Job 37:9–12

Having warned Job in this way, Elihu turned again to dwell on the greatness of God as seen in creation. The rest of his speech stays on that theme. He gave particular attention to the control the Creator exercises over what lies wholly out of man's control. That means the clouds, the winds, the thunder, the lightning, the rain, the snow, the frost. As these things came before his mind, he had to admit that his heart trembled and was deeply moved.

In our day men have made many discoveries. They have gained limited control over a few of the subtle powers that lie in God's wonderful creation. But the things Elihu mentioned they cannot master. When, as he put it in verse 9, the whirlwind comes out of the south and the cold out of the north, the cleverest of men can only accept the situation. They look for shelter or warmth, whichever they need.

mezarim means "the scattering." It treats the north wind as scattering the clouds and bringing severe cold. Elihu said the cold came out of the north. The word occurs only in Job 37:9.

The Old Testament often mentions the whirlwind as one of the means God wields in His judgements on the earth. It is twice connected with the south.

"Out of the south comes the whirlwind," and so on (verses 9-12). That is, he shows the absolute sovereignty of God. And if that is true about natural things, is it not still more necessary in spiritual things?

Elihu recognised that God ordered the weather with a wise purpose. What He sends may be "for correction," that is, discipline for wrongdoing. It may be "for His land," that is, to keep the ordinary productivity of the earth going. Or it may be "for mercy," that is, to bring about some merciful deliverance. This too had a bearing on Job's case.

Men have tried in many ways to control the weather. It is a foolish, pointless effort, because they do not want to allow God to have His way. God meant all of these things to speak to Job about the unpleasant circumstances he was going through. Would Job not let God have His way? So the storm was a most important object lesson for him.

The falling snow may cover the earth like a burial cloth. Winter may lay its icy hand on man and stop all his activity. Even so, it is His snow, His hand, to teach man His supreme power. The beast retires into its shelter; let us too enter into the "cleft of the rock," until these troubles have passed over. Whether the storm comes as the whirlwind of the south, or from the frozen north, it is only His breath. How good, then, to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

All nature is balanced in this way, one force against another; and so too there is a divine equilibrium in the clouds of life. He will "with the temptation provide the way of escape." All things work — but they work together for good to those who love God. There are the balancings of the clouds.

Job 37 turns our eyes to the wonderful works of God in the outward world. We are in those early days, when God was pleased to teach through the speech that each day pours out. He did not teach by the gospel preached to every creature, nor by the Son who had come down from heaven to show us the Father in Himself. For that very reason, because Christ was not here, God takes up the outward world to show His majesty, faithfulness, and gracious power in everything that surrounded man.

But God's breath also works a marvellous change. Out of it He gives ice, and He presses the broad waters together. He loads the cloud with moisture, and scatters the clouds of His light. Whichever way it turns, it still does what He commands across the face of the earth. It may come as a rod to correct, if that is what He has appointed for His earth, or it may come in kindness. Either way, God is the one who sends it.

Ice comes from the breath of God — air that God sends in a cold state.

It is the "breathing," the "inspiration," the "blast," as in Genesis 2:7; Job 4:9; Job 37:10; and Isaiah 30:33.

In our day men have made many discoveries. They have gained a kind of control over a few of the subtle powers in God's wonderful creation. But the things Elihu mentioned they cannot master. As he put it in verse 9, "Out of the south comes the whirlwind, and cold out of the north." Faced with that, the cleverest of men can only accept the situation and seek shelter or warmth.

Snow may cover the earth like a burial cloth. Winter may lay its icy hand on man and stop all his activity. Even so, it is His snow and His hand, sent to teach man His supreme power. The beast goes into its shelter. Let us too go into the "cleft of the rock" until these troubles have passed. Whether the storm comes in the whirlwind of the south, or from the frozen north, it is only His breath. How good then to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

Let Job forget himself, his troubles, his "friends"; let him "stand still and consider the wonderful works of God." Can he explain these purposes? Does he realise the light that shines behind the clouds? Does he understand the balancing of these clouds? How amazingly simple that statement is! All nature is balanced in this way, one force against another. In the same way, there is a divine balance in the clouds of life.

What can be finer than the description of thunder and lightning that follows? It is so vivid that quite a few think Elihu is watching a storm as it happens, with its roar and rumble, followed by snow or rain falling in varying amounts. What can man do in the presence of God's awful voice but try to learn? … But God's breath also works a marvellous change. Out of it comes ice, and the broad waters are pressed together; and He loads the cloud with moisture, and scatters the clouds of His light. Turn about as it may, it still carries out what He commands it on the face of the world.

Thick clouds are full of moisture, and the clouds whirl as the wind drives them. But all this is by the guidance of God, directed as He commands (v.12).

Elihu recognised that God ordered the weather with wise purpose. What He sends may be "for correction," that is, discipline for wrongdoing. It may be "for His land," that is, to keep the earth producing as usual. Or it may be "for mercy," that is, to bring about some merciful deliverance. This too had a bearing on Job's case.

And how good He is! If He opened the windows of heaven all at once, a flood would sweep all life away. Instead, He makes the drops of rain small, and they fall as refreshment on the place beneath. So it is with His afflictions; the suffering and the grief are, after all, only blessings in disguise for faith: "The clouds you so much dread Are big with mercy, and will break In blessings on your head."

But both science and poetry leave God out, and when men do not see Him, what is the value of all the rest? What use is it to speak of "gravity, expansion, condensation," if we do not see the spreading of His clouds, the majestic crash of the thunder in His tabernacle?

Let Job forget himself, his troubles, his "friends." Let him "stand still and consider the wonderful works of God." … Does he realise the light that shines behind the clouds? Does he understand the balancing of these clouds? How amazingly simple such a statement is. All nature is balanced this way, one force against another; and so too there is divine equilibrium in the clouds of life. He will "with the temptation provide the way of escape." All things work — but they work together for good to those who love God. There are the balancings of the clouds.

Thick clouds are full of moisture, and they whirl as the wind drives them. But all this is by the guidance of God, directed as He commands (v.12).

Turn about as it may, it nonetheless carries out what He commands it across the face of the inhabited world.

Elihu recognised that God ordered the weather with wise purpose. What He sends may be "for correction," that is, discipline for wrongdoing. Or "for His land," that is, to keep the earth producing as it normally does. Or "for mercy," that is, to bring about some merciful deliverance. This too had a bearing on Job's case.

If Job had realised this, it might have saved him some deep soul distress.

In verses 9-12 he shows the absolute sovereignty of God. And if that is true about natural things, is it not still more necessary in spiritual things? "He causes it to come, whether for correction" — that is what he was showing about the dealings with Job — "or for his land, or for mercy."

All this display of divine power is to accomplish His will… but always it is God whose actions, plans and purposes are before the eye of faith. Let Job forget himself, his troubles, his "friends"; let him "stand still and consider the wonderful works of God." Can he explain these purposes? Does he realise the light that shines behind the clouds? Does he understand the balancing of these clouds? … All nature is balanced in this way, one force against another; and so too there is divine equilibrium in the clouds of life.

The storm is upon them now, and Elihu trembles. He calls upon Job to hear God's voice in it all; and, we may well believe, to hear His voice in the storm of sorrow that has fallen on him too. Blow upon blow it has come — the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the terrible thunder of God's discipline. God has been at work in wonderful ways, beyond our understanding, but it is God.

Nothing happens without His hand in it. Stormy wind and rain only fulfil His word. "He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy" (Job 37:13). This is how we learn the most precious lessons. They are precious because we get past the trial that tests us, through to the loving-kindness of the Lord. Then our feet can stand on level ground.

However wise in heart any of us — Job included — may think we are, our attitude before Him should not be one of criticism and questions. It should be fear.