38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
38:2 "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
38:3 Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you
shall declare to me.
38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell
me, if you have understanding.
38:5 Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who
stretched the line upon it?
38:6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone
38:7 when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly
beings shouted for joy?
38:34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, so that a flood of
waters may cover you?
38:35 Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go and say to
you, 'Here we are'?
38:36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts, or given understanding
to the mind?
38:37 Who has the wisdom to number the clouds? Or who can tilt the
waterskins of the heavens,
38:38 when the dust runs into a mass and the clods cling together?
38:39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lion, or satisfy the appetite
of the young lions,
38:40 when they crouch in their dens, or lie in wait in their
covert?
38:41 Who provides for the raven its prey, when its young ones cry
to God, and wander about for lack of food?
I tell people that it is okay to yell at God- but to remember that God
will often respond Job's lesson speaks to that very clearly--
reminding us that there is more to life and God's creation than
humans-- Michele
I am reminded of that pop hit from a few years ago, Mister Big Stuff,
"Who Do you Think You Are?" Who has not had those moments when you
have witnessed a tragic event and wonder to yourself, "If I were
God..." If God had not intended for us to do all our questioning, I do
not think that God would have created us and endowed us with free
will. On the other hand however, the greater wisdom is found in yes
Lord and not why Lord. TN Mack
Confronted with great suffering, Job attempts to prove his innocence
to God. God speaks from the whirlwind, and speaks of the power of the
sea and its waves. A series of ironical questions shows that Job, as a
finite human, is incapable of judging the Creator.
Michelle, I think you're absolutely right. It is okay to yell at God.
I think of all the times my child has asked me "Why". I think of the
times when my response to his question has not been what he wanted to
hear. I think of the times when I've said, "If I told you, you
wouldn't understand." And I realize that I am not a lesser person for
his questions. If I can take his questions, how much more can God take
our questions.
STeve in NC
There is a song on the Country charts right now that is called "just a
few questions I have". It is wonderful. The verses ask questions
like...how in the world can we put a man on the moon and still have a
need for a place like St. Judes?" It asks a lot of those sort of
questions. But the chorus goes, "But I wasn't there the day, you
filled up the oceans. I wasn't there to see you hang the stars in the
skys. And I don't mean to second guess you, or critisize what I don't
understand. These are just a few questions I have." How powerful it
was for me to hear that song as I ask question after question...not
doubting, just wanting to know. Many we preach to are doing the very
same thing. We just want to understand. How great to worship a God who
lets us explore answers to questions...and even more great is
worshiping a god who gives us assurance of his presence when we have
no answers.
Tammy in Texas!
Tammy in Texas, Thanks. I plan to use the song you have mention in
juxtaposition the Mister Big Stuff. Even though we can sympathize with
Job's suffering, which was extreme, our human tendency is to blow
everything out of proportion and ask why me as though we have it worse
than anyone else. Another song that comes to mind is "Your so vain.
You probably think this song is about you." This song also expresses
our vanity that the universe revolves around our personal lives. My
experience in life is that things often get turned around whem I
relinquish control, go with the flow, and say Whatever Lord. TN Mack
Yes, I agree that it is okay to be angry with what appears to be God's
injustice. I would like to shift the focus a bit, and say, "yell to
God," rather than "yell at God." That would lift up the probability of
the response you mention. When we yell at somebody, we really don't
want any response other than aquiescence. When we yell at somebody, so
often it relieves our own pent-up frustrations rather than building
the relationship.
The psalmists often give us encouragement to express that anger. Maybe
we can use our own words rather than always relying on history. Maybe
we can say:
God, I'm angry. In fact, I'm mad as ----. I don't understand why you
would send 12 inches of rain in four hours. My crops are ruined--not
only ruined, they're gone. Insurance won't half cover the loss. I
don't know what I'm going to do, or where I'm going to go. The farm is
gone. My family is hungry, and you, God, are the only one who could
have made it any different. My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?
Michelle (the one with two l's!)
You know- maybe this would be a good opportunity to go see Bruce
Almighty-- it may relate to this question of who's in charge
Michele
Tammy in TX- I went online looking for the lyrics to that song-"just a
few questions I have" that is powerful and really gets at the Job
lesson well. Thanks for the heads up-- It's kinda neat that right now
we have two different mediums asking the same question as this lesson
from Job.
Michele
Yup. Bruce Almighty fits *perfectly* with this passage from Job. It
raises excellent theological points, and explains how just answering
everyone's prayer with a "yes" isn't the best thing to do. It makes
the "I bet I could do a better job of this!" idea and makes it
tangable. And the image of God is wonderful--loving but challenging,
humble and patient/persistant.
I reccomend everyone get up from their offices and take several hours
for Sermon Prep time at the theatre this week!
Momma Helen
Tammy in Texas, I have tried google search for your song, but I have
not had any luck. Do you have any suggestions or do you know the name
of the song writer? TN Mack
TN Mack, The song is sung by Clay Walker-- very new- the CD hasn't
been released yet- which is too bad- it'd be great to have for Sunday!
I hope no one minds me posting the lyrics: How in this world can we
put a man on the moon, And still have a need for a place like St
Jude's? And why is one man born, In a place where all they know is
war? An' a guy like me, Has always been free. An' how can two people
who built a lovin' home, Try for years an' never have a child of their
own? When somewhere out there tonight, There's a baby no-one's holdin'
tight: In need of love. To me, that don't add up. But I wasn't there
the day you filled up the oceans. I didn't get to see you hang the
stars in the sky. So I don't mean to second guess you, Or criticise
what I don't understand. These are just a few questions I have. An'
why did my cousin have to die in that crash? A good kid, only
seventeen, I still wonder 'bout that. It seems unfair to me, Some get
the chance to chase their dreams, An' some don't. But what do I know?
I wasn't there the day you filled up the oceans. I didn't get to see
you hang the stars in the sky. So I don't mean to second guess you, Or
criticise what I don't understand. These are just a few questions I
have. Instrumental break. Why do I feel like you hear these prayers of
mine. When so many oughta be ahead of me in line? When you look down
on me, Can you see the good through all the bad? These just a few
questions I have.
What is amazing to me is not God's apparent attack on Job with these
questions but the dialogue between them - it is the dialogue itself
which is redemptive.
tom in ga
Hey all,
I used Bruce Almighty a few weeks ago for Pentacost. I ended my sermon
with the dialoge between God and Bruce when He said to Bruce "You have
had my power for one week. What Good have you done." I used it for the
WE have had the power of the Holy Spirit and What good are we doing?
So I guess using the same movie might be a stretch. But I will use the
song. And this entire text is great with the Gospel. Job wants to fuss
at God and God responds by asking him where he was at the creation.
Okay slim paraphrase. Then in the boat, the disciples freak out while
the Lord is sleeping and they question him. Jesus Responds by asking
them, "Do you have faith?" I hear my own voice ringing as my 13 year
old son fusses at me because I won't buy him the $150 shoes...or
whatever. My response is, "Do you pay the bills?" A bit of a stretch,
but will get my congregation giggling..and laughter opens hearts. What
a great God to let us throw temper tantrums and continue to love us!
Tammy in Texas
i know ur not suppose to question God. and i know i wasnt there when
he "called out to the stars, and when he numbered the clouds", or when
he "filled up the ocean." but i also wasnt there when adam and eve
were condemned for life, i wasnt there when they had sinned and damned
us all, i wasnt there. no one was...just them. one of my questions is,
why didnt God let adam and eve have kids inside The Garden of Eden?
Why did they have to have them after they were punished? Why prolong
the misery and pain? Why punish the innocent? i may be one with "words
without knowledge" but i have yet to find someone who can answer me
these questions. i just want to be enlightened. i dont mean to put him
down. i just want to understand so maybe then i can believe.
zero
Dear Zero, I can certainly understand your struggle with this
question. It is a question people have struggled with for centuries.
However, from the Scriptures we learn that God kept Adam and Eve away
from the Garden in order to keep them away from the Tree of Life. Had
they eaten of the fruit of the Tree of Life after having fallen into
sin, they would have doomed themselves and all of us to an eternity of
this sinful condition. Consequently it was a grace event that God put
an angel on guard to keep them away from this Tree. Now because of the
redemption Christ has earned for us, we will all be able to eat of the
Tree of Life in Heaven and live eternally with God free of sin, death,
and suffering forever. Thanks be to God! Hope this was helpful.
Blessings from a friend in Texas!
Dear Zero, By the way, the reference for my comments comes from
Genesis 2:9 and then Genesis 3:24 and finally Revelation 2:7. Feel
free to respond if you have any further questions. A friend in Texas.
God bless you, Tammy in Texas, for bringing to our attention Clay
Walker's song "A Few Questions" (the actual title; the title does not
include the full final line of the chorus, "These are just a few
questions I have").
The other songs mentioned may have some relevance on an intellectual
level but they don't contain the *feeling* of this beautiful ballad.
The question of who wrote the song was raised. The answer is Ray
Scott, Phillip Moore, and Adam Wheeler. (It interests me that so many
great songs are collaborations; maybe that should tell us something
about the power of community.)
The musical renaissance that began in the 1960's has given many people
who are unable to relate to traditional religious forms a sense of
reverence and an opening of the heart that's desperately needed in
today's world.
For a selection of many other songs from the pop and country genres
which have this quality, see my "Sacred Music" page:
http://www.polymath-systems.com/misc/music.html
The question of "shouting at God" is discussed in this exchange. It
contradicts some dogma, but I think that, given that nothing on earth
is perfect, it's a huge assumption that God doesn't make mistakes. I
don't think He intended that there be suffering and injustice in the
world. And ever since He looked upon Creation and saw that it was good
but could use some improvement He's been sending help to improve it.
When one's heart is opened, one experiences real feeling, as opposed
to subjective emotional dramatization. And there are various
colorations of this feeling: bliss, ecstasy, compassion, and,
particularly relevant to this discussion, wonder. How can we not be
touched by Zero's question? In my opinion, sincere questioning is a
greater act of worship than blind acceptance.
Please feel free to contact me.
Kevin Langdon, Berkeley
I really liked everyone's comments. That song has really spoken to me,
too. Another country song that might be relevant is Garth Brooks'
"Unanswered prayers".
I would also like to add God didn't do anything to Job; it was Satan
who did it. God did allow it but he didn't do the actual actions
himself.
I found this site while lookin for lyrics to "just a few questions I
have"...Thank you Tammy in Texas for the help with it. And thanks
everyone else for everything you have said...I never thought that
lookin for lyrics would lead me here. But God does work in mysterious
ways. God bless all. ~Jesseca in Kansas~
