11-23-14. Job 38:1-3. God speaks to us out of the storms of life that we are going through.
God speaks to us out of the storms of life that we are going through.
Job 38:1-3 Kevin E. Jesmer 11-23-14
Key verse 1: “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:
Job was going through such a storm in life. Job had lost his family, possessions, health, position, and even his good name, for he has been accused over and over again that he was suffering as he was, because of his own sins. To suffer extreme loss, as Job did, was humiliating, but to face criticism at the hands of these spiritually younger was humiliating. Job was not even respected for suffering bravely through his storm. How hard it was for Job to endure all of this.
And yet, in the midst of this horrendous storm of life, God spoke to Job out of the storm. Job 38:1-3 reads, “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: 2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” The Lord appears and suddenly and without warning. He did so out of a disturbance in the atmosphere. It was startling, and overwhelming. We have read 37 chapters of Job and listened to the theological discussions of several men. But now, out of the storm comes the defining voice of God himself. It came out of the startling storm.
God does speak to us in the good times. But there are many times that he God speaks to us in the midst of storms of life in such profound and lasting ways. God spoke to Elijah out of a storm. Elijah was going through a storm in life. He was running from enemies. He was in the desert in a cave and it was there that God spoke to him. Look at 1 Kings 19:9-13, “9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?’” (NIV)
I just came through a storm of life that involved my emotions, my family and my ministry. It was a storm that lasted for over a decade. I would not wish this storm on anybody. But out of the storm, God spoke to me in such a profound and life changing way. I learned the truth about being missional and finding one’s calling in life. I learn what it means that there is a time to plant and a time to uproot. I am learning the importance of God’s leading and the presence of the Holy Spirit. I am learning about convergence in life. I learned about my deep need for a Savior and his word. I am learning the truth about a kernel of wheat and accepting the fact that God can take the seed of my body and plant it in the ground any time he likes and sees fit. My storm of life was such a great classroom for it is the time that I could meet Jesus and hear his quiet whisperings in my heart. I pray that the storms of your life may be a classroom in which you can be taught by Christ in profound, life changing ways.
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