Elihu continues speaking in this chapter. He Corrects Job a little more, though he mainly focuses on God’s unsearchable and limitless greatness.
” ‘Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable. For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain, which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly. Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion? Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea. For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance. He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark. Its crashing declares his presence; the cattle also declare that he rises.’ ” (v26-33)
In this somewhat poetic section, Elihu uses nature to glorify God’s greatness. He describes the cycle of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, declaring it and storms as a sample of God’s power and creativity. He also states that not only do storms declare the power and presence of God, the animals (cattle specifically) do as well.
This chapter (and the Psalms) is full of imagery of how nature – it’s beauty and power – is an extension of our Creator God. This is important to know and acknowledge, yet there is another key truth in what Elihu said – “Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.”
Elihu is actually agreeing with something Job said earlier: ” ‘Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?’ ” (Job 26:14)
Paul also agrees that God is infinite, and cannot be fully comprehended: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ ” (Rom 11:33-35 cf. Isa 40:13, Job 41:11)
I posit that the fact we cannot fully comprehend God is a very good thing. This means we can choose to learn something new about Him every day of our lives, and not fear becoming bored, stagnant, or complacent in our relationship with Him. God does not place a limit on how well we can get to know Him – the only limit is on our end: how much time and energy we’re willing to invest in our relationship with Him.
If you find yourself in a rut with God, treading water and not really progressing in your relationship with Him, please be encouraged that there is so much more we can learn about Him. Let’s set our curiosity loose, and let it drive us to pursue God tirelessly, like a 4-year-old who won’t stop asking the question “Why?”. Take heart, God actually invites this pursuit of Him and encourages us to approach Him with childlike qualities (see Mt 18:1-5).
Father God, our Creator and King, great and mighty is Your name. All of heaven and earth proclaims Your power and presence. Praise be to You, for You are worthy of praise. Father we acknowledge that You are beyond our full understanding. Yet, we thank You for this gift of curiosity. May we learn to continue seeking You with a childlike curiosity and vigor, never relenting in our hunger to know You better. Please continue encouraging us to draw near and heavily invest in our relationship. In the name of our holy and magnificent savior Jesus, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training