Job 38:1-7, "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

God now speaks to Job and reproves him for the presumptuous manner in which he had spoken of God, and the way He governs the affairs of men. To darken counsel (vs. 2) is to make it more difficult to understand. Job and those who spoke with him muddied things rather than making them clear. Job is then called out by God and taken to task in verse three, "Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me." To gird up the loins was to prepare oneself for battle or to run. He was going to be made responsible like a man. God first uses His wisdom and power in creation to strike a blow at Job's questioning of the Almighty. Where were you? Who stretched a line upon the earth? How are the foundations kept in place? Who laid the cornerstone? Heaven rejoiced at creation, it was all very good!!!

We must understand there is no defending ourselves when we do wrong, or when we doubt God's love, His ways, and His wisdom. We lose every time, and we should. I'm the clay, He is the potter. He formed me, He created me. Isaiah 29:16, "... shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding ?" Jeremiah learned the following from the Lord: "I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it." (Jeremiah 18:3-4). Doesn't God have the right to reshape us through trials? Absolutely!!! And for us to question Him is wrong!!!

May we live by faith, trusting the Lord fully in all that He does. For if we are taken to task, rest assured we will lose every time.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

QUESTIONS TO PONDER

1. How should you reverence God as you consider His creative work?

2. Do you have a right to question God? Defend your answer?

3. Why do we sometimes think we can live contrary to God and His will and prosper?