Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.”

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth … 7 when all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began?”

16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?”

19 “Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place?

22 “Have you entered the treasury of snow,

or have you seen the treasury of hail, 23 which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?”

31 “Can you loose the belt of Orion? 32 Or can you guide the Great Bear?”

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you?

35 Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, ‘Here we are!’?

39:1 “Do you know the time when the wild mountain goats bear young?

Or can you mark when the deer gives birth? 2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they bear young?

13 “The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings like the kindly stork’s? 14 She leaves her eggs on the ground, and warms them in the dust; 15 she forgets that a foot may crush them, or that a wild beast may break them. 16 She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers… without concern, 17 because God deprived her of wisdom, and did not endow her with understanding. 18 When she lifts herself on high, she scorns the horse and its rider.

19 “Have you given the horse strength? 21 He rejoices in his strength; He gallops into the clash of arms. 22 He mocks at fear, and is not frightened; nor does he turn back from the sword. 24 He devours the distance with fierceness and rage; nor does he come to a halt because the trumpet has sounded. 25 At the blast of the trumpet he says, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from afar, the thunder of captains and shouting.

26 “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings towards the south?”

27 Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high? 29 From there it spies out the prey; its eyes observe from afar.

40:1 Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said: 2 “Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?

3 Then Job answered the Lord and said; 4 “Behold, I am unworthy; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.

QUESTIONS FOR LIFE

1.When God allowed bad things to happen to Job, Job said these things about God: “Have I sinned? What have I done to You? Why have You set me as Your target?” “God has wronged me.” “Oh, that I knew where I might find Him.  I would present my case before Him.  When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”

2. Have you ever felt like Job felt? Please explain.

3. Now Job gets his wish, as God answers Job out of a whirlwind (storm) and says, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

4. Was there a time that God was saying the same thing to you even though you may not have known it at the time? Please explain.

5. God says to Job, “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.”

6. God asks Job more than 70 questions. What would be your answer to these questions: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” “Have you commanded the morning since your days began?”“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, that an abundance of water may cover you?” “Can you send out lightnings, that they may go, and say to you, ‘Here we are!"“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings like the kindly stork’s?”“Have you given the horse strength?” “Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and spread its wings towards the south?”“Does the eagle mount up at your command, and make its nest on high?”

7. Why do you think God asks Job all of these questions?

8. What do you think God is saying to you personally through these questions to Job?

9. God’s next question to Job is:“Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him?

10. What do you think God is saying to you personally through this question to Job?

11. Job’s response to God is: "Behold, I am unworthy; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth.”

12. In what way are these words of Job an example to you?

13. Can you think of a time that you have followed this example from Job? Please explain.

14. So, the next time you might question God and His ways, what should you do?