Sabbath school lesson 11, 4th quarter of 2016

OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND

Lesson 11 for December 10, 2016

Adapted from www.fustero.es

www.gmahktanjungpinang.org

‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s

foundation? Tell me, if you know’ ” (Job 38:4,

NIrV)

God answers (Job 38:1). God’s question (Job 38:2-3). God introduces Himself as the

Creator (Job 38:4-41). God appeals to Job’s wisdom (Job

39). Job’s answer (Job 42:1-6).

“Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” (Job 38:3)

GOD ANSWERS “Then the Lord

answered Job out of the

whirlwind.” (Job 38:1)

God showed up in an unexpected and spectacular way after Elihu’s speech.God spoke to Job behind a whirlwind. He showed Himself to Job like He did to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 15:1-6; 26:4; 32:24-32).God knows the sorrows of His children. He wants to show Himself to us personally to relieve our suffering.

No matter our sorrows, our troubles, or whatever we face in this life, we can have the assurance that God is near and that we can trust Him.

That is why He walked as a person like us, He suffered like we do and He opened a “new and living way” so we could reach Him (Hebrews 10:20).

GOD’S QUESTION

“Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” (Job 38:2-3)God’s first words to Job didn’t sound very encouraging: “Why do you speak without knowledge?”He challenged Job to answer His questions. Since He already knew Job couldn’t answer them, why did He ask them?God’s questions aren’t supposed to make us know more. His questions are designed to make us reflect so we can get to the right conclusion.

“Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11).

“Where is Abel your brother? (Genesis 4:9).

“What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:9).

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4).

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? […] for you were already born! You have lived so many years!”

(Job 38:4, 21 NIV)Job 38:4-7 Job 38:8-11 Job 38:12-15

Job 38:16-17 Job 38:18 Job 38:19-21

GOD INTRODUCES HIMSELF AS THE CREATOR

Job 38:22-23 Job 38:24 Job 38:25-28

Job 38:29-30 Job 38:31-33 Job 38:34-35

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? […] for you were already born! You have lived so many years!”

(Job 38:4, 21 NIV)

GOD INTRODUCES HIMSELF AS THE CREATOR

Job expected to hear answers about the reason for his calamity. God taught him that he was unable to understand the answer.Had Job seen the wonderful act of Creation? Could he see how God acts in every natural phenomenon? God’s questions make us understand that we are ignorant of the created world.

Job 38:36 Job 38:37-38

Job 38:39-40 Job 38:41

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? […] for you were already born! You have lived so many years!”

(Job 38:4, 21 NIV)

GOD INTRODUCES HIMSELF AS THE CREATOR

How can I understand my Creator if I cannot even

understand what He created? Thank God because He

revealed Himself on Jesus Christ.

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?” (Job 39:13)

Job 39:1-4 Job 39:5-8

Job 39:9-12 Job 39:13Thanks to science we can answer some of God’s questions to Job.Nevertheless, there are still many unanswered questions.Our knowledge of Creation is still very limited.

GOD APPEALS TO JOB’S WISDOM

“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, but are her wings and pinions like the kindly stork’s?” (Job 39:13)

Thanks to science we can answer some of God’s questions to Job.Nevertheless, there are still many unanswered questions.Our knowledge of Creation is still very limited.

GOD APPEALS TO JOB’S WISDOM

Job 39:14-18 Job 39:19-25

Job 39:26 Job 39:27-30

“Why has He clothed the earth and trees with living green, instead of with dark, somber brown? Is it not

that they may be more pleasing to the eye? And shall not our hearts be filled with gratitude as we read the evidences of His wisdom and love in the wonders of

His creation?The same creative energy that brought the world into

existence is still exerted in upholding the universe and continuing the operations of nature. The hand of

God guides the planets in their orderly march through the heavens. It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth continues her

motion round the sun and produces her bounties. The word of God controls the elements. He covers the

heavens with clouds and prepares rain for the earth. He makes the valleys fruitful and “grass to grow

upon the mountains;” Psalm 147:8. It is through His power that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves

appear and the flowers bloom.The whole natural world is designed to be an

interpreter of the things of God.”E.G.W. (Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, section 5, cp. 25, p. 185)

“Then Job replied to the Lord: ‘I know that you can do all things; no

purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked,

“Who is this that obscures my plans

without knowledge?” Surely I spoke of things

I did not understand, things too wonderful for

me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question

you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but

now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise

myself and repent in dust and ashes.’” (Job

42:1-6 NIV)

JOB’S ANSWER

Isaiah 6:5• “So I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am

undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.’”Luke 5:8

• “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’”

Once Job understood God better, he was also more aware of his foolishness and sinfulness. The more we know about God the more aware we are of our own unworthiness, like Isaiah and Peter. “With what shall I come before the Lord?” (Micah 6:6). “Where is boasting then? It is excluded.” (Romans 3:27).Even perfect and upright people who fear God and stray from sin need a Savior. Our only wise reaction before God is to repent in dust and ashes.

JOB’S ANSWER

E.G.W. (The Great Controversy, cp. 27, p. 471)