Answering from the Whirlwind

In the final chapters of Job, when all human words had been spoken and Job’s heart was prepared, God broke His silence, answering Job from the whirlwind. God’s ultimate revelation made no mention of Job’s suffering, nor did it present an indictment or a verdict. Instead, it offered a long list of creation. God did not praise Job for shaming Satan, nor did He comfort Job for suffering for Him. Instead, He asked, “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge?” God did not rebuke Job for his ignorant words, nor did He lash out at him for his hasty speech or even clarify his obscure statements. Instead, like a whirlwind, He posed dozens of questions, allowing Job to grasp God’s long-standing purpose for him through the mysteries of creation: the earth, the sea, the morning, the underworld, light and darkness, snow and hail, storms, the water cycle, the starry sky, climate, lions and ravens, wild goats, wild donkeys, wild oxen, ostriches, horses, eagles, hippos, crocodiles, and more.

When God spoke of these mysteries of the universe and animals, it was not to teach Job about nature, nor to have Job trust in God’s gracious provision. Even less was it to flaunt His wisdom to Job, for Job’s understanding of God was not fundamentally wrong (Job 42:7), nor was his faith or love for God problematic. Rather, Job’s understanding of God’s purpose in suffering was unclear. God wanted Job to re-examine the purpose of suffering. God never told Job what happened in heaven, because human eyes, whether looking from earth or from heaven, cannot see the full truth.

God’s creation is so mysterious and complex, with many parts that are difficult to understand, and some even considered contradictory, useless, annoying, or even harmful. Yet, all are the work of the same Creator. Living in this world, we cannot fully comprehend the reasons for suffering, nor can we fully understand the mysteries of many things. But we can rest assured that God, according to His good purpose, will cause “all things to work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Therefore, true wisdom is not to explain every circumstance and experience, thereby “obscuring God’s plans with words without knowledge,” but rather to submit to God in all circumstances and experiences: “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”