Job 38:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What, then, is the significance of the inquiry regarding this haughty individual, "who is this?" if not an explicit declaration, "I do not recognize you, arrogant one," meaning I do not endorse a proud existence under the vastness of My wisdom. Though the arrogant bask in human applause, they miss out on the true splendor of eternal reward. When He mentions condemnation, we surely understand it to be unfavorable. He states they are entwined in it due to their clumsy words, for they spoke with a boasting tongue. This reflects the flaw of ineptitude: possessing righteousness yet misusing it, thereby corrupting divine gifts for the sake of earthly acclaim. Often, we see good things misrepresented while bad things are presented in a favorable light; similarly, the proud Elyui shared truths inaccurately, for in his defense of God, he expressed humility through unhumble sentiments. Thus, he rightly serves as a symbol for all those in the Church who succumb to vanity: they believe themselves skilled yet are judged guilty of ineptness by Divine standards; as the Apostle states, "If any man thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know" 1 Corinthians 8:2. Since the fundamental flaw of that same Angel was pride, true wisdom for man lies in humility regarding oneself. Those who refuse this, even whilst contemplating great matters, display greater folly. Therefore, Elyui is condemned, and others like him speak ineptly, as he grasped the truth about God, yet his foolish pride rendered his words foolish. Thus, having scorned this man, the Lord's words are aimed at uplifting Job.

I am aware of all your actions when you perform righteous deeds; nothing about you escapes My notice." This is not because Job believed he could genuinely keep anything from God. Rather, as a means of encouragement from a friend, God asks him, "Do you think you can obscure the truth from Me? Or do you imagine I do not see your struggles? I know your pure heart, even if you remain silent or choose vague expressions." It is essential to acknowledge that some assert that God the Father communicates through the Holy Spirit, while others believe it is the Only-Begotten Word of God, of whom it is said, "the keepers of hell were filled with fear at the sight of You." Whether it is the Father speaking— as when Moses declares, "Let Us make man in Our own image, after Our likeness"— or the Only-Begotten, as He states, "Before Abraham was, I am," or the Holy Spirit, who commands, "Set apart for Me Paul and Barnabas for the work to which I have called them," as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles, there exists a singular purpose within the Godhead. This unity manifests in the Trinity, with one will and essence found in three distinct Hypostases.

God directs His attention to Job, who had presumed to unravel these profound questions, and beckons him to listen, posing inquiries from the natural world, aiming to reveal, through the difficulty of comprehending even simple matters in the physical realm, the far greater challenge involved in addressing moral questions (38: 1-3).

The Lord initially inquires of Job regarding the origins and primal condition of the earth, seemingly to demonstrate the limitations of human knowledge and the vast unknowns in the environment, especially if Job cannot answer this singular question (4-6). Meanwhile, God crafted the earth effortlessly, akin to a builder erecting a commonplace structure. The act of creation was so splendid and awe-inspiring that the heavenly hosts proclaimed God's glory with great acclaim (7). Equally striking are the Creator's might and wisdom in enclosing the depths of the ocean (8 - 11) and in distinguishing light from darkness (12 - 15). However, these profound depths and boundaries of light and darkness are not completely hidden from human exploration (16-20). Natural phenomena, such as snow, hail, rain, and frost, elude human control and mastery (21-30), and even less can the shifts of the stars and any climatic changes be directed by them (31-38).

Transitioning to the marvelous wonders of the world, which are invisibly close to humanity, and the remarkable instincts of creatures, the Lord reminds Job that it is solely by His paternal providence that predators and birds find sustenance (39-41).

Job strongly opposed this reasoning, insisting that he bore no guilt and had led a life dedicated to piety and righteousness. He maintained that it was unjust to interpret a person's suffering as evidence of wrongdoing. He argued that the distribution of earthly blessings rests solely on God's will, which often operates on unfathomable reasons and does not correlate with individuals' moral character. Experience reveals that the wicked frequently thrive, while true servants of God may face ongoing trials.

While Job's assertions are fundamentally sound, his discourse includes some rash remarks regarding God's Providence in human affairs. He acknowledges, however, that the prosperity of the wicked is transient, yet he challenges God’s actions, stating: "He destroys both the pure and the guilty. If He smites the innocent suddenly, He laughs at their anguish. The earth is given into the hands of the wicked. He covers the faces of its judges, so they may not see the truth." In his evaluation of his own predicament, Job exemplifies commitment to God's will but also expresses profound anguish about his fate, cursing the day of his birth and questioning God about the purpose of his life.

From this, it is clear that Job experiences a significant inner conflict between loyalty to God and impatience with his circumstances. This lack of patience never devolves into despair; rather, it manifests as a heartfelt expression of his suffering, culminating in a humble request for relief and an earnest hope for forgiveness. Job is reassured of an Advocate in heaven, turning his gaze toward Him for consolation, whether in this life or the life to come. Yet, alongside these humble and hopeful sentiments, Job also voices complaints that sound harsh and accusatory: "I cry to You, and You do not heed me; I stand, and You only look at me. You have become cruel to me, and with a strong hand, You are against me!" Had Job comprehended the purpose behind his trials, as later revealed in the text, he would likely have refrained from such severe judgment. Neither did his friends grasp the reasoning behind his suffering, and their misguided conclusions only added to his distress. Consequently, feeling discontented with their arguments and overwhelmed by the incomprehensibility of his plight, Job dares to seek clarification directly from God, declaring, "This is my desire: that the Almighty may answer me."

These words signal the conclusion of his discussions with his friends, and his desire is granted. The heavens grew dark with clouds, and thunder echoed. Through the tempest, the Lord made His voice audible to Job, reminiscent of His revelation at Sinai. It can be assumed that the storm's noise did not drown the voice of God, perhaps due to its intensity or because the cloud concealing the divine presence was in close proximity to Job. What did the Lord say to Job? "Who is this that obscures My counsel and holds such thoughts in his heart? Does he think to overshadow Me?” With this inquiry, the Lord admonishes Job for presuming to diminish the grandeur of His wisdom and justice by making judgments about God's dealings with humanity, implying that Job thought God could be cruel and unjust in the distribution of earthly goods without differentiating between the righteous and the unrighteous. The essence of this question is as follows: a person who dares to criticize God's governance of the world should reflect on against whom they are rebelling and with whom they are contending.

If it is questionable to pass unfavorable judgments on human actions whose purposes we do not fully understand, it is even more culpable to critique the outward actions of God without full knowledge of His divine intentions or by interpreting them incorrectly. The Lord's reproach is directed at Job specifically rather than at his friend Elihu, who spoke last. This is evident because Job acknowledges his wrongdoings and admits his guilt after hearing the Lord's rebuke, repeating the very words of God in his confession.