Job 38:16–21

We come now to these questions about God's creation. They give us a complete cycle of divine truth as shown in His works, grouped in seven parts. (1) The foundations of the earth (verses 4-7). (2) The bounds of the sea (verses 8-11). (3) Day and night (verses 12-15). (4) Unknown depths (verses 16-21). (5) The elements (verses 22-30). (6) The heavenly bodies (verses 31-33). (7) The clouds and their control (verses 34-38).

In close connection with the all-revealing power of the light, God probes Job further. Does he know secret things? — "which belong to God." The hidden depths of the sea with its countless dead; the gates of death and what lies beyond. Has Job searched this out?

Now God asks Job if he had entered the springs of the sea or walked in search of the depths (v.16)… All the population of earth — human, animals, insects and birds — is nothing compared to the population of the seas. Life fills the seas in all areas and at every level. Job had no idea of what was unseen beneath the surface of the seas.

The first thing God does is to overwhelm the man who pretended to sit in judgment on God's moral ways. He makes him feel his utter ignorance and powerlessness in the least things of divine power, even in creation… The man whose understanding stood baffled at such a question was in no position to judge His deep things… Had Job even visited the fountains of the sea, or gone to explore the secret of the great deep?

These questions cover every department of what man calls the "natural sciences." They take in geology, meteorology, geography, oceanography, astronomy, and more. Job had not a single answer to these questions and if he had spoken his words would have been folly. And we, 3000 years or more later, still cannot answer these questions in a satisfactory way. All our boasted progress and our scientific discoveries of the great laws of nature have not changed that… But what is the aim of the Lord in asking these questions? To show that God is greater than man and to humble man, to bring Job to the needed true knowledge of himself and to deliver him from the pride of his heart.

It is enough to show what God said to overwhelm Job in his self-confidence. His ignorance was so great and his powerlessness was evident. He lacked the wisdom to enter into even the outer works of God. And, after all, what was God speaking about? Earthly things… And Job is completely unable to answer one of these questions. In fact they are not answered to this day, for all the bragging of science. If that is the case about earthly things, what about the heavenly?

One of the questions God asked Job was, "Have you walked in the recesses of the deep?" I would ask myself and others this. Are we content with the outward side of Christianity? Or have the deep things of God gripped our hearts in power?… Are we content with only a surface knowledge of the things of God? Or do we know, in the power of the Spirit of God, the blessedness of the deep things of God that He has revealed to us?

But this message tests and humbles man. He who boasted in his righteousness, who seemed to consider his knowledge enough, is obliged to own his ignorance, weakness, and his unrighteousness. It is divinely done, and done so effectively that the lesson brings Job to his true place for all time.

Now He goes down lower still. Sheol, or Hades, as we have it — that is, the place where departed spirits are kept — is pictured here as the heart of the earth, and it may in fact be so. It is not the same thing as the lake of fire. But here we have a prison for those who have died.

Had the gates of death been opened to him? (v.17). Of course the seas have swallowed countless millions of people, including those drowned in the flood of Noah's day. But apart from this, did Job understand where death had taken all those it had claimed through the years?

The first thing God does is to overwhelm him. This man claimed to sit in judgment on God's moral ways. So God fills him with a sense of his utter ignorance and helplessness before the least works of divine power, even in creation… A man whose understanding was baffled by such a question was in no position to judge God's deep things… Had the gates of death been revealed to him?

What is the aim of the Lord in putting these questions? To show that God is greater than man and to humble man, to bring Job to the needed true knowledge of himself and to deliver him from the pride of his heart.

Does he know the secret things — those "which belong to God"? The hidden depths of the sea with its countless dead; the gates of death and what lies beyond. Has Job searched this out?… Does modern science truly know it?… Jehovah addresses these questions not only to Job, whose knowledge was limited to his own time, but to people today.

What is the key to all these questions? It is God, the true knowledge of Himself. Knowing Him, we know the Author and Source of all knowledge. Leave Him out, and the sum of all science is a blank wall, with the hidden truth still lying beyond it.

Job had dared to sit in judgment on Jehovah and His ways. So God tests whether he is fit for it: what does he know? What can he do?… Job's two answers show the effect. In the first, he humbles himself and lays his hand on his mouth. In the second, he fully confesses his sinful pride and hates what he is. This prepares the way for his outward recovery and return to prosperity.

In no other way could the gates of death be opened for us than by His resurrection from the dead. He has opened them, and He holds their keys, as the One who lives forever. To all who put their faith in Him He says, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades" (Rev. 1:17-18). He is Master of death and the grave… He has flooded the darkness of death with the light of hope.

Now He comes up to the surface. "Have you perceived the breadth of the earth?" What do you know about it? "Declare if you know it all."

"Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this" (v.18). In Job's day he surely did not know that the earth was formed as a huge ball turning in space. Even today we are told the earth is 25,000 miles around. Who can grasp how great that is? Scientists have learned a great deal about God's creation. Yet the more they learn, the clearer it becomes that their ignorance is far greater than their knowledge.

Does he know secret things? — "which belong to God." … Has he fully known the expanse of the earth — all that it contains? Does modern science really know it? … The Lord asks these questions not only of Job, whose knowledge was limited to his own day, but of people today.

Job had not a single answer to these questions, and if he had spoken his words would have been folly. … But what is the aim of the Lord in putting these questions? To show that God is greater than man, and to humble man. It was to bring Job to the true knowledge of himself that he needed, and to free him from the pride of his heart.

So it is clear that God is bringing all Job's proud talk to nothing. But He is not satisfied with showing how small man is by what is vast. He also takes up things we might think are small by comparison. … So it makes little difference whether we look at the greatest of God's works or at the least. Everywhere we meet something completely beyond the reach of man. … Job had even claimed to judge the moral depths of God. Yet he could not face, and had no real idea of, what God is in the smallest part of His universe.

It is enough to show what God said to overwhelm Job's self-confidence. His ignorance was great. His powerlessness was plain. He lacked the wisdom to enter even the outer works of God. And, after all, what was God speaking about? Earthly things. … Job cannot answer even one of these questions. In fact no one has answered them to this day, for all the boasting of science. If that is how it stands with earthly things, what about the heavenly? What about the eternal things? There we depend on God completely. We know nothing but what He tells us, and this is all our blessing.

What after all is human knowledge but a knowledge, as Socrates said, of our ignorance? … What is the key to all these questions? It is God, the true knowledge of Himself. Knowing Him, we know the Author and Source of all knowledge. Leave Him out of account, and the sum of all science is a blank wall, beyond which the hidden truth still lies.

What is the way the light dwells, and darkness, where is its place, that you might bring it to its boundary, and that you might know the path to its house? You know! for you were then born, and the number of your days is great.

Could Job take the light or the darkness back to its original place of dwelling? (v.20). The very question would not have arisen in men's minds, but God raises it simply to show how greatly man's knowledge is limited. The irony of verse 21 is striking. Was Job born when light first appeared? Had he lived so many years? Of course God means these words only to put Job in his place.

What is the "home," or origin of light, or of darkness? Men have been asking about "the origin of evil." What do they know apart from divine revelation? In recent years modern science has seen more clearly that the sun is not the origin of light. Light exists apart from the sun and apart from any other visible source. Jehovah addresses these questions not only to Job, whose knowledge was limited to his own time, but to people today.

In Job 38 God asked Job two questions, "Where is the way to where light dwells?" (v. 19) and "By what way is the light parted?" (v. 24). Where does light come from and what is its nature? These are natural things, things we see in nature, and they are almost impossible to explain. How much more is this true of Him who is the source of all light?

What questions these are. They cover every field of what man calls "natural sciences" — geology, meteorology, geography, oceanography, astronomy, and so on. Job had not a single answer to these questions. If he had spoken, his words would have been folly… But what is the Lord's aim in asking them? To show that God is greater than man, and to humble man. It is to bring Job to the true knowledge of himself that he needs, and to free him from the pride of his heart.

Jehovah only touches the edges of His power, the outer region of His glory. Yet what had man to say? What could Job answer? Not a word… And did the man who could not explain God's smallest works dare to judge the deepest part of His ways and plans? For is anything so deep as His purposes, His affections, and His ways with the saints He loves? And all this while they are weak and face a mighty, cunning enemy.

Shall Job accuse One who is Light, who sees all things as they are? Shall he doubt One who knows the secrets of his heart, and the reason for this discipline? Do not these questions give a hint that God will cause Job's night to end, and at the appointed time cause His dawn to visit the poor sufferer?

In close connection with the all-revealing power of the light, God probes Job further. Does he know secret things? — "which belong to God." What is the "home," or origin, of light, or of darkness? Whether we regard verse 21 as a question, as in our version, or as a statement in divine irony — "You know it, for then you were born" — the meaning is obvious.

"Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness?" (v.19). God had said, "Let there be light" on the first day of the remaking of the earth (Gen. 1:3), before the sun was set in its place on the fourth day. Some scientists thought the sun was the source of light. Further study has convinced them that light exists apart from the sun. Where does it come from? We do not know any more about this than Job did. So the origin of light and the origin of darkness are matters of which mankind is totally ignorant.

Could Job take the light or the darkness back to its original place of dwelling? (v.20). The very question would not have arisen in men's minds. God raises it only to show how limited man's knowledge is. The irony of verse 21 is striking. Was Job born when light was introduced? Had he lived so many years? Of course these words of God are simply intended to put Job in his place.

And yet let not modern science claim the ability to answer where Job could not. Outward knowledge has advanced. Men have discovered great laws and principles of nature. But can today's scientist give truer and more satisfying replies to these questions from God than Job could? What, after all, is human knowledge but a knowledge, as Socrates said, of our ignorance? What is the key to all these questions? It is God, the true knowledge of Himself. Knowing Him, we know the Author and Source of all knowledge. Leave Him out of account, and the sum of all science is a blank wall, beyond which the hidden truth still lies.

What questions these are. They cover every department of what man calls "natural sciences" — geology, meteorology, geography, oceanography, astronomy. Job had not a single answer to these questions, and if he had spoken, his words would have been folly. But what is the Lord's aim in putting these questions? To show that God is greater than man and to humble man, to bring Job to the needed true knowledge of himself and to deliver him from the pride of his heart.

And after all, what was God speaking about? Earthly things. Every one of these things is merely natural, and has to do with what is visible, what is seen and temporal. And Job is completely unable to answer even one of these questions. In fact they are not answered to this day, for all the boasting of science. If that is the case about earthly things, what about the heavenly? What about the eternal things? There we are entirely and absolutely dependent upon God. We know nothing but what He tells us, and this is all our blessing.