The Outskirts of God’s Ways

1. The Outskirts of God’s Ways Job 26

2. The story of Job is familiar to us all – it encourages us in trials The book deals with the problem of suffering - it does not answer all the questions, but it gives divine help

3. Job was a good man according to the Lord’s estimate (1:8) God permitted Satan to attack Job and used it for good Comforters came to Job but failed to help

4. When they finished, Job started his speech about God This brings us to our text – Job 26

5. But Job answered and said, [2] How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? [3] How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? [4] To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

6. Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. [6] Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. [7] He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.

7. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. [9] He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. [10] He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end.

8. [11] The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. [12] He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. [13] By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.

9. [14] Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?

10. I. In this chapter we see the mighty power of God

11. A. “Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.” –v. 6 God can see things that we cannot see – He can sees the place of “outer darkness” – He can see everything!

12. 1 Pet. 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

13. B. “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing” – v. 7 This concerns the great power of God He is the maker of the law of gravity and the maker of the science of astronomy

14. Some stars are thousands of light years away and light travelling at 186,000 miles per second

15. Heb. 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

16. C. “He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them.” v.8 Water vapor gathers in the clouds There is enough water to drop several inches over an area 100’s of miles long and 100’s of miles wide

17. How much would that amount of water weigh? Yet, God holds it up in the sky – “the cloud is not rent” under it until God wants it to come down

18. To get 1 inch of water on one acre requires about 27,154 gallons of water To get 1 inch of water on one square mile would require over 17 million gallons of water

19. D. “He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it: - v. 9 God can hide His throne – No man can uncover what God has covered

20. E. “He hath compassed the waters with bounds,” God keeps everything in place The earth is rotating and also moving through space – but God keeps all things – even the water – in place

21. F. “The pillars of heaven tremble” – v. 11 “the creation trembles at his presence” Wayne Jackson God’s word brought the flood; destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and will finally destroy the world

22. G. “He divideth the sea with his power” – v. 12 He maintains control over the sea Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry ground

23. H. “By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens” – v. 13 Ps. 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”

24. Ps. 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

25. II. The great lesson is contained in verse 14

26. Job 26:14 (ASV) Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?

27. Job 26:14 (NKJV) Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways ,And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

28. Job 26:14 (NASB) “Behold, these are the fringes of His ways; And how faint a word we hear of Him! But His mighty thunder, who can understand?”

29. If the things mentioned in this chapter are just the outskirts or fringes – imagine His power!

30. “And how small a whisper do we hear of him” – v. 14 “But the thunder of his power who can understand?” – v. 14 Look at whisper versus thunder!

31. All the wonderful evidences of His power listed in this chapter are but “whispers” Man cannot fully comprehend God – that is why faith is essential

32. To see the “outskirts” of His ways helps one to be more amazed at His great power When one observes the spiritual workings of God, he sees things much greater than the things Job observed

33. The Second Person of the Godhead came to earth to change man and to help him God has provided salvation from sin

34. We see God’s providential care He has power to raise the dead He has provided heaven for the faithful

35. Rom. 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?