Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Job had been knocking on the door of heaven for answers to his questions for a long time. He had experienced the most devastating loss of family and fortune, had been struck down with a most painful disease, and was accused by his friends, that his misfortune resulted from his own sinfulness, which he felt was a gross misrepresentation of his character and situation. Job cried out for a Mediator Who would stand between him and God. He wanted a Counselor Who could speak on his behalf. He wanted to plead his case to the Lord, but God did not respond to his inquiries in the way that Job expected. Instead of answering his questions, Job was rebuked by the Lord for questioning God’s sovereign will and ways. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” was one of many unanswerable questions which the Lord fired at Job, in quick succession: “Tell Me, if you have understanding!” Every question from the Lord to Job only served to demonstrate the authority, wisdom, and power of our Almighty God. God did not have to explain Himself to any one of His created beings, nor do any of us have a right to question God’s perfect plan or know the reason WHY He permits bad things to happen to good people. God alone was there when the foundation of the earth was laid, and however much man likes to speculate on the creation of the heaven and earth, God alone was present. And in His grace, He has recorded it in the Scriptures for our learning, but how few trust His Word? None of us have a right to know God’s plans and purposes or to question His ways, and yet He has laid out His entire redemption plan in the Bible. He has scheduled every day of every life and He knows what is best for each one of us. This simple verse makes it very clear that we can trust Him with our lives and our families, even when we do not understand. May we be willing to acknowledge our own limitation and trust Him in every eventuality of our lives.
Spiritual Steve 