In this chapter God begins His response to Job. His response comes in a series of questions which prove His sovereignty, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
” ‘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? Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, and said, “Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed”?’ ” (v4-11)
God asks Job 25 questions, all of which contrast Job’s (and our) wisdom and strength against God’s. There is no real comparison. We humans cannot “send forth lightnings, that they may go and say to you, ‘Here we are’ “. We have not “cleft a channel for the torrents of rain and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no man is…” We are not God, clearly.
I shudder to think of how many times in my life I have “played God”. Meaning, I took my life into my own hands, making my own decisions and tried doing things on my own strength/understanding, versus letting God lead and provide. These behaviors are what the Bible calls “pride”. By biblical definition, the bad kind of pride is: “An inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable feeling of superiority as to one’s talents, beauty, wealth, rank, and so forth; disdainful behavior or treatment; insolence or arrogance of demeanor; haughty bearing.” Basically, the bad kind of pride is having an exaggerated positive view of oneself (eg. bragging about one’s achievements).
There is also a good kind of pride – the joy and confidence we have in the workings of God and His indwelling Holy Spirit. We can take pride in the spiritual gifts and unique attributes of how God has created us. The main difference here, is we need to give the glory to God for how He has gifted/created us, and not boast in these things as if they are our own personal skills/achievements. For example, it’s okay for me to say “God has given me the gift of writing” – this is not only a true statement, it gives the glory and credit to God, not to me (because I don’t deserve the credit for God’s works).
Here is one of my favorite passages on the subject: ” ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’ For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” (2 Cor 10:17-18) We (and Job) should be boasting in God and His glorious works – period. I believe one of the reasons God is asking all these questions of Job is to humble Him (and us), reminding Him who holds all of the cards, and to whom the credit should be given.
I encourage us to examine our hearts when we think of our gifts, abilities, wealth, social status, career, bowling trophies, or whatever unique ways in which we identify ourselves. Are we praising God for the amazing person He has made us to be, or are we praising ourselves for what a great job we did or how well we performed? If the latter, God may want us to take His questions to heart, and remember who we are in light of who He is.
Father God, our All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Ever-Present King, we exalt Your holy name. We thank You for knitting us together in our mother’s womb, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Please help us to remember where we come from, Who created us, and our role as Your servants. Please help us remain humble, or become humble when we exhibit symptoms of pride. Please help us to give all honor, glory, praise, and thanksgiving to You alone, forever and ever, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training