What Do We Know?
Job 38:4-5 - Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
Nobody likes a know-it-all. We've all met one before and after a while, they can be very annoying. Even when a know-it-all is aware they annoy people, they often still feel the need to explain everything or to point out everyone else’s errors. These know-it-alls may think that they are better than most people, but in reality they make just as many mistakes as anyone else. The only difference is that they are too proud and stubborn to admit when they have done something wrong. Do you know anyone like this? Are you like this yourself? How do you respond to someone that cannot help talking about what you are doing wrong even when you are right?
In the book of Job, God set a plan in motion. He allowed the devil to hurt and mess with Job’s life and body in any way he wanted; the only condition was that the devil couldn't kill Job. After a while, Job, who is unaware of God’s deal, questions God and his will. God then confronts Job with how little Job actually knows, Job 38: 2 “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” God is telling Job (and us) that we cannot fully understand his ways unless we are as wise as he is. God reminds Job (and us) that humans misunderstand much because of their sinful limitations and finite existence. In Job 38: 4 God asks us, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me if you understand.”
Before we become a know-it-all we should remember that we know nothing compared to God. He has given us all the information we need in the Bible, so we should not question his plans. He's given us the most important information of all, the gospel of salvation, as it says in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: What do we know compared to God’s wisdom? How can we question a perfect creator? Why would you want to question God’s perfect plan?
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS: Pray for wisdom to help you understand God’s Will. Ask for forgiveness if you have ever wanted to go against what God wants. Give thanks to God for sending his Son to forgive us of all sin.