June 12 - Job 38-39: Finally

And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm.  (38:1)

This sentence reflects my sentiments - finally!  God finally stepped in and spoke, finally provided a response to Job's questions and suffering and to my own wonderings and frustrations in this book.

"God-Alive is present to us. God is speaking to us." (Peterson, Intro. to Job)

There have been times when I felt like God was anything but Alive and speaking to me.  Sometimes He feels like the so-called friend who gives the cold shoulder for no apparent reason.  Sometimes His instructions through His Word fall flat, don't seem to get to the point, leave me clueless.  Recently, I experienced a week that felt like God had put a beautiful array of chocolates in front of me and then he swiped them all off the table before I got to taste even one.  It was an empty, hollow, lifeless feeling and I walked around in a daze, simply going through the motions of everyday life.  Who is God in those moments?  He is...

• the Master who orders the Morning to "Get up!" (38:12)
• the Answer to death's dark mysteries (38:17)
• the Holder of the Key to the vault where hail is stockpiled (38:23)
• the Sculptor of canyons from the downpours of rain (38:25)
• the father of rain and dew, the mother of ice and frost (38:29)
• the Catcher of the beautiful Pleiades sisters' eye, the Distracter of Orion (38:31)
• the Counter of the clouds (38:37)
• the Teacher of the lioness (38:39)
• the Freer of the wild donkey (39:5)
• the Creator of the proudly prancing horse (39:19-20)
• the Commander of the eagle's flight (39:27)

This is our God.  And this is only a very small part.  Can I remember that this is My Savior...in the moments of pure delight and in the moments of crushing disappointment?