Job 38-42: Unexplainable Awe

Today’s Scripture Reading: Job 38-42

Throughout history, humanity has tried to explain the concepts of life. From its origins to its meaning. Most of Western society has in recent history decided for itself that science is the only way to empirically explain the origin of life both in its past, present and future. Most North American and European societies have adopted the ideas and theories of a single man named Charles Darwin where most of our influences and ideas today (compared to that of even fifty years ago which were more Creationist) are formed by his concepts. There are many who adamantly hold to the idea of Evolution. We also have those who believe solely in Creationism, that God was the creator of all things. We have those who hold so strongly to this belief that the earth was created in six days. There are those who believe the idea of six days is far longer than we think. We also have those who are Theistic Evolutionists. But regardless of what camp you are in, there is one thing that we all strive for – an understanding of life, how we navigate through it, whether we have souls, and if there is a life after death.

We can think all we want, theorize all we want, and believe all we want in a certain stance, but one thing that we come down to is an awe of what is unexplainable and unfathomable. No matter how much science or how much literature we have read, we have yet to even place a smudge on knowing fully the vastness of existence as a whole. When it comes to God, we ought to be very careful not to place Him in a box and say we understand him fully just as we are careful not to try and say we understand all of life as a whole (as even that is in itself arrogant!).

“Who is this that obscures my plan with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. (38:1-2)

When God steps onto the scene in a whirlwind with Amos and his friends who are profusely arguing of their understanding of God, their speeches are abruptly put to a rest. There is one big thing that they cannot overcome, and that is understanding fully the greatness of God’s creation.

“The experience is not only grave but awe-inspiring. We feel it to be numinous. It is as if something of great moment had been communicated to us. The recurrent efforts of the mind to grasp – we mean, chiefly, to conceptualise – this something, are seen in the persistent tendency of humanity to provide myths with allegorical explanations. And after all the allegories have been tried, the myth itself continues to feel more important than they.”

– C.S. Lewis, An Experiment in Criticism

Standing Still

As we battle through the many contemplations, hardships and challenges of life – the question ought not to be “where is God in all of this?” but rather “how can I see what the Lord is doing in me and in his creation around me?” Putting aside all that we are told to believe in school, on television, and even in church- when we think plainly about all of life as a whole, there is a real sense of awe. A sense that it is far greater than just me, a speck in this universe. An awe of not being able to explain any of it – The good, the bad, the beautiful and the ugly. When we think about God, whether as faith or as an idea, and if we cannot explain God’s creation, we certainly could hardly explain the reasons for all the injustice and tragedy we face in this world. But we can understand that if God does exist, or if we truly believe that He does, that a perfect God is neither controllable nor corruptible. His plan is perfect in justice and in purpose. Such a God is unfathomable in His greatness and glory, and we ought to stand still in awe at such an acknowledgement.

Then Job answered the LORD: “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered waht I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.’Hear, and I will speak; I will question you and you declare to me.’ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

– Job 42:1-6

Photo by: NASA, nasa.gov