It’s settled—give your tithe (10% as determined elsewhere), do that first and you will have more than you’ll ever need (prosperity, wealth, success etc.).

Well, maybe.

Elihu provides excellent reminders that God is greater than we can imagine (v 26): he never needs counsellors or teachers (v 23) and he is the supreme ruler over the natural world (vs 27-33). God is greater than our finite minds can comprehend. He – the only being like this in the universe – never needs any instruction from anyone. God’s wisdom is unfathomable.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with awe during an encounter with the natural world? God’s creation is designed to reveal God to us (compare Psalm 19; Romans 1), so it is not surprising that it can produce in us feelings of awe. Whether it is breathtaking scenery, observing animal life, seeing the night sky full of stars, or watching the sheer power of a mighty storm, nature has the God-given ability to make us aware of how small we are in comparison with the universe.

Job has suffered without knowing that Satan has been afflicting him. His friends have accused him of being wicked and have told him repeatedly that he is only receiving the punishment he deserves. In fact, they are more than happy to point out to him that he is actually suffering far less than he deserves.

In the second half of Chapter 38 God continues to question Job. In mercy God is helping Job see how little he understands about the created order. It is important to see that none of these questions is directly addressing Job’s complaint. None of them is touching on either Job’s suffering or God’s justice.

Job 39 continues God’s discourse. The Lord continues to ask Job question after question, revealing how little Job understands about the world around him. Although the compassionate point of these questions is only seen in the next chapter, what God says here is still very meaningful.

I went through a time in my life when I had been hurt so deeply by the people of God that I was ready to jump ship. There was no one whom I could trust. Who of us has not encountered times like these when we feel like we’re up against a wall due to people, circumstances or challenges that seek to defeat and destroy us? None of us are immune.