Day 37 – Chapter 39

“Do you know the time the mountain goats give birth? Do you observe the calving of the deer? Can you count the month they fulfill, or do you know the time they give birth? They kneel down, they bring forth their young, they get rid of their labor pains. Their offspring become strong, they grow up in the open field; they leave and do not return to them” (39:1-4).

God is so awesome in His creative power. The nuances of His creation are beyond understanding. Any conversation or debate about intelligent creation must acknowledge the incredible complexity of what He has made. God, speaking here to Job, gives a small snapshot of just how incredibly intricate that which He has made really is. Every time I watch a wildlife or nature show I am amazed at the things I learn and wonder what exactly are the chances that these things could just happen through beings evolving over time. Only God could cause these complex things to happen. They fall within the category of God’s invisible qualities that through creation are clearly seen (Romans 1:20).

What is God’s point here? If He can perform such marvelous deeds in nature then what concern should we human beings have when we encounter trouble and trial? Jesus taught, “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not much more clothe you? You of little faith” (Matthew 6:30)! We are gripe and groan, grumble and complain, slip into doubt and fear, and then we question and indict God because He allows us to go through. Do we show our lack of faith when we openly wonder whether He is present in our situation and if present, does He care?

Where is our faith today? Is the God we serve the God of the heavens and the earth? Is there anything that He cannot do for those who love and serve Him? When we consider our individual situations and circumstances it is easy to become grieved and concerned to the point that we are tempted to take God out of the equation or to at least doubt His ability and His willingness. In that moment it is good to look about us and see the handiwork of His hands, to consider all that He has done throughout the course of history and then realize that He is the “same God back then, same God right now.” This same God will come and see about us just as He came and saw about Job. This is no ‘pie in the sky’ wishful thinking, have the promises of God on which to stand. So stand today, knowing that we are the beloved of God, His highest creation and if He can take care of the birds of the air and the grass of the field, surely He will take care of you and me.

Dear Lord and King, you are marvelous in all your ways. Your wonders are beyond understanding because You do all things well. Everywhere we look we see Your handiwork so that we are without an excuse when it comes to loving and serving You. Help us this day to lift our gaze above our trouble and see the marvelous things you have done. Remove from us every pessimistic, negative thought and every faithless act and enable us to see the great things You have in store for us. This we ask in the precious name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.