Job 26:7

This moved Job to speak for the ninth time, in a speech longer than all the rest. As their arguments for the prosecution grew weaker, his arguments for the defence grew stronger. Bildad's short words had been gentler in tone. But before Job showed that he too can speak in glowing terms of the greatness of God, he let loose the sarcasm that fills verses 2 and 3 of Job 26.

Looking upward, Job still traces the footsteps of the Creator's power and wisdom. "He stretches out the north over the void." The northern sky curves overhead like a great bell. The pole-star hangs there over empty space, and no pillars hold it up. In these few words, and the ones that follow, Job seems to have grasped the great facts of astronomy about the earth and the heavens long before anyone discovered them.

The Hindus taught that the earth was flat, triangular and made up of seven levels. Elephants held it up on their heads, and when these huge animals moved, earthquakes followed. By contrast, how was it that Job, writing over 3000 years ago, spoke this deep truth: "He … hangs the earth on nothing"? How did Job know this? What could he know about the earth hanging in space? What could he know about the law of gravity? In that simple sentence he recorded a scientific fact that the Egyptians, Hindus and others knew nothing about. How? God inspired him.

There are two things true of the earth. One is stability for the time being — that is what the word "foundations" points to. The other view, given in this same Book of Job, is that the earth hangs on nothing. That never entered anyone's mind until fairly recent times. Even scientists have only just come to it. But there it was in Scripture before them. The earth hangs on nothing. Its foundations are laid so firmly that it keeps a steady, regular course. Yet the mighty power of God is shown too, because though it hangs on nothing created, it hangs entirely on God's power.

By nature, the sea is no firm base to build anything on. But just as God "hangs the earth on nothing," He is able to do many things we count impossible. … So God chooses to overturn all man's natural thinking, and to show both His amazing power and His matchless grace.

When everything has been said, not even half has been told. These are only "parts of His ways," the edges, the outer borders of His vast rule. "But how little a portion is heard of Him," or, "How we hear but a whisper of Him." How little do we know of His greatness! We catch small whispers of His power in every passing breeze. We see a little of His wisdom in every tiny blade of grass or drop of dew. But if we could only understand, all nature rings with its witness.