Job 12:1-16: a reflection

1Then Job answered, 2“No doubt, but you are the people, and wisdom will die with you. 3But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Yes, who doesn’t know such things as these? 4I am like one who is a joke to his neighbor, I, who called on God, and he answered. The just, the blameless man is a joke. 5In the thought of him who is at ease there is contempt for misfortune. It is ready for them whose foot slips. 6The tents of robbers prosper. Those who provoke God are secure, who carry their god in their hands. 7“But ask the animals now, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. 8Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you. The fish of the sea will declare to you. 9Who doesn’t know that in all these, the LORD’s hand has done this, 10in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? 11Doesn’t the ear try words, even as the palate tastes its food? 12With aged men is wisdom, in length of days understanding. 13“With God is wisdom and might. He has counsel and understanding. 14Behold, he breaks down, and it can’t be built again. He imprisons a man, and there can be no release. 15Behold, he withholds the waters, and they dry up. Again, he sends them out, and they overturn the earth. 16With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his.

In the midst of his suffering and his debate with his friends, Job turns to the greatness of God, and points to a truth written across all creation: that the life of every living thing is in God's hand. Ask the animals, Job says, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Who doesn't know that the LORD's hand has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? All creation testifies that God holds the life and breath of every living thing in his hand; the animals, the birds, all that lives, depend on him for their very breath. Our life and breath are not our own possession but are held in God's hand; he sustains the life of every creature, including us. The life and breath of every living thing is in God's hand, sustained by him moment by moment. That our very breath is in God's hand is a truth all creation declares. God holds the life of every living thing, including our own. Our breath is in his hand.

Notice the truth Job points to: the life and breath of every living thing is in God's hand. He appeals to all creation as witness, the animals, the birds, the earth, the fish, all of which live only because God gives and sustains their life. In his hand, Job says, is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. This is a profound truth: our very life and breath are not self-sustaining, not our own possession, but held in God's hand, given and sustained by him moment by moment. We do not keep ourselves alive; God holds our life. This is both humbling and comforting: humbling, because our life is not in our own control but in God's hand; comforting, because the God who holds our life is the God who made and sustains all things. Every breath we draw is given by him. To recognize that our life and breath are in God's hand is to know our dependence on him and his sustaining care over us. Our life is held by God; we live by his sustaining hand. The breath in us is his gift, moment by moment.

That is worth resting in, for the life and breath of every living thing, including our own, is held in God's hand, sustained by him. We can imagine our life as our own possession, self-sustaining, in our own control; but Job points to the truth that all creation declares, that the life and breath of every living thing is in God's hand. Our very breath is given and sustained by God, moment by moment. This is humbling, for our life is not in our own control; and comforting, for it is held by the God who made and cares for us. When you consider your life, remember that your very breath is in God's hand, sustained by him. Rest in the truth that the life and breath of every living thing, including your own, is held in God's hand and sustained by him moment by moment, as Job pointed to the witness of all creation that in God's hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind; for our life and breath are not our own possession, self-sustaining or in our own control, but are given and held by God, who sustains the life of every creature, so that to recognize our breath as in his hand is both humbling, since our life is not our own to keep, and comforting, since it is held by the God who made and cares for us.

Lord, in the midst of his suffering and his debate with his friends, Job turns to your greatness, and points to a truth written across all creation: that the life of every living thing is in your hand. Ask the animals, Job says, and they will teach you; the birds of the sky, and they will tell you. Who doesn't know that the LORD's hand has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind? All creation testifies that you hold the life and breath of every living thing in your hand; the animals, the birds, all that lives, depend on you for their very breath. Our life and breath are not our own possession but are held in your hand. Show me the truth Job points to: the life and breath of every living thing is in your hand. He appeals to all creation as witness, all of which lives only because you give and sustain their life. In your hand, Job says, is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. This is a profound truth: my very life and breath are not self-sustaining, not my own possession, but held in your hand, given and sustained by you moment by moment. I do not keep myself alive; you hold my life. This is humbling, because my life is not in my own control but in your hand; and comforting, because you who hold my life are the God who made and sustains all things. Let me rest in that, for the life and breath of every living thing, including my own, is held in your hand, sustained by you. I can imagine my life as my own possession, self-sustaining, in my own control; but Job points to the truth that all creation declares. My very breath is given and sustained by you, moment by moment. When I consider my life, help me remember that my very breath is in your hand, Lord, sustained by you, both humbling me since my life is not my own to keep, and comforting me since it is held by the God who made and cares for me.