Sunday of Creation (OTA)

Job 38:1-18

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

² “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

³ Dress for action like a man;

I will question you, and you make it known to me.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

⁵ Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?

⁶ On what were its bases sunk,

or who laid its cornerstone,

⁷ when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸ “Or who shut in the sea with doors

when it burst out from the womb,

⁹ when I made clouds its garment

and thick darkness its swaddling band,

¹⁰ and prescribed limits for it

and set bars and doors,

¹¹ and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther,

and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?

¹² “Have you commanded the morning since your days began,

and caused the dawn to know its place,

¹³ that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth,

and the wicked be shaken out of it?

¹⁴ It is changed like clay under the seal,

and its features stand out like a garment.

¹⁵ From the wicked their light is withheld,

and their uplifted arm is broken.

¹⁶ “Have you entered into the springs of the sea,

or walked in the recesses of the deep?

¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you,

or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?

¹⁸ Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth?

Declare, if you know all this.

I have always enjoyed the Easter/Good Friday song “Were you There?” First, it reminds us of the sacrifice of Christ and his rest in the tomb. Then, it has that special last verse about being there at the Resurrection of our Lord. It recalls the journey of Christ from Cross to empty tomb. But I kinda wish it went one maybe two steps further.

Job get the question: Were you There when they created heaven and earth? But one could also add: You will be there When Christ comes to restore all things. There are many people that are more than happy to tell us about things they have only read about in books. CSI agents teach us that as long as we have the evidence or aftermath we can tell the complete story of what happened. But were you there?

God was there when they created heaven and earth. God can explain to Job all the glorious details of his design. God was there when Christ was nailed to the Tree. God was there when he raised Jesus to new life. God is the one who planned all these things. God is even the one who plans for you to not be overcome by death but be raised from the dead.

So who are you going to listen to? The one who was there or the one who is trying to put a puzzle together (without the picture on the cover). God loves you. God forgives you. God saves you.