Job 38 Commentary: Well, something really interesting happens at this point. Elihu has been focusing on storms and clouds and lightning. And now all of a sudden – the Lord appears in one of those storms.

KJV Job 38:1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,

So, two things to note.

First, it seems like this whirlwind was nearby. The author phrases it as if the whirlwind is there and God just starts speaking to Job from it.

And I think we also need to have in our minds an accurate picture of what this would have looked like.

When you hear “whirlwind” you can think of a tornado. And that very well could be the case here. But the word in the Hebrew could refer to a storm in general – any storm – not just a tornado.

But it’s not just any storm. This is a storm or whirlwind with God’s voice is coming from it. Like he spoke from the burning bush later on in history.

So, those are some thoughts about the appearance of this storm.

Also, I think that the transition from Elihu to God is another piece of evidence that tells us that God is in favor of what Elihu said. The narrator didn’t have to tell us that God came to correct Elihu – like he earlier explained when Elihu came on the scene to correct Job and the friends. It’s like God comes and simply serves to continue Elihu’s points that he’s already made – confirming that what Elihu has been saying has basically been God’s message to Job and his friends.

Or you can look at it the other way – God sent Elihu ahead of himself to speak on God’s behalf.

Whatever the case, God is now speaking. And he continues questioning Job just like Elihu was doing. And here’s his first question.

2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel

3 [Gird up now thy loins/Get ready for a difficult task] like a man;

[for I/and I/I] will [demand of thee/ask you/question you],

And of course, this first question of God’s is not looking for an answer. In fact, most of God’s questions to Job are not expecting an answer. Really, Job doesn’t give any answer to anything God asks.

But this question serves to put Job in his place. Who are you – who have no knowledge of all sorts of areas – to speak of what you don’t understand – and in so doing, you give counsel that is dark – that doesn’t help at all?

And then God challenges Job to get ready for a difficult task. Since Job feels that he is in the position to judge the Judge of the Universe, then he needs to act the part and answer God in these numerous questions that God has for him.

And of course, God is being sarcastic. He knows that Job won’t have any answer. He’s saying this to Job to show him how little he really does know. And when it comes down to it, the only answer Job can give to most of these questions is either “No, I can’t do whatever you just asked.” or “I don’t know the answer to your question.”

So, here’s the second question that God asks – but the first one that really deals with how much Job actually knows about anything in this world.

4 Where wast thou when I laid the [foundations/foundation] of the earth?

So, this question has to do with origins – the origin of Job and of the world.

God pictures the creation of the world as if he laid it on its foundations – like you would do for a house or other building.

And then he asks Job where he was when God did that. Of course, the answer is that J