Bible study on Job 38:1-7,(34-41)

See also our Guidelines for a weekly Bible study including suggestions for adapting it to your context.

Begin with an opening prayer

Lord, you are amazing and wonderful.
You are dressed in the beauty of the world you created.
You control the skies and the waters.
We praise you for your countless creations,
for the stunning beauty you have made.
You made them in your wisdom.
We praise you, Lord.
Amen.

Read the passage

Consider different ways to read the text. For example, hearing it in more than one version of the Bible. In an online group, you could share parts between those present, or use/adapt this week’s Share the Word suggestion.

Explore and respond to the text

Start by reading the Bible notes below. You may want to read them more than once, or pause after each paragraph to reflect on what you have read.

Bible notes

As we read though the Bible an interesting question arises. Does God change or do the writers’ understandings of God change? CS Rodd suggests that when reading Job, ‘We need to put away all thoughts of the rather sentimental “fatherhood” of God that have become common in modern Christianity. God in Job is the omnipotent and omniscient creator’(1). One could say God in Job is like the drill sergeant Emil Foley, played by Louis Gossett Jr in the classic film An Officer and a Gentleman. Foley’s sole mission seems to be to get new recruit Zack Mayo (played by Richard Gere) to ‘man up’ (cf ‘Gird up your loins like a man’, Job 38:3), putting him through an endless sequence of hellish physical and psychological tests. The whirlwind (38:1) emphasises the power and transcendence of God. The verses that follow form quite a contrast to chapter one, when God is celebrating Job. Here God addresses Job very harshly. One commentator describes it as the divine cross examination. In verses four to seven, we have a picture of creation in keeping with the religio-scientific thinking of the time. Pointing to the complexity of creation, God none too subtly lets Job know who is boss.

1. CS Rodd, The Book of Job, (Epworth), p.73.

See also: Scripture in context: Mission and teaching

Purpose and perseverance Mark Sturge and Andrew Roberts consider themes from the Books of James and Job

Reflection

Spend a few moments thinking about what stands out for you from the Bible reading. This idea may help.

In both Job and Psalm 104, reverence or respect for God centres on God’s work of creation. Celebrating God’s work in creation is a popular theme of both songs and prayers used in gathered worship. But what about the rest of life? How does the way in which we treat creation speak of our attitude towards the Creator? Does it speak of reverence or indifference or even contempt? And what does our consumption of the resources of creation say about our attitude to others? Do we lord it over those with less or give of ourselves for their good?

Questions for reflection

You may wish to use these questions and the picture to help you think about or discuss issues arising from this week’s Bible passage.

Click on the image to view a larger version or use the Jump menu to go to This week's images. For artist's details, see this issue's illustrators.

Questions

• What fills you with awe?
• How do you respond to something vast and beyond your comprehension?
• What words could you use to describe how wonderful God is?

A simple activity

Mind-blowing statistics

Make a poster showing the amazingness of creation

You will need: large paper, pens, images of creation, glue and scissors.

• Either display or invite people to look on their phones for some mind-blowing concepts about the world, e.g. There are thought to be 75 sextillion grains of sand; about 3 trillion fish are caught every year; there are 333 million cubic miles of water on earth.
• Using the printed images or drawings, invite the groups to make a collage including some of these amazing stats. Across the top of each poster, write: This is our God.
• Display them in your worship space. Then invite people to call out a statistic from one of the posters and everyone responds with: Hallelujah, this is our God.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to go to more activities in Explore and respond.

Prayer

Adapt to your local context.

Awesome God, we praise you for your wonderful deeds and mighty power.
We praise you for your everlasting love.
We praise you that you are faithful to your promises.
We praise you for your healing touch.
We praise you for your generous gifts.
We praise you for your gracious presence.
Amen.

Use the Jump to this week's menu on the right to find more prayers,
including up-to-date intercessions.

A prayer to end the Bible study

Go with God and search for his wonders.
Go with God and look for his glory.
Go with God to proclaim his greatness.
Go with God as your Lord and your friend.
Amen.

Go with God 24/7

Encourage everyone to put their faith into action.

Take time to consider an aspect of creation carefully this week, e.g. looking at the night sky, watching insects, playing in autumn leaves. What does this tell you about God?

Encourage everyone to explore their faith this week with the Thrive resource.