Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Job 37:1 says, At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.  Elihu was speaking about the power of God.  Elihu said that God's power, and magnificence, made his made his heart tremble.  We need that same feeling of awe in the presence of God today.  I believe that at times we act as though God is somehow limited in the world today.  Because of all the evil around us we act as though God has become almost powerless.  Verse two says, Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.  Elihu was asking Job to not just hear the voice of God, but to listen with understanding.  It is not enough to acknowledge God's work in the world with an impersonal attitude.  We must hear God as He speaks to us individually through the Holy Spirit.  Only when we have that personal relationship can we begin to fully understand God.  Verse three states, He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.  Elihu said that God doesn't just appear to a select few, but He declares Himself so the whole world can see Him.  Verse four says, After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.  Though at times God may speak as a still, small voice, at others He shakes the earth with His voice. We need to remember that God, by His voice, spoke all things into existence.  If God is speaking to us today, no matter how He is doing it, we must listen and heed His voice. Verse five says, God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.  Elihu said that God is at work in ways that we cannot even comprehend.  Job felt deserted by God, but this was in no way true. We cannot allow events in life to cause us to question God.  Verse six says, For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.  Once more, Elihu was stating that God is in control of His world.  Nothing is ever going to take God by surprise, nor will anything ever overpower Him.  Whether the moisture of the heavens falls as rain or snow, God is still the One behind them.  Verse seven says, He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.  Elihu said that when weather conditions become too extreme, whether from rain or snow, people are sealed off from their work.  Verse eight states, Then the beasts go into dens, and remain inside their places.  Elihu said even the beasts, or the animals, were affected by this server weather.  The next four verses speak of God's control of the weather.   Verse nine says, Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.  Then verse ten, By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.  So far, Elihu says that God can control whirlwinds, cold winds, frost, and rain.  Verse eleven continues, Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:  Finally verse twelve concludes, And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.  I personally do not believe that every weather event is a result of God's direct action, just as Job's suffering was not a result of the direct action of God.  Still, God does indeed have it in His power to control every aspect of not only the weather, but the entire universe.  Verse thirteen says, He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.  Elihu said that God could use the weather for correcting people or simply for sustaining the earth.  Once more, we simply have to acknowledge that God is in control no matter what happens.

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