'God's Painting' by David Lee
Job was a gifted writer.
I’m convinced his ability with words was the overflow of his humility before God.
I’ve been a published writer since my high school days and have assembled millions of words in my efforts to communicate ideas. Yet, my mind is still captured by inspired composition whenever it crosses my path.
This 4,000-year-old letter not only impressed me this morning with its visual imagery and literary artistry, it delivers profound truth that aids our feeble minds in the pursuit of knowing just how amazing God really is.
Read the following passage and you’ll see what I mean:
He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing.
He wraps up the waters in his clouds, yet the clouds do not burst under their weight.
He covers the face of the full moon, spreading his clouds over it.
He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness.
The pillars of the heavens quake, aghast at his rebuke.
By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces.
By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent.
And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?
(Job 26:7-14)
In the face of ongoing criticism from three companions-turned-condemning-critics, Job exalted the God in whom he had placed his trust.
Yes, Job didn’t understand why God allowed all the terrible calamities to come upon him.
Yet, he knew that God was sovereign and holy and perfect and omnipotent.
Simply put, Job’s human mind continued trusting his loyalty and submission to the almighty God even though his own eyes and own flesh could sense only pain.
You see, Job seemed to reason that if God could create and direct the domain of physical creation without even breaking a sweat, then the spiritual safety of his soul was secure since nobody could destroy that held close to God’s breast.
The above passage is really an amazing affirmation of our faith, isn’t it?
God can control the heavens and the oceans and shaking of the earth and these are just the “outer fringe” of his works?
These are just the “faint whispers” of the authority His voice possesses?
If you and I — as were the 12 apostles — are blown away by the fact that Jesus could simply speak three words to instantly stop a massive storm, then can you imagine the power wrapped up when God chooses to “thunder” with power?
Omagosh.
I believe that Satan heard that thunder. I believe that it was before Creation when God’s holy voice roared against the rebellious in heaven.
The divine rebuke and interim retribution against Satan and a third of the angels must have been one doozy of a thunderstorm, to use Job’s metaphor.
With the fourth most powerful voice in heaven screaming hatred — along with countless millions of fallen angels — I’m sure that heaven was anything but quiet at that moment. A voice above all voices had to be heard.
And it was.
Thank God.
The next time you hear the winds roaring like a lion, think about Job’s words that the power represented in that wind is but the outer fringe of God’s capacity.
You can then take great comfort in knowing that the blasphemous, soul-hungry voice of Satan was shouted down in heaven by the same Jehovah that spoke your soul-rescuing Savior out of the grave.
As always, I love you
Martin
