GOD AFIRMS TO JOB HIS ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY
____________________________________________________________
God reigns as the Exalted One over all heaven and earth. Within the Book of Job is the longest discourse in Scripture where God expounds His consummate sovereignty. Job has endured extreme suffering while maintaining a steadfast, loyal faith. Yet he has failed to recognize that his understanding of the Almighty One is seriously limited by his own humanness.
“Who is this that obscures My plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” – Job 38:2-3
Thus… God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind. He poses numerous rhetorical questions to demonstrate His unmatched power, His infinite wisdom and His unending love. Through this life-changing encounter, Job is humbled… discovering his place in the universe and his standing before this awesome God.
What can we learn about God’s absolute sovereignty from Job’s experience?
→ God’s sovereignty displays His infiniteness
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell Me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” – Job 38:4-7
God is the Creator who called the universe into being. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He transcends time and eternity. Any attempt to constrain Him will fail. We must accept Him for His eternality, His preeminence, His imperishability, His timelessness.
→ God’s sovereignty establishes His supremacy
“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?” – Job 38:31-33
“Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water? Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?” – Job 38:34-35
“Who has a claim against Me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to Me.” – Job 41:11
God is the Almighty One who controls all creation. He rules over the heavens and the earth, time and seasons, the physical and spiritual worlds, man and nature. His words to Job proclaim His surpassing greatness. He is unmatched in dominance, authority and power. He reigns supreme in all the universe.
→ God’s sovereignty reveals His wisdom
“Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this. What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside? Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?” – Job 38:18-20
“Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of heaven?” – Job 38:36-37
God is altogether wise and omniscient. He rightfully governs according to His will and purpose. The mystery of His will is beyond our comprehension. Our finite understanding cannot fathom the mind of a divine God. No purpose of His can be opposed or blocked. His masterful plans will prevail.
→ God’s sovereignty explains His justice
“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?” – Job 38:16-17
“Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?… The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.” – Job 38:12-13, 15
God is perfectly just. Anything that seems to contradict His justice stems from our limited knowledge of His will and mission. His light and favor are withheld from the wicked. The proud and defiant He opposes. He will deal justly with the rebellious… those who reject His will and His ways.
→ God’s sovereignty expresses His love
“Who provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food?” – Job 38:41
“Do you give the horse its strength or clothe its neck with a flowing mane?” – Job 39:19
“Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread its wings toward the south? Does the eagle soar at your command and build its nest on high?” – Job 39:26-27
God is the Maker and Preserver of all life. He blesses and cares for His creation. He endows all His creatures with life, wisdom, strength, provision and purpose. He watches over them with unending love and compassion. He is our immanent and everpresent God.
→ God’s sovereignty humbles mankind
“Would you discredit My justice? Would you condemn Me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like His?” – Job 40:8-9
“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who accuses God answer Him!” – Job 40:2
God is the Most High who rules in splendor and glory. When we truly comprehend the wondrous majesty, magnificence and power of the Almighty, we can only humble ourselves before Him. For He is our life. All we are and all we have graciously come from Him.
→ God’s sovereignty inspires awe and repentance
“Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted… Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know… My ears had heard of You but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.’” – Job 42:1-3, 5-6
God is the Holy One. All who encounter Him in the Bible fall before Him in awesome fear and godly sorrow… their sinfulness standing in stark contrast to His holiness. His presence evokes reverence and worship. Job bows in contrite repentance, his suffering eclipsed by this amazing, all-wise and loving God.
† Eternal Takeaway: God reigns sovereignly over His creation †
