting.

That a foot.

May crush them.

And that the.

Wild beast.

May trample them.

And then the horse.

In verse 19.

Do you give the horse.

Its might.

Do you clothe his neck.

With a mane.

And then.

Finishing off the chapter.

In verses 26 to 30.

Is it by your understanding.

That the hawk soars.

And spreads his wings.

Towards the south.

Is it at your command.

That the eagle.

Mounts up.

And makes his nest.

On high.

And through this entire speech.

God.

Is referring to.

And drawing attention to.

Not only his knowledge.

But his preserving.

Caring.

Hand.

Of protection.

And help.

That he's the one.

Who multiplies the goats.

That he's the one.

Who frees the wild donkey.

That he's the one.

Who strengthens the wild ox.

That he's the one.

Who preserves.

That foolish.

Ostrich.

That he's the one.

Who energizes the horse.

That he's the one.

Who equips the hawk.

And the eagle.

It's God who does this.

And if God knows.

And cares for his creatures.

Job.

Don't you think.

That I know.

And care for you.

You can trust me.

Job.

I'm the one.

Who created all things.

I'm the one.

Who knows all things.

I'm the one.

Who cares.

For all things.

You've said.

That I'm the one.

Who gives life.

And breath.

And steadfast love.

Well.

You're not an exception.

Job.

I desire to do that for you.

And while you have not felt.

Maybe the ministering.

Caring hand.

Of mine.

Through your suffering.

I've always been present.

And I've always been.

Carrying.

And supporting you.

Through.

This challenge.

This difficulty.

You faced.

In chapter 40.

Verses 1 to 5.

We come to Job's silence.

Job's silence.

And we're going to.

Develop this some more.

Next week.

As God.

Is.

Is.

Is.

Drawing attention now.

To the things in Job's life.

That need some correction.

He says in verse 1.

And the Lord said to Job.

Shall a fault finder.

Contend.

With the almighty.

He who argues with God.

Let him answer.

And then dropping down.

To verse 6.

And 7.

Actually verse 7.

To dress for action.

Like a man.

I will question you.

And you make it known to me.

Will you even put me.

In the wrong.

Will you condemn me.

That you may be.

In the right.

Of course Job.

After this speech.

The beginning parts.

Of this speech.

Is now.

Really.

In a place.

Of awe and reverence.

I believe.

And so his response.

We find.

There.

In verse 3.

It says.

Then Job.

Answered the Lord.

And said.

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.

I recognize.

Who I am.

I'm of.

I'm of small account.

I recognize.

Who you are.

You are lofty.

You are ultimate.

You are supreme.

You are sovereign.

You cannot be contested with.

And I'm just going to keep my mouth shut.

And just keep listening.

God.

I.

I've spoken out of turn.

I've spoken about things.

I didn't understand.

And now I'm just going to listen.

I'm going to hear.

What you have to say.

And bow my heart.

Before your words.

And allow you to lead me.

Into.

Into better understanding.

Of who you are.

We don't have time.

This morning.

To.

To.

To speak on the strength.

God's strength.

Over the largest.

Land creature.

We'll do that next week.

Behemoth.

And also.

God's strength.

Over the largest.

Sea creature.

Which.

Was Leviathan.

And we'll.

We'll.

We'll deal with those.

A little bit more.

Next week.

But in close.

I want to draw our attention.

To the.

To the words of Christ.

What.

What is.

What is.

What does God have to say.

To us.

Through.

This.

Testimony.

This morning.

And I was reminded.

Of two verses.

First.

Is in John chapter one.

Where we find.

That the word.

Was made flesh.

Right.

In the beginning.

Was the word.

The word.

Was with God.

The word.

Was God.

He.

Was in the beginning.

With God.

All.

Things.

Were made.

By him.

And without him.

Nothing.

Was made.

That was made.

That.

Is our savior.

Jesus Christ.

Jesus.

Is the creator.

Of all.

And Jesus.

Is in control.

Of all.

We find.

In Colossians.

That.

That he holds.

Everything.

Everything consists.

And holds together.

By the word.

Of his power.

He is the one.

Who holds.

The world.

The universe.

Every molecule.

Every particle.

Of dust.

In.

Its place.

And if God.

Can do that.

If Christ.

Can do that.

Then Christ.

Is sufficient.

For us.

He is sufficient.

To save.

He is sufficient.

To forgive.

He is sufficient.

To trust.

And Christ.

Will draw attention.

To creation.

In Matthew.

Chapter.

Chapter 6.

And I will close.

With this.

Matthew 6.

23.

25.

To 34.

Where God.

Or Christ.

Uses.

Creation.

As an object.

Lesson.

For us.

To call.

And encourage us.

In the area.

Of faith.

As well.

He says.

Therefore.

I tell you.

This is Jesus.

Do not be anxious.

About your life.

What you will eat.

Or what you will drink.

Nor about your body.

What you will put on.

Is not life.

More than food.

And the body.

More than clothing.

Look.

At the birds.

Of the air.

They neither sow.

Nor reap.

Nor gather.

Into barns.

And yet.

Your heavenly father.

Feeds them.

Are you not.

Of more value.

Than they.

In which of you.

By being anxious.

Can add a single hour.

To the span.

Of his life.

And why are you anxious.

About clothing.

Consider the lilies.

Of the field.

How they grow.

They neither toil.

Nor spin.

Yet I tell you.

Even Solomon.

In all of his glory.

Was not arrayed.

Like one of these.

But if God so clothes.

The grass of the field.

Which today is alive.

And tomorrow.

Is thrown.

Into the oven.

Will he not.

Much more.

Clothe you.

O you of little faith.

Therefore.

Do not be anxious.

Saying.

What shall we eat.

Or what shall we drink.

Or what shall we wear.

For the Gentiles.

Seek after all of these things.

And your heavenly father.

Knows.

That you need them all.

But seek first.

The kingdom of God.

And his righteousness.

And all these things.

Will be added to you.

Living in.

This day and age.

In.

Western culture.

We.

We have a lot of things.

We think we need.

There are a lot of things.

That we think.

Are so important.

To sustain life.

And the truth is.

That what we really need.

What we really need.

We're provided.

For by the Lord.

Who promises.

To meet our needs.

According to the riches.

Of his glory.

In Christ Jesus.

And that.

If God can clothe.

The flowers.

Of the field.

And if God can.

Take care of the birds.

Of the air.

Who don't do anything.

About sowing.

Or reaping.

Then God's quite capable.

Of taking care of us.

He's big enough.

For that.

God is big enough.

We can trust him.

And while there are things.

That we don't understand.

All we really need.

To understand.

Is that God.

God.

Is able to provide.

And wants.

To demonstrate.

His faithfulness.

To us.

When everything.

Seems to be spinning.

Out of control.

I'm reminded.

Of Romans chapter 8.

Romans 8 · chapter mention

If God is for us.

Who can be against us?

He who did not spare.

His own son.

But gave him up.

For us all.

How shall he not with him.

Also freely.

Give us all things.

And we're not talking about.

God giving us the Lamborghini.

God giving us perfect health.

What we're talking about.

Is God giving us.

Meeting the deepest needs.

That we have.

And the deepest need.

Of course.

Is the need.

For forgiveness of sins.

Which Christ.

Made possible.

Through.

His death.

Through his sacrifice.

And through.

His life.

His resurrection life.

And if there's anyone here.

This morning.

Who has never come.

To enjoy.

The benefit.

Of relationship.

With God.

Through forgiveness of sin.

And faith.

In Jesus Christ.

That's where it starts.

It starts.

With Jesus.

And then we have the testimony.

Of how.

How God takes care.

Of this earth.

And those who are in Christ.

He will take care of you.

And so our.

Our heart's ambition.

Or the direction of our life.

Should be to seek first.

The kingdom of God.

And his righteousness.

That's the aim of our hearts.

The glory of God.

Whether we eat.

Or drink.

Or whatever we do.

That we're doing all.

To the glory of God.

Oh may God.

Be glorified.

Through.

Our confidence.

In him.

When things don't make sense.

Because we're trusting him.

That he's overall.

As creator.

And sovereign.

Lord we thank you for.

Your kindness.

In showing up to Job.

Giving him an answer.

Probably the answer.

He didn't expect.

But it was enough.

And Lord.

Thank you for giving us.

An answer.

In your word.

Meeting the deepest needs.

Of our life.

The need for a savior.

To deliver us.

From our sin.

Oh God.

God I pray.

That we would.

Not only.

Savor.

The wonder.

Of your forgiveness.

And friendship.

But Lord.

That we would.

Continue to press in.

Want to know you more.

Want to worship you more.

Want to obey you more.

And lead others.

To knowledge.

And faith.

In our Lord Jesus.

As well.

We pray in Jesus name.

Amen.

God bless you.

Have a great week.

God bless you.