1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:1–2

Oh, to have the world receive counsel directly from God “out of the whirlwind”right now, so beset we are with “darkened counsel” from all corners, that is, “words without knowledge!” We need a stern lecture from the Almighty.

Job gets such a lecture on our behalf, aimed at the faulty preceding advice and counsel of his three “friends,” but also, as one commentator put it, at his earlier poetic rage in God’s direction.

What if God intervened with audible and booming indictments from above regarding the insanity of this age? How dare we think that we can live in contradiction to his word and deny his sovereign power! For instance, who planned out and built the world anyway?

4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6“On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone. Job 38:4-6

Or who brought back and permanently restrains the seas?

8“Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10And I placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop’? Job 38:8-11

But count on us to “fact check” even these undeniable truths in an instant with plausible denials. In answer to this, God says,

36“Who has put wisdom in the innermost being
Or given understanding to the mind? Job 38:36

We think we know it all, but our supposed knowledge, is it not rationed out by God himself? Are not the answers to all questions found in the questions he poses here in the Book of Job?

Beware, when lectures fail, punishment begins. We will learn to regret our insubordination and recalcitrance when we begin to suffer the consequences of our words and deeds.

3 “If one wished to dispute with Him, he could not answer Him once in a thousand times. 4 Wise in heart and mighty in strength, who has defied Him without harm?” Job 9:3–4

Actually, such punishment appears to have started.