Job 37:1-16: a reflection

1“Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place. 2Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth. 3He sends it out under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth. 4After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn’t hold back anything when his voice is heard. 5God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can’t comprehend. 6For he says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain. 7He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it. 8Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens. 9Out of its room comes the storm, and cold out of the north. 10By the breath of God, ice is given, and the width of the waters is frozen. 11Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning. 12It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world, 13whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come. 14“Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? 16Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Speaking of the wonders of God in the storm, the thunder, the snow, the ice, Elihu calls Job to stop and consider the wondrous works of God, which reveal a greatness beyond our comprehension. Listen to this, Job, Elihu says; stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. God thunders marvelously with his voice; he does great things which we can't comprehend. Elihu points to the workings of the natural world, the thunder and lightning, the snow and rain, the ice and storm, all under God's direction, and calls Job to stand still and consider them, to see in them the greatness of a God whose works surpass our understanding. This shows the value of stopping to consider the wondrous works of God, which reveal his greatness. Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. God's works in creation reveal a greatness beyond our comprehension. Consider the wonders of the natural world, and see God's greatness. Stopping to consider God's works stirs wonder and awe.

Notice Elihu's invitation: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. He does not merely assert God's greatness; he points to the wonders of the natural world, the thunder and lightning, the snow, the rain, the ice, the storm, all of which come and go at God's direction, and invites Job to pause and consider them. And the point is that these wonders reveal a God whose greatness surpasses our comprehension: he does great things which we cannot comprehend; he is perfect in knowledge, his works beyond our full understanding. This holds an invitation for us. We often rush past the wonders of the natural world without pausing to consider them, or we explain them away as mere natural processes, missing the greatness of God they reveal. But if we stop, stand still, and truly consider them, the vastness and intricacy and power of the natural world, we are led to wonder and awe at the God who made and directs it all, whose greatness surpasses our understanding. Considering God's works in creation is a way of coming to know and worship him, of being stirred to awe at his greatness. We do well to stop and consider the wondrous works of God, letting them lead us to wonder and worship. Stand still and consider the wonders of the world God made. God's works in creation reveal a greatness beyond us. Do not rush past the wonders that reveal God's greatness. Let the natural world stir you to wonder and worship of God.

That is worth taking to heart, for stopping to consider the wondrous works of God reveals his greatness beyond our comprehension and stirs us to wonder and worship, as Elihu called Job to stand still and consider them. We can rush past the wonders of the natural world, or explain them away, missing the greatness of God they reveal; but Elihu called Job to stand still and consider the wonders of thunder, snow, and storm, and see in them a God beyond our understanding. God's works reveal his greatness. Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God in creation, letting them lead you to wonder and worship. Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God in creation, letting them lead you to wonder and worship of the God whose greatness surpasses our comprehension, as Elihu, speaking of the thunder, the snow, the ice, and the storm, all under God's direction, called Job to listen and stand still and consider the wondrous works of God, saying that God does great things which we cannot comprehend and is perfect in knowledge; for Elihu does not merely assert God's greatness but points to the wonders of the natural world and invites Job to pause and consider them, and the point is that these wonders reveal a God whose greatness surpasses our understanding, which holds an invitation for us, since we often rush past the wonders of the natural world without pausing to consider them, or explain them away as mere natural processes, missing the greatness of God they reveal, but if we stop and truly consider them, the vastness and intricacy of the natural world, we are led to wonder and awe at the God who made and directs it all, whose greatness surpasses our understanding, so that considering God's works in creation is a way of coming to know and worship him and being stirred to awe at his greatness, and we do well to stop and consider the wondrous works of God, letting them lead us to wonder and worship.

Lord, speaking of the wonders of you in the storm, the thunder, the snow, the ice, Elihu calls Job to stop and consider your wondrous works, which reveal a greatness beyond our comprehension. Listen to this, Job, Elihu says; stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. God thunders marvelously with his voice; he does great things which we can't comprehend. Elihu points to the workings of the natural world, all under your direction, and calls Job to stand still and consider them, to see in them the greatness of a God whose works surpass our understanding. Show me Elihu's invitation: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. He does not merely assert your greatness; he points to the wonders of the natural world, the thunder and lightning, the snow, the ice, the storm, all of which come and go at your direction, and invites Job to pause and consider them. And the point is that these wonders reveal a God whose greatness surpasses our comprehension: you do great things which we cannot comprehend; you are perfect in knowledge, your works beyond our full understanding. This holds an invitation for me. I often rush past the wonders of the natural world without pausing to consider them, or explain them away as mere natural processes, missing the greatness of you they reveal. But if I stop, stand still, and truly consider them, the vastness and intricacy of the natural world, I am led to wonder and awe at you, who made and direct it all, whose greatness surpasses my understanding. Take that to my heart, for stopping to consider your wondrous works reveals your greatness and stirs me to wonder and worship. Keep me from rushing past the wonders that reveal your greatness; help me stand still and consider your wondrous works in creation, Lord, letting them lead me to wonder and worship of you, whose greatness surpasses our comprehension.