God’s Celestial Word: God’s Power and Greatness in Job 38:1-30

God Teaches Job about the Mediator and the Adversary in Job 38:1–41:34

To better understand this section, we reviewed some important truths:

• The original creation (not in vain) [Genesis 1:1]
• God resisting Lucifer’s attack from the deep [Genesis 1:2]
• God bringing forth light, a new firmament, and a new earth [Genesis 1:2-19]

Now we will see God reveal to Job these truths and His power against the adversary (Job 38:1-15). We will also begin looking at how God is in all ways greater than the adversary as seen in: 1) The Great Deep (Job 38:16-23); 2) God’s Word in the heavens (Job 38:24-27); and 3) The Great Waters (Job 38:28-30).

A Translation from the Hebrew of Job 38:1-30

The following is a translation of Job 38:1-30. The translation is based on the Hebrew, using modern research tools including the Hebrew Interlinear and the Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance. One good study would be to compare this translation of Job 38:1-30 with the translation of this same section in the King James Version or other translations.

A. God’s power against the adversary’s attacks

1. God responds to Job’s desire to understand the attacks of his enemy, the adversary (38:1-3)

Then the Lord gave heed to Job over the rushing confusion about Job, and said,
Who is that one that withholds the light of prudent counsel by profitless words, refusing to take heed to genuine godly knowledge?
Tighten your commitment as a mighty man, and as you requested I will give you an answer to overcome this wicked one.

2. God describes the original creation (38:4-7)

Was that wicked one present when I set the earth in its place? Let that one stand against me who has greater knowledge than I.
Who else knows how I put forth the measuring line? Or who has spread out the cord that binds it?
Upon which were sunk its sockets? Or who established the pinnacle stone?
When the dawn stars shouted in unison, and all the sons of Elohim split the ears with their shout?

3. God holds back the adversary’s attack from the deep (38:8-11)

Or who entwined the roaring waters with valves when that wicked one caused it to gush forth from the womb of the deep?
When I made the covering for it, and the extent of space as a band to contain it.
And broke it off to my appointed time, and bolted its valves,
And decreed, Up to here you may go, but not beyond: and up to this point shall your rolling pride be halted!

4. God sets the heavens and earth in order after the adversary’s attack (38:11-15)

I decreed that dawn should begin the day, and that early morning should know its home.
That it might take hold unto the extremities of the earth, so that the ungodly may be tumbled out of it.
It changes the earth to clay as under a signet ring, and the sun is stationed as a protective covering,
So that the sun’s brightness is withheld from the ungodly, and their uplifted arm of pride is cut off.

B. God in all ways greater than the adversary as seen in:

1. The Great Deep (38:16-23)

Has he come to the fountains of the roaring sea? Or has he journeyed to be able to enumerate the boundaries of the deep?
Has he been exiled because of rebellion to the place of the dead? Or has anyone seen how his rebellion hides and disguises the consequences of death?
Has he deliberately distinguished all things across the wide earth? Let him stand boldly against me if he understands all things!
Does he know the pathway of light that is established? He stands in the place of darkness and death.
Can he seize upon the cords that I set? Or can he find and follow the well-worn paths of My house?
Can he have knowledge of these things since he was created by Me? Or because the finite number of his days is so abundant and grand?
Has he come to know my great storehouse where I keep the great snow crystals? Or has he found my treasury of the great hail stones?
Which I have held back until the time of future tribulation, until the day of that hostile enemy who will battle Me.

2. God’s Word in the heavens (38:24-27)

By what path or way is the light distinctly set forth, to declare the anticipated one, the Messiah, unto all the earth?
Who has caused the earth to split (the Hebrew word palag, meaning to “divide”; see Genesis 10:25; I Chronicles 1:19) to produce great ridges for the overflowing waters (continental ridges), or a path for the bright light and crashing it brings?
To shower forth its message over the earth uninhabited by frail mankind (the Hebrew word ish, meaning “frail”), even upon the open lands before Adam (the Hebrew word Adam);
To restore the desolation and destruction caused by the adversary, to bring forth (the Hebrew word tsamach, referring to the Messiah the Branch; see “Following the Lord Jesus Christ:#3 On Down the Line“) the promised seed which I foreknew of ancient times.

3. The Great Waters (38:28-30)

Does rain have any other source than I? Or who else has set forth a reservoir for the waters that cover in the heavens?
Whose womb brought forth the great ice crystals? Or Who has produced the white frost that covers the heavens?
The waters are hid in His bosom as a hard stone, and the face of the deep is made solid.

God’s Opening Declaration to Job

We have seen in Job 38:1-30 that God lovingly encouraged Job to remain commited and listen to the truth. Then God recounted for Job: His original creation, Lucifer’s rebellion and the destruction it brought, and how God restored heaven and earth. We have also seen God’s magnificence in the Great Deep, in the Heavens, and in the Great Waters. Next time, we will see how God explains the great story in the heavens to Job–the story of the coming Messiah in God’s Celestial Word: The Messiah versus the Serpent, The Great Conflict.

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