Peace in God's Limitlessness

By Erin Bird

This week, we conclude our series in Job 38 by looking at verses 19-21, which say:

19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light,
and where is the place of darkness,
20 that you may take it to its territory
and that you may discern the paths to its home?
21 You know, for you were born then,
and the number of your days is great!
(Job 38:19-20 ESV)

During our little trip through the first half of Job 38, we've seen God get a bit sarcastic with Job. But in case you haven't noticed the sarcasm previously, or just don't want to admit God would mock someone, verse 21 basically obliterates your attempts to make God sound like a heavenly Tellytubby. I used the English Standard Version (ESV) above, but go ahead and look at whatever translation you want: God is sarcastically mocking Job. Why? Because He wants Job to fully appreciate just how different Job and God really are.

And what is the primary difference God points out to Job in these three verses? That Job is limited, but God is not.

First, we see Job was limited to earth. He had no idea "the way to the dwelling of light or the place of darkness."

Second, Job was limited in power. He couldn't pick up the darkness and carry it to it's home.

And third, Job was limited in time. God sarcastically points out that Job has not had nearly the same length of time in the universe God has.

This is why (as we've already seen in this series) that God points out Isaiah 55:8 that His ways are not like our ways and His thoughts are no where close to being like our thoughts. Our ways and thoughts are like Job - limited. But God does not possess the same limits we do. As we've been seeing through this entire series, God is not limited in His wisdom, understanding, power, and existence.

And so we may not know...

• what Sunday mornings will look like when we re-gather...
• what the economy will do over the next several months...
• if we will get sick with COVID-19...
• or if a loved one will pass from the dreaded virus...

...because we are limited. But we can know that God is limitless, and out of His limitlessness, He can carry us and give us peace in the midst of these uncertain days.

So join me in trusting our limitless God, who loves us without limit and can grant us peace without limit.