Weekly Meditations: Job 38

Job 38 

In this chapter, God finally speaks. The reader has been waiting for the Almighty to speak throughout this dialogue and we finally come to His response. The three friends have been blaming Job for his own ruin and Job has been asking God why this has happened and claiming his innocence. We might expect God to answer in wrath, to put everyone in their place. This he does, but not how we might expect. God responds to Job not with fiery accusations but with questions. Job has been questioning God and God responds with more questions. The questions he asks are to make a point: He is in control of the world. Yes there is suffering, yes there is injustice in this world but God says He is in control of it all and nothing gets past him. This is the theme of this chapter and the entire book. Suffering exists, injustice exists and it’s not going away until the final restoration comes. How we deal with the suffering we endure determines the outcome. 

Application 

Suffering is meant to produce fruit in us. Perseverance, faith, courage, whatever the result might be, suffering has a purpose. We may not like suffering and that’s the point. Suffering isn’t easy but it’s meant to test our faith and trust in God. Not all suffering we endure is a direct test from God. For Job, it was a test, but that is not always the case and sometimes we don’t know just as Job did not while he was enduring. The most important part is to stay faithful and trust that God will deliver, no matter the suffering.