Job

Job 37: God’s mighty works call for reverence

Begin in prayer

Before we read about thunder and clouds, please ask God to teach us reverence for His righteous majesty.

So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.

1 Samuel 12:18

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Humble our confidence before works we cannot command or comprehend. Let us see the authority of Jesus, whom wind and sea obey. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Elihu describes thunder, lightning, snow, rain and freezing waters as works under God’s command. Human hands stop their work, and animals take shelter. Clouds turn by God’s guidance for correction, His land or loving kindness. Elihu calls Job to stand still and consider wonders he cannot understand or govern. He asks about the clouds and sky, then describes light appearing after wind clears the skies. He concludes that the Almighty’s power, justice and great righteousness call people to reverence.

As you read Job 37, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God commands mighty works beyond our understanding, and His righteous majesty calls us to reverence.

Elihu describes thunder as the voice of God’s majesty and joins it with lightning, snow, rain and ice. These works interrupt human labor and send animals into shelter. Clouds turn under God’s guidance, serving correction, His land or loving kindness. The different purposes prevent us from assigning one explanation to every storm. Elihu asks Job to stand still and consider works he cannot control or fully explain. Elihu asks whether Job can help God spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror. His conclusion joins great power with justice, righteousness and the refusal to oppress. God’s majesty calls for reverence while rebuking confidence in our own wisdom.

How does Job 37 show us that God commands mighty works beyond our understanding, and His righteous majesty calls us to reverence?

Weather obeys God beyond human command.

Elihu describes snow, rain and cold arriving at God’s direction. Work stops and animals shelter under conditions people did not make. The clouds carry out His purposes rather than ours.

God’s purposes cannot be read from one event alone.

Elihu names correction, the land and loving kindness as purposes of the clouds. The same visible weather therefore does not give us a complete explanation of its purpose. Job is called to consider God’s works with humility.

Power belongs with righteousness in God.

Elihu says the Almighty is exalted in power and “in justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.” Power and righteousness belong together in God. His majesty must never be accused of injustice.

Memorise

God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend.

Job 37:5

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what proud demand must I bring to Jesus as I ask Him for mercy?

Elihu speaks of weather that people cannot control and majesty that deserves reverence. We are small before the Lord who commands such power. Yet we need to know His righteousness as well as His might.

Mark 4 verses 35 to 41 shows Jesus commanding the wind and sea. The terrified disciples saw that even the storm obeyed Him. This Lord willingly went to the cross for His people. He carried their sins and bore the punishment they deserved. His redemption is finished, with nothing left to be paid. He rose bodily from death.

Turn from proud demands and trust Jesus for forgiveness. He will receive those who come to Him. The One whom the sea obeys gives His people reason to trust Him while they wait for understanding.

Parent's note

Tell your children that weather displays God’s rule, but a storm does not reveal that a sufferer has committed a sin. 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 mighty power that never becomes injustice, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Father, thank You for power that never becomes injustice. Forgive the pride with which we demand to govern Your purposes. Please bring us to trust Jesus, the risen Lord whom wind and sea obey. Help us revere You, receive Your Word and show patience in hard circumstances this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.