Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind:
‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up your loins like a man,
I will question you, and you shall declare to me.
‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone
when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?
There is an almost comic challenge in this passage. "Gird your loins like a man." Is this some cosmic machismo? No. There is something more generous here for us. God is asking Job to ready himself. A mystery will be revealed.
This is the challenge of Job. Do we know God? Are we even ready to know God? Often, the challenge of Job is placed in the suffering of Job, the apparent willingness of God to inflict pain upon his blameless servant and the wisdom that may be gained from that suffering. Perhaps we instinctively struggle with Job. His suffering is unimaginable. Though wisdom may certainly be gained from suffering, it may not be what the book of Job is trying to share with us.
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?"
God answers Job's questions with more questions. "Do you know who I am?" A generous truth is revealed. The same will that laid the cornerstones of creation created Job. The same will that caused the heavenly beings to sing for joy at the creation of the universe brought Job into being. And did not the heavenly beings sing on that day as well? Is it so hard to imagine a heavenly choir singing with joy on the day of our creation?
Genesis 1:31 says "God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good." God's intention and desire for us has not changed. Job, who is wise and blameless, nonetheless struggles with this mystery. It is a truth easily forgotten. Nonetheless, God's response to Job's suffering is the reassurance of God's own desire for the world. God's will has not changed. God rejoices in it. Yet this is no pollyanna vision God presents to Job.
There is a Fall. There are choices and consequences. There is evil in the world. And it appears to have a life of its own. War, addiction, careless actions, and trauma of all sorts can punctuate our existence. It is difficult in the face of such suffering to find this promise of God. And yet it is there for us and we are encouraged rest within it.
God, grant that we may once again witness your purpose for us, that we may know that your will has not changed. On the day we were created you rejoiced. You still rejoice in us.