Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind: "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Job 38:1-4
After Job and his friends had sat silently together for seven days, and then held a discourse that covers thirty-five chapters, God finally had enough. He raised the important question, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” Then God describes in detail his creation, and at each step asks Job where he was when this happened? God continues questioning Job for four chapters. At the end, Job makes his confession to God and repents in dust and ashes.
Like Job and his friends, we too try to create God in our image. We spend an inordinate amount of time, telling God what we want, and trying to convince him how deserving we are of his blessings. We think we know his ways. We lobby him to get him on our side.
How much time do we spend simply listening to what God would tell us? We are so distracted by the world around us. We can barely tolerate sixty seconds of silent prayer during a worship service. I don't know about you, but personally, I have never heard God speak to me in an audible voice. Maybe I just did not wait long enough. I suppose I am not on the right wavelength to receive a personal epiphany.
However, I have experienced whirlwinds in my life. Out of these experiences, I have found new insight into my faith. Perhaps we need to be brought low at times so that we can be humbled in the presence of the Most High God. We need to make our confessions and repent in dust and ashes. Only then will God reveal himself to us, and perhaps give us a blessing.
When we truly seek him, and learn of his ways, then we can bend our will to his will, and we can “Spend all our days in the praise of the Most High God.”
Prayer: Most High God, we praise you and thank you for all you have done for us. We know that you love us. Yet we fail to return that love to you, and to pass that love on to others. We find it particularly difficult to follow Jesus' admonition to love our enemies. We know that you are a mighty God, yet we strike out at our enemies, rather than relying on your protection. Lord, we repent of our pride. Forgive our foolish ways. Like Job of old, we have put on ashes for this season of Lent.
As we move into the difficult days ahead, we trust that you will still be in control. Our prayers go out for those young people who will be fighting overseas. Our hearts go out to those men, women, and children on both sides, who must die because of armed conflict. Surely there must be a better way. We pray that world leaders might still find a way to prevent this terrible holocaust. We offer these petitions In the name of the Prince of Peace. Amen.