God answers Job

So often, the things that God does make no human sense, and it is our nature to question Him, whether we do it openly or secretly. It is helpful to read God's words to Job and be reminded of how small we are and how limited our knowledge and understanding is. One thing I want to highlight, in the list of all the things Job doesn't know, are the references that appear to be scientifically incorrect.

"Who can tilt the water jars of heaven?"
"Have you visited the storehouses of snow or the storehouses of hail?"

Don't allow such references to cause you to think the Bible is flawed in light of what we know today. Even in antiquity, when everyone thought the world was flat, the Bible refers to it in Isaiah 40:22 as a sphere. "It is He who sits upon the circle ( Hebrew meaning roundness or sphere) of the earth". This statement is made 2000 years before this was an accepted view. And yet, there are many other Scripture references to the "four corners of the earth" and the "ends of the earth". So what is going on? We know the earth has no corners, and surely God does too if He made it! We also know that there is not a water jar in heaven that is tilted to produce rain nor is there a storehouse for snow or hail. Why then, does the Bible refer to such things?

First, remember that the book of Job is considered a "wisdom book", a work of poetry full of figurative language and imagery. It is grouped with Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes for that reason. And it is because Job is located toward the back of the Old Testament with these other poetic works, that we fail to realize how early the story actually takes place chronologically. It is not intended to be read as a science textbook and employs language that will appeal to the emotions rather than the logical intellect of the reader. Even today, in light of the scientific knowledge we now possess about the earth revolving around the sun, we still refer to a daily "sunrise" and "sunset". The sun is not moving at all, and we know that, but the terms sunrise and sunset appeal to our sense of familiarity and understanding. Additionally, we use terms like "four corners of the earth" and "ends of the earth" to describe remote locations. Not scientifically accurate, but meant to enhance understanding. With these parameters in mind, we can appreciate the figurative language used in the poetic books, and resist the urge to assign literal, scientific teaching to them.

Tomorrow's reading: Job 40:6-42:17