Today in God's Word—June 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
June 21, Job 26
”Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?" - Job 26:14
Does the name Bezalel ring a bell? Do you remember where we read about him in the Bible? Bezalel was the God-gifted artisan who led the team of God-enabled artists that prepared and assembled the tabernacle. God gave Bezalel and company the design for the beautiful structure and its furnishings. He also gave them the ability to do the artistic work required to bring the design into reality. God could have caused the tabernacle to appear by his miraculous power. But he chose to bring the tabernacle into existence through the artful work of a team of skilled men and women.
In a way that no material structure or object ever could do, the Bible has stood the test of time and endured as the greatest literary achievement of all time. Its beauty has survived translation into hundreds of languages and thousands of years of criticism. Good Bible students often have favorite passages. From Paul's razor-sharp, eloquent prose in Romans to David's beautiful prayers and songs in Psalms, the words of the Bible testify to the hand of God on those writers.
Job's breathtaking, lyrical description of God in Chapter 26 is another Bible passage that stands like a stunning work of art. It is a literary masterpiece that equals the work of David or any other Bible writer or speaker. Let's take a closer look.
Job describes the indescribable majesty and power of God with vivid imagery and elegant poetry. This jewel is mounted in the most unusual setting of bitter sarcasm. Whether you take his opening lines as biting interrogatives or cynical exclamations, it's clear that Job actually meant the opposite of what he said. His accusing friends were no help at all to him. Their counsel contained neither sound
knowledge nor wise counsel. Job knew they did not come up with the things they told him on their own, and asked them if they were plagiarists or possessed by an evil spirit. Then, to those men who imagined themselves so wise about God and spiritual matters, Job declared the true majesty and power of God.
Job’s soaring imagery is a tribute of praise to Almighty God. His words are a stark contrast to the words of his friends as they presumed to educate Job about God and his ways. Job said that God's majestic power reaches beyond the living to the realm of the dead. His power created and upholds the world and all creation. When he fashioned the earth by his Spirit, he did not need any hook or mount to secure it in its place. He designed the water cycle of evaporation, clouds and precipitation. Job attributed the mysteries of intelligent design, visible in all creation, to the work of God. His power is greater than the greatest forces on earth. He controls the seas and the skies. He rules in the kingdoms of the world.
Then, after all that, Job said, "And that is just the outer fringe of the great ways of God. What we know is a faint whisper of his majesty.” Job did not claim to know all about God. He said we could not comprehend (or probably even survive) the full roaring thunder of his power.
The glimpses of God we get in such passages should stifle our arrogant pride and presumption. The most learned theologian is in the kindergarten of the knowledge of God. We are little children standing ankle-deep in the gentle waves lapping the beach, looking out at the vast, deep ocean. Truly we should humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord.
God is the greatest artist and master craftsman of all. The world is his masterpiece. He empowered Bezalel, David and Job to produce masterpieces.
And the same God is working on us and in us to make us masterpieces, too. Paul wrote, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." Paul’s word for “workmanship”
is poiema. You can see that word is the source for our English word “poem.” If you are in Christ, you are God's poem, his work of art. Paul also said, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." God will make the lives of all who will yield to him beautiful expressions of his artistry and power. The amazing power of God will do amazing things in your heart and life.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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