CATEGORICALLY SPEAKING

Lee Ann Burdette

Central Truth

God owes us nothing, but in His grace He has given us everything. This alone should render us speechless.

Then Job answered the Lord: "Indeed, I am completely unworthy—how could I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth to silence myself." (Job 40:3-4)

1 And the LORD said to Job:

2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
He who argues with God, let him answer it.”

Job Promises Silence

3 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”

The LORD Challenges Job

6 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

7 “Dress for action^{1

40:7
Hebrew Gird up your loins} like a man;
    I will question you, and you make it known to me.
8 Will you even put me in the wrong?
    Will you condemn me that you may be in the right?
9 Have you an arm like God,
    and can you thunder with a voice like his?

10 Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity;
    clothe yourself with glory and splendor.
11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger,
    and look on everyone who is proud and abase him.
12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low
    and tread down the wicked where they stand.
13 Hide them all in the dust together;
    bind their faces in the world below.^{2

40:13
Hebrew in the hidden place}
14 Then will I also acknowledge to you
    that your own right hand can save you.

15 Behold, Behemoth,^{3

40:15
A large animal, exact identity unknown}
    which I made as I made you;
    he eats grass like an ox.
16 Behold, his strength in his loins,
    and his power in the muscles of his belly.
17 He makes his tail stiff like a cedar;
    the sinews of his thighs are knit together.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
    his limbs like bars of iron.

19 He is the first of the works^{4

40:19
Hebrew ways} of God;
    let him who made him bring near his sword!
20 For the mountains yield food for him
    where all the wild beasts play.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
    in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh.
22 For his shade the lotus trees cover him;
    the willows of the brook surround him.
23 Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened;
    he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.
24 Can one take him by his eyes,^{5

40:24
Or in his sight}
    or pierce his nose with a snare?

Footnotes

[1] 40:7 Hebrew Gird up your loins
[2] 40:13 Hebrew in the hidden place
[3] 40:15 A large animal, exact identity unknown
[4] 40:19 Hebrew ways
[5] 40:24 Or in his sight

I wouldn’t think of wrestling a charging hippo, but I don’t think twice about challenging God's methods. In response to Job’s faultfinding, God points out the beast in verse 15. We can clearly distinguish between the power of certain creatures and our own limitations, but when it comes to seeing ourselves in light of who God is, we become delusional—much like the unskilled "wannabes" who audition for American Idol. Their lack of skill in comparison to others is so obvious, it's hard to make sense of their audacity!
When we experience trials, we're especially vulnerable to making what Norm Geisler, a Christian author, calls a “category mistake.” Our knee-jerk reaction to disappointment is, “Why God?” We believe the pain will ease if the whole horrible thing can be explained, so we squeeze God into a “reasonable” box, one we can wrap our brain around. Sometimes God just doesn’t make sense to us otherwise. But God is so incomprehensibly "out there" in His majesty and power that I cannot squeeze Him into any of my boxes. I don’t even have a category for God! To try to explain Him or anything He does is my attempt to not only be His equal but to take His place.
God doesn’t owe us explanations, but He chose to explain His love for us. God, the sovereign ruler of all things, chose to fully explain Himself by sending His Son Jesus Christ. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.” The King of Glory loved us so much that He entered our world as a baby. Though perfect, He took our imperfection (sin) on Himself, endured abuse from those He sought to save, willingly suffered an excruciating death on the cross, and experienced the pain of separation from His own Father to win our redemption and demonstrate His love. Explain that! When I ask God to explain Himself in my despair, I remember He already has; and the thought of it leaves me speechless.

1. What is keeping you from resting in God as ruler of all that concerns you?
2. What are you hurting over right now that has caused you to question God's plan?
3. Sin is the refusal to do what God wants us to do and doing what we want to do instead. Sin separates us from a relationship with God. Have you asked God to forgive you for wanting to do life your way and not His way?
4. Have you ever considered just what great lengths God has traveled to help you understand how much He loves you? Why not thank God now and trust Jesus Christ as your Savior from sin? He is the only one able to restore you to a right relationship with God.