SOAP 11/12/2014; Job 38:34-36

Today's reading: Job 37, 38; 1 Corinthians 12


S) "³⁴ Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
So that an abundance of water will cover you?
³⁵ Can you send forth lightnings that they may go
And say to you, ‘Here we are’?
³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given understanding to the mind?"

Job 38:34-36 (NASB)

O) Finally, the LORD spoke to Job directly (well, through a whirlwind [v.1]). This initial response was essentially a rebuke against these men, for relying on their own wisdom, trying to determine what God was doing. Verse 34 caught my eye, because I was reminded of the actual rituals of some older cultures, and how they would try to invoke rainfall. Try as we might, mankind still cannot cause rain (sometimes, we still have a hard time predicting it). This is a humbling passage, from a humbling chapter, from a humbling book. There is serious gravity in the LORD's words, here.

A) My next thought, after thinking of the rain dances, was of irrigation. Mankind developed a tremendous tool, learning how to irrigate farmlands across vast acreages. Even still, California is currently suffering one of its most devastating droughts in its history. But, considering all of the advances of science, and whatever we can do about vv.34 and 35, that still leaves us nowhere with v.36... That is the most humbling verse of this passage, to me. I am nothing, except what God made me to be. Even still, I cannot rely on what gifts He has given, because I am still from Him. I must rely on Him at the bottom line. He has given me tools, abilities, knowledge, and skills, but I must still depend on Him for the guidance to correctly use those tools. I must still seek Him for perspective, interpretation, and application of those things. That was the lesson Job missed, even if he passed the test.

P) Father, Your goodness, purpose, and ways, precede my existence. You have been exceedingly good to Your servant. In all that You have given me, even if I am passing my "tests" of faithfulness to You, I don't want to be missing any other lessons You are trying to teach me. Open my eyes and ears, Father, to understand what You have in store for me. Yet not my will, but Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.