(Installment 29)
Jehovah's Questionnaire
In our last study we completed the investigation of the various speeches of the different speakers of the drama presented in the Book of Job. Having reached this point, it becomes necessary for us to take a little review as to the scheme of the entire book.
As we have already learned, Job falls naturally into the following logical divisions:
I. Prologue, Chapters 1 and 2.
II. The Speeches of Job and His Friends, Chapters 5-37.
III. Jehovah's Speeches, Chapters 38-41.
IV. Job's Reply to the Almighty, 42:1-6.
V. Epilogue, 42:7-16.
As has already been stated, Job and his friends discussed various questions concerning the origin and the presence of evil in the world and concerning God's providential dealings with the human family. The patriarchs had a primitive revelation, which doubtless they studied, and which they misunderstood in certain cases. They misinterpreted things, just as people misinterpret the Bible today. Job was nearer the truth than any of his friends. Amazingly, Elihu, the youngest of the group, seemed to have approximated the truth, as did Job. Nevertheless, they all darkened counsel with words void of knowledge (Job 38:2).
When Elihu finished his last speech, Jehovah appeared on the scene and spoke out of the whirlwind to Job, giving him an examination. Job and his friends had thought that they had fathomed the great mysteries and problems of life, and that they had a fairly accurate idea of the profound and mysterious facts of existence and of Providence. The Lord, in order to show them how little they knew concerning creation in its various ramifications, gave Job a questionnaire to answer. These queries fall into two sections: In 38:1-38 God directed attention to the material universe; in 38:39--40:30 He quizzed Job concerning the animal kingdom. When all these questions are studied carefully, it will be found that there is not a man living who can answer all of them correctly and accurately. Man stands in a nonplus mental attitude, if he is honest, when he ponders these questions. Those of our generation who have become so very wise that they can count God out of His universe should honestly and conscientiously try to answer these queries. If a scientist is really sincere and is searching for the truth, he will wilt under the withering fire of these questions and will humble himself before God, acknowledging his own nothingness and limited knowledge.
The Creation of the UniverseWhere wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7)
In Job 38:4-7 the Almighty asked Job where was he when He, the Almighty, created the universe. Along with this simple question the Lord asked others connected with creation, which no mortal can answer. Even the most conceited physicist will have to acknowledge his utter ignorance with reference to the question, for instance, asked in verse 6;
"6 Whereupon were the foundations thereof [of the world] fastened?
Or who laid the corner-stone thereof ...?"
Only Omniscience can answer these questions.
From all eternity in the past God alone existed. At some time He created the angelic host, endowing them with intelligence and freedom of thought and choice. But being limited in knowledge, they rejoiced when the Lord created the physical, material universe, which revealed to them--from the nature of the case--something of the greatness and the glory of the Almighty (vs. 7).
There are various indications which point in the direction that, when God created the universe, it was in a perfect state and continued this way for ages upon ages. There are certain passages that throw light upon this marvelous subject. Could Job or any man answer the questions here asked? No, not one!
The Wrecking of the Primitive Earth
Or who shut up the sea with doors, When it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb; When I made clouds the garment thereof, And thick darkness a swaddling-band for it, And marked out for it my bound, And set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; And here shall thy proud waves be stayed? (Job 38:8-11)
In Genesis 1:1 we are told: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." As stated above, they were perfect (Isa. 45:18). Finally, the earth was wrecked, as we see in Genesis 1:2: "But the earth became a desolation and a waste" (lit. tr.). This catastrophe which wrecked the earth is discussed in Job 38:8-11. This passage of course is the poetical version of the statement of the Book of Genesis, chapter 1.
When the earth was thus wrecked, God repaired the damage that had been wrought during the so-called six days of creation, which probably should be designated "the six days of reconstruction" (Gen., chap. 1). On the sixth day God created man. He finished His work and rested from His labors on the seventh day, or Sabbath. Did Job or any of the ancients have correct answers to these questions? Not one.
The Deluge
Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days began, And caused the dayspring to know its place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, And the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed as clay under the seal; And all things stand forth as a garment: And from the wicked their light is withholden, And the high arm is broken. (Job 38:12-15)
In these verses the Lord spoke of the Flood of Noah's day. They are, again, the poetical version of the account of the disaster of the Flood, when all the wicked were removed from the earth. It is altogether possible that Job, in 9:1-12, was referring to the same event. But none of his companions could give the correct answers.
The Gates of Sheol
Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? Or hast thou walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed unto thee? Or hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death? Hast thou comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if thou knowest it all. (Job 38:16-18)
Throughout the Old Testament we read of Sheol, which is in the center of the earth. The proof that this place is in the heart of the earth is to be found in Psalm 16:8-11, the prophecy which states that the Messiah's soul would not be left in Sheol, neither would His body see corruption; for He would be brought back from the dead. The Lord Jesus stated that, just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights, so would the Son of man be in the heart of the earth (Matt 12:40,41). In going to Sheol, the Lord Jesus went into the heart of the earth; hence, Sheol is in the center of the earth.
From the Old Testament point of view we learn nothing as to the divisions that existed in that underworld place of confinement of the spirits of men. But from our Lord's statements in Luke 16:19-31 we see that there were two apartments--one, the place to which the righteous went upon death; the other, the place to which the lost, or unsaved, went upon death. These two places were separated by a vast gulf which could neither be spanned nor crossed (Luke 16:26). From Adam to Christ all who died went down into Sheol, each to the place for which he was prepared. Since our Lord's victory over Satan and the powers of the unseen world, the righteous upon death go immediately into the presence of God. The wicked still go to Sheol, there to await the judgment of the great white throne, which occurs after the Millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).
But where are "the gates of death," the entrance to Sheol, of which the Lord spoke to Job in 38:16-18? Hezekiah referred to them in Isaiah 38:10, saying: "In the noontide of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol." Where is the entrance to Sheol? Neither Job, his friends, nor anyone else can answer this question, regardless of how much wisdom and knowledge he may have.
The Dwelling Places of Light and of Darkness
Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, And that thou shouldest discern the paths to the house thereof? Doubtless, thou knowest, for thou wast then born, And the number of thy days is great! (Job 38:19-21)
In this quotation God asked Job where were the ways to the dwelling of light and the place of darkness. The Almighty assumed that there is a place from which all light emanates. There is also according to this assumption, a place from which all darkness springs. Where are these places? What is the way that leads to each? We know that there are the two opposites known as light and darkness. What is the source of light? On the other hand, what is darkness? What produces it? Neither Job, his friends nor any scientist today can answer those questions!
