Tuesday Reflection – May 05, 2020 The Creator Is Still In Control

Tuesday Reflection – May 05, 2020 The Creator Is Still In Control

I have always enjoyed reading the Book of Job. It speaks of faithfulness in the midst of unbearable suffering and loss. One of my favorite sections of the book is when Job’s friends went to visit and sat quietly with him, even weeping with him at times I would imagine. They did this for seven days. Then they began speaking and to me they spoilt all they had accomplished over the seven days. The truth is that sometimes we accomplish much more through silence than we can ever do through speaking. Today’s watchword forms part of Job’s response to the argument of his friend Bildad who was convinced that Job was suffering because he did something wrong and if he repented, God would return all that he had lost. It is easy to look at the state of the world today and draw the same conclusion. Our wicked, unrighteous actions as a world is easily seen and many have interpreted COVID-19 as God’s response to our evil. The story of Job teaches us however that we cannot assume that hardship or suffering is a response from God. Like Job we ought to lift up and praise God’s wisdom and understanding even though we cannot see the reason behind what is happening, knowing that God is greater than anything that we face, including this dreaded virus. God stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. He is the maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south Job 9: 8–9. 

In explaining God’s greatness Job points to God’s unequalled might. God created and the creator has full control of His creation. Humanity as part of the creation can never be righteous before God, Job argues. Our blessings are dependent on the creator and not on our actions. That would be a righteousness of works and not of faith. Note that Job was an outstanding servant of God. God had declared that there was none comparable to Job in the earth. He was described as ‘blameless and upright’. Among humans Job was righteous and his faithfulness had been noticed by God. Job knew who God was and he knew his place in relation to God’s power and righteousness. When we know God and know where we stand in relation to God, it becomes easy to understand that God is at work in everything that happens in the world. We learn to appreciate that some things we may not understand at the moment, but we can be confident that God who created still rules His creation. God is not out to destroy us but will see us through. The creator is still in control. Job argues that earthquakes, eclipses and the constellations are all works of God’s hands. God’s power is further explained in the fact that he ‘walks on the waves of the sea’. Not just regular waves either but the high and raging waves. In John 6: 16 – 21, after feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples away in a boat so he could pray alone. While on the water they are almost overcome by a storm when Jesus comes to them walking on the water. He even called Peter to come to him and saves him from going under in the process. Immediately as Jesus boarded the boat, the storm stopped. Job recognized that God will not abandon us in the storms of life but will walk with us through them, keep us from going under and help us to a place of safety. In time he will completely calm the storms of life. We may be longing for the storm to calm but God’s outstretched arms are guiding us through it and in due time the storm will be past. These are difficult times dear friends, and we are experiencing more than we could ever dream of. My reassurance to us is to rest confidently in the knowledge that the God of yesterday is the God of today and will be the God of tomorrow. God has not changed.  The one who put the stars in place and walks on the seas can surely take care of our needs, for the creator is still in control. Amen. 
Bevon White