Job 40:7, New International Version

“Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.”

My husband and I are blessed to be part of the elder team at the church he is called to pastor. We went on an elder retreat with the team to seek the Lord’s will, to rest, and to be refreshed, so that we can serve with renewed capacity and in His will.

During the retreat, we had scheduled time to go sightseeing in the surrounding area, where there are trails with different sizes of waterfalls. Even though I am not naturally a “nature person” and often miss the beauty of God in it, I was amazed by His power just by standing there and seeing His creation. As I stood there in awe of the mist rising from the crashing waterfall, one of the sisters who was with us said to me, “Look, it is just like the power of God—no one should play with it.” Wow, what a powerful illustration and insight from that statement!

Throughout the Old Testament, are we not learning this truth? Do we not humbly gain understanding through the book of Job and recognize that we cannot answer His questions, just as Job could not? “Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like His?” (Job 40:9, NIV)

A few days ago, my younger son asked me a question: “Mom, do you know what the most powerful energy is?”

“God.”

“No, I mean energy on earth!”

“The energy that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit.”

“The correct answer is nuclear power.”

“Well, every kind of energy is created by God… everything comes from something, but only God can make something out of nothing.” (Romans 4:17)

Someone once said, “If you can believe what is written in the first verse of Genesis, you can believe the Word of God—the Bible. But if you cannot accept this beginning verse, you will never fully believe or understand the rest of the Word.”

What is that verse? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, NIV)

“Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? Let him who accuses God answer Him!” (Job 40:2, NIV). May all mankind humble ourselves before God and take heed.