God Replies, a Reflection on Job 38:1-11

The Lectionary has paired the Mark text of stilling the storm with this passage from Job in which the Lord appears from a whirlwind (the Hebrew word can also be translated as storm).

In Mark, Jesus does not speak to the disciples in words but does show them his power.


In the Job text, the Lord does speak, and, to emphasize the importance of the words, is speaking for the first time in the book.


"Man up. Answer these questions. Where were you when I was creating? Who gave me any help or advice about anything?"


Tangent 1: Please note that later the Lord will say "I'm angry with those three guys who kept mounting pious arguments to Job when he was suffering. Job is the one who has spoken right of me," (42:7-10). Thus, I'm asserting that God is okay with our needing to express laments.


Tangent 2: Allen & Williamson in their excellent Preaching the Old Testament quote Charles R. Balisdell's suggestion to exercise what he calls "tone of voice exegesis,"

that is, noticing that the way one inflects the text--the tone of voice--makes a significant difference in the meaning that one assigns to the text. The reader can intone the divine speeches with feelings as different as anger, arrogance, impatience, disdain, humor, or compassion.