When God Speaks
The sermon explores how God's voice brings awareness of His presence and the importance of humility in our relationship with Him.
Theodore Epp emphasizes the profound impact of God's voice in Job 38:1-11, where God speaks to Job from a whirlwind, making him acutely aware of God's presence. This moment transforms Job's understanding, shifting from a sense of God's absence to a realization of His nearness. Epp highlights that God's questions to Job were meant to humble him rather than to argue or restore his fortunes immediately. The sermon illustrates that recognizing one's insignificance in the presence of God is essential for proper thinking and belief. Ultimately, Epp connects this experience to the broader theme of how God has communicated with humanity through various means, culminating in His Son.
Text
Job 38:1-11
God spoke to Job out of a whirlwind at this point, and what He said had an immediate effect. God's voice made Job conscious of the presence of God, whom he had not seen and said he could not find. Before this the discussion had been about God as if He were absent. Now Job was suddenly made aware of His nearness.
When a person suddenly realizes he is in God's presence, his life can be profoundly affected. At one time Peter said to Jesus, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, 0 Lord" (Luke 5:8). He realized that since he was in the presence of the Lord Jesus, he was in the presence of God.
God did not immediately restore Job's health or possessions. He did not even argue with Job. Why should He? Instead, He asked Job a series of questions that were designed to bring him to proper thinking and believing.
Job had shown some arrogance; he needed to be humbled. In this God used irony to good effect. He did not use sarcasm, for His purpose was not to humiliate Job but to humble him. It is one thing to be brought to the place where we recognize we are nothing; it is quite another to be humiliated--so bullied or made fun of or made to look cheap that we inwardly cringe at the treatment we receive. People can easily humiliate each other, but that is not the way God works.
"God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son" (Heb. 1:1,2, NASB).
Sermon Outline
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I
- God's voice and its immediate effect
- Awareness of God's presence
- Contrast with previous discussions about God
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II
- The impact of realizing God's presence
- Peter's recognition of his sinfulness
- The significance of being in God's presence
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III
- God's approach to Job's situation
- Questions designed for proper thinking
- The purpose of God's questioning
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IV
- Job's arrogance and need for humility
- God's use of irony versus sarcasm
- The difference between humility and humiliation
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V
- God's communication through prophets
- The ultimate revelation in His Son
- The continuity of God's message
Key Quotes
“God spoke to Job out of a whirlwind at this point, and what He said had an immediate effect.” — Theodore Epp
“It is one thing to be brought to the place where we recognize we are nothing; it is quite another to be humiliated.” — Theodore Epp
“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Recognize the profound impact of being in God's presence in your daily life.
- Approach God with humility, understanding your limitations and need for His guidance.
- Reflect on God's questions in your life to gain deeper insights into your faith.