GOD’S DOMINION

Passage: Job 38:31-41

Key verse: 33

NIV

31 “Can you bind the chains[a] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?(A)
32 Can you bring forth the constellations(B) in their seasons[b]
    or lead out the Bear[c] with its cubs?(C)
33 Do you know the laws(D) of the heavens?(E)
    Can you set up God’s[d] dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?(F)
35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?(G)
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[e](H)
    or gives the rooster understanding?[f](I)
37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars(J) of the heavens(K)
38 when the dust becomes hard(L)
    and the clods of earth stick together?(M)

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions(N)
40 when they crouch in their dens(O)
    or lie in wait in a thicket?(P)
41 Who provides food(Q) for the raven(R)
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?(S)

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Footnotes
  1. Job 38:31 Septuagint; Hebrew beauty
  2. Job 38:32 Or the morning star in its season
  3. Job 38:32 Or out Leo
  4. Job 38:33 Or their
  5. Job 38:36 That is, wisdom about the flooding of the Nile
  6. Job 38:36 That is, understanding of when to crow; the meaning of the Hebrew for this verse is uncertain.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

31 “Can you bind the chains of (A)the Pleiades
    or loose the cords of (B)Orion?
32 Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth[a] in their season,
    or can you guide (C)the Bear with its children?
33 Do you know (D)the ordinances of the heavens?
    Can you establish their rule on the earth?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
    that (E)a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go
    and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has (F)put wisdom in (G)the inward parts[b]
    or given understanding to the mind?[c]
37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom?
    Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass
    and (H)the clods stick fast together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
    or (I)satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their (J)dens
    or lie in wait (K)in their thicket?
41 Who provides for (L)the raven its prey,
    when its young ones cry to God for help,
    and wander about for lack of food?

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Footnotes
  1. Job 38:32 Probably the name of a constellation
  2. Job 38:36 Or in the ibis
  3. Job 38:36 Or rooster
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

God continued by asking Job to consider his dominion over the earth. God is the one who set the stars in the heavens. He set each of the constellations, and he rules over their movements throughout the seasons and years. When God revealed himself to Abraham in Genesis 15, he took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” God reveals his awesome power in the heavens, and this he now revealed to Job.

God’s dominion is not impersonal. His might is also revealed in his care. He gives clouds and water to provide life. He gives the wisdom and understanding each animal needs to have life. He cares about the hunger of all his creation, from the lion to the raven. He is able to hear those who cry out to God. His dominion over the earth is expressed in his care for each of our needs.

Prayer: Lord, you have dominion over the earth, and you know my need. Help me to cry out to you in my need.

One Word: Bring your needs to God