Imagine how you would feel if you saw dark clouds approach. Suddenly, rain poured down and lightning illuminated the sky. Then, amidst the sound of rolling thunder, you heard God speak your name! That is what happened to Job.

After Elihu finished his speech and before Job had an opportunity to respond, a storm arose (v. 1). The Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He began, asking, “Who is this...?” It is not that the Lord didn’t know who Job was (Job 1:8; 2:3). Rather, He wanted Job to realize that his words had betrayed his ignorance regarding God’s ways (v. 2).

The Lord instructed Job to “brace yourself like a man” (v. 3), before He began posing a series of rhetorical questions. One after another, God asked without waiting for an answer: “Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?” (v. 4). “Who marked off its dimensions?” (v. 5). “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?” (v. 16).

He paused to address Job directly in verse 21: “Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!” Then the questions began again: “Do you know the laws of the heavens?” (v. 33). “Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?” (v. 35). “Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?” (vv. 37–38).

The Lord did not ask questions to get an answer. Clearly, Job did not know. Nor was God demonstrating His greatness (although God is great). Instead, God was demonstrating that His ways were far beyond Job’s ability to comprehend. Just as this was true with regard to creation, it was true in God’s plans for Job’s life.

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