The Real God

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? (Job 38:4-7 ESV). Our reading today is the first of the answer that God gives to Job after his desperate cry for understanding in the midst of his pain and suffering. In it God is going to reveal how little Job knew about the divine role in all that was happening. It is a very difficult passage to accept. It challenges the very root of our being. We strive for fairness when God gives us faithfulness. This principle is at the heart of much of the pain and difficulty of our present circumstance.

I know some of you will read this first paragraph and wonder about my intent. I can assure you I do not intend to minimize the pain of these days. All of us have suffered a great loss in this time. However, the answer is not in “more faith” as I have heard some preachers say recently. It is not about how much faith, or action on our part that will ease the pain of our calamity. It is about the God who is faithful. With that in mind, let’s look at God’s answer to the one individual in written history who truly understood the depth of suffering. Job was not intellectually examining pain from a distance. He suffered greatly. The first thing God does is humbling. God reveals how little Job, and all of humanity for that matter, really know and understand God. He calls on Job to recollect His presence, mercy, and love. From this God affirms Job’s deepest need. Job’s constant prayer and deepest yearning to find God was finally answered, confirming that everything was still all right between himself and his Lord. We, who are post-resurrection believers, have even greater proof of this truth. Jesus was the ultimate answer to all who sincerely and steadfastly have called on God in confusion, doubt, frustration, or anger. Jesus is the ultimate response of God’s presence, comfort, and grace. God’s words to Job are remarkable both for what they say and do not say. Amazingly, Job was never told why he suffered. He never learned that his suffering involved such grave matters as the integrity and vindication of God’s redemptive work among the fallen human race (cf. Job 1:8-9). God’s silence in this area indicates that the why of Job’s suffering was not the most important issue at stake. And, notice that God did not refer to the careless and extreme statements that Job uttered in his speeches with a rebuke. He understood and sympathized with Job’s suffering responding with mercy and compassion. The truth we must come away from this Scripture is simply that God’s ways and actions are always just and righteous. He is good. Our comfort is in this unfailing truth. This must be our hope. This mustard-seed-sized faith can be enough for peace in the midst of calamity. Trust in the God who is really God!