Job

Job 26: Only the outskirts of God’s ways

Begin in prayer

Before Job speaks of God’s power, please ask for humble hearts that receive His Word.

Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.

Psalm 145:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us how little we understand of Your mighty works. Show us the Son through whom You made all things. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Job asks how Bildad has helped someone without strength or wisdom. He says the realm of the dead lies exposed before God. God hangs the earth on nothing, binds water in clouds and sets boundaries for the waters. Heaven trembles at His rebuke, and His power stirs the sea. Job calls these works only the outskirts of God’s ways and a small whisper of His power.

As you read Job 26, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God displays mighty power throughout creation, yet all Job describes is only the outskirts of His ways.

Job answers Bildad by asking what his speech has actually done for a powerless person. He then speaks of divine power far beyond the brief account Bildad gave. Even the realm of the dead lies uncovered before God. Clouds hold their waters, the sea has its boundary, and heaven trembles at His rebuke. These are not powers Job can command or fully explain. His final comparison makes the whole account like a small whisper beside thunder. Knowing true things about God should therefore humble the speaker, rather than make him confident that he understands another person’s suffering.

How does Job 26 show us that God displays mighty power throughout creation, yet all Job describes is only the outskirts of His ways?

God’s power reaches where human sight cannot.

Job says Sheol and Abaddon have no covering before God. He also describes the earth hanging on nothing and waters held in clouds. Neither hidden places nor the visible sky lie outside God’s rule.

Our knowledge reaches only the outskirts of God’s ways.

The great works Job names are only a small part of what God does. A whisper gives little sense of the power of thunder. The comparison humbles people who think a short explanation can settle God’s purposes.

Memorise

Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways. How small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?”

Job 26:14

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, where do I need Jesus to humble my confidence in my own understanding?

Job can describe great wonders without claiming to understand all God’s ways. We need more than confident words about the Creator. We need God to make Himself known.

Colossians 1 verses 16 to 20 teaches that all things were created through the Son and are held together in Him. This mighty Lord made peace through the blood of His cross. Jesus died for His people, carrying their sins and suffering in their place. His sacrifice is complete and fully sufficient for everyone He redeems. He rose bodily from the dead.

Turn from pride and unbelief, and trust Jesus Christ. Everyone who receives Him by faith receives forgiveness. The Son through whom creation exists is the Savior to whom weak and sinful people may come.

Parent's note

Tell your children that knowing true things about God should humble us, not make us certain we can explain another person’s pain. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for power greater than all we can describe, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:11

Father, thank You for power greater than all we can describe. Forgive our proud explanations and our sinful words. Please draw us to trust Jesus, the Creator who died and rose to save His people. Help us listen humbly to Your Word and to suffering neighbors this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.