God’s First Speech
Open Your Bible
Job 38:1-41, Job 39:1-30, Jeremiah 31:35-36, Revelation 3:14-20
BY Melanie Rainer
A few days a week, our notoriously chaotic and tardy household experiences a mini miracle. Somehow, we make it downstairs in time to eat breakfast, and inevitably, my four-year-old daughter asks to listen to her favorite catechism songs. And before I’ve had one sip of coffee, it starts: kid voices, electronic synth background music, and “GOD IS THE CRE-A-TOR OF EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING!” Then it repeats, and repeats again, and even in my pre-caffeinated state, I’m aware and grateful that this will be the song my girl has stuck in her head all day.
“What is God?” The answer to this question, in some form or fashion, is foundational to every Church creed. It’s also touched upon in the very first sentence of Scripture. Everything started from God, who has no beginning and no end. And implicit in the story of creation is the sheer goodness, creativity, and affection of our Maker.
This is the truth God thunders from the whirlwind when He appears to the long-suffering Job. His speech in chapters 38 and 39 hearkens back to the story of creation in Genesis chapter 1: God created the earth and sea, the light and dark, the weather, the stars, and the animals (Job 38:4–39:30).
God presents two challenges to Job during His speech, and these two chapters contain the first. God is essentially asking, Do you understand how all this was made? How it all works? He is challenging Job’s finite understanding with all these questions. He’s challenging Job’s focus on himself.
God is not finished with His speech, but the start of it is more than enough for Job to fall back into his place. He has been reminded of Who he is speaking to, and just what the Maker of heaven and earth is capable of doing. And we, like Job, can marvel at His majesty and find our provision in His mercy.
The Heidelberg Catechism, written in 1563, poses this question and answer about the first line of the Apostles” Creed:
Question: What do you believe when you say,“I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”?
Answer: That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.
God is almighty and faithful, full of mercy and majesty, creativity and care. As He declares His infinite holiness in these chapters, He does so to one man, Job. But God’s message is an eternal, cosmic truth, an invitation for each of us to rest in the security of knowing that we, too, are intimately loved by our Creator.
60 thoughts on "God’s First Speech"
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I have been dealing with so much anxiety and irrational fears. It’s been causing me to get depressed and I am so tired of it. I went back to see my therapist and had to start taking medication because I was spiraling down. I keep trying to remind myself that God is in control & that somehow this will work for my good. As a mom of four children, two with special needs, dealing with my own issues is so difficult as I already have to much in my plate. I’m learning to rely on God completely for everything because right now He is my only hope… as He had always been.
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To Kristin, I am battling the same things. I get so caught up in trying to understand that it causes me so much fear. Please listen to Sheltdee by Vertival Worship, and Prince of Peace- Live by Hillsong. These have been helping me. Much love
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When driving sometimes I play Prince of Peace by Hillsong over and over. His love surrounds us when our thoughts wage war…these words from this song speak to me over and over…at the very end it says And You heard my prayer…amen!
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Tracey,
I myself am going through a season of suffering right now, made all the worse by the fact that I expected a time of great enjoyment and world exploration. I’m seeking deeply for the truth of joy in all circumstances and will be praying for you as well. I can’t begin to understand your pain or hardship, but it won’t stop me reaching out. You are not alone. -
God has a sense of humor! Job obviously is not capable of what God is capable of doing. It just reminds me that God does abundantly more than we can ask, think, or imagine. He did that with me, with my internship in Hawaii. I worry and am so small, but God still had a plan. He knew that I love it there, and how it has an amazing display of his incredibly beautiful Creation everywhere you look. The beaches, the mountains, the animals…he definitely shows off. So grateful and so in awe. Praying for peace and trust, and to not worry about or be afraid of the future. He holds it all. He is in control. He has a plan.
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To Bessie H. Thanks so much for sharing both the podcast and song! Both were for me. They are great!
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Just being honest here…
I feel like if I’m going to have to endure suffering, I’d at least like to be able to see the good that comes from it. Ultimately I don’t understand the need for suffering, and I’m okay with that because I accept that God is sovereign over all. That just doesn’t help the fact that I have very real and present pain and heartache in the here and now that doesn’t go away. My head has the knowledge, but my heart still hurts.-
Amen. I think either I often miss it or don’t understand the lessons or good that come from suffering. Of course, often I’m too self-absorbed and forget to count the blessings I do have even in the midst of problems. Not to offend anyone here, but overall this has been a frustrating at best study to me. While I don’t subscribe to thoughts that we deserve anything (I wonder where all those commercials came up with that notion about we’re deserving?), God knows I don’t get it and He knows I’m aware I didn’t create anything. He also knows I’m trying to trust Him and not worry too much. Frankly, He created me this way. This is always where I realize the free-will conundrum…
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Our God is far beyond our grasp. So thankful that He desires our hearts and sacrificed all to show us grace. If you have a chance to listen to Michael Todd at Transformation Church’s Release series it is awesome. Today I realized when Elijah battled the believers of Baal. When He poured water over the wood and bull and alter. That these messes that entangle the hearts and souls of our children, addiction, the loss of their children, or whatever it mat be are nothing for our Mighty God but a place for His power to be seen. Praise Jesus! Light and life to you my sister’s in Christ. His love never ever fails.
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Tricia, lifting you in prayer.
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