WEBVTT 00:00:00.280 --> 00:00:05.639 Thank you so much, Thomas and Adi, and we do pray that God will add the blessing to his holy words. 00:00:06.480 --> 00:00:09.000 Folks, turn back with me to Job chapter 38. 00:00:09.759 --> 00:00:14.220 As you're turning there, let me tell you about my favorite TV blooper ever in the history of television. 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:21.760 Back in 2010, a guy called, or a man called, Guy Kumi appears on BBC News. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:29.980 Right, and he's there, he's being interviewed, asked to give his take on a recent court case that happened in the music industry, right, back in 2010. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.219 I'm sure if you thought about it, you could understand some of the questions that were being asked back in 2010. 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:42.179 So the news lady asks him, she says, Mr. Kumi, were you surprised by the outcome of the case? 00:00:43.859 --> 00:00:50.379 And the guy's a rabbit caught in the headlights, and he's got absolutely nothing of worth to say. 00:00:50.859 --> 00:00:57.560 So she perseveres, she asks him again, she says, tell me, what was your take on the financial outcome of the case? 00:00:58.400 --> 00:01:05.180 Again, the man stares blankly, he tries to waffle an answer, but he has absolutely nothing to say. 00:01:05.420 --> 00:01:12.140 So she tries one more time, and she says, tell me, Mr. Kumi, what do you think this means for the future of the music industry? 00:01:12.260 --> 00:01:16.379 And once again, he has absolutely nothing to say. 00:01:16.719 --> 00:01:21.780 And it goes down in the history of one of the worst TV interviews of all time. 00:01:21.780 --> 00:01:33.019 So you had this car crash moment of television where the nation watched this man publicly wilt in front of the cameras, in front of the heat of the questions that were coming at him. 00:01:33.099 --> 00:01:37.980 And it suddenly dawned on everyone that they'd invited the wrong person. 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:41.040 They'd invited the wrong man. 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:48.680 So they put a man on the set, and they're grilling him with these questions, and they've got the wrong man. 00:01:49.320 --> 00:01:49.560 Right? 00:01:49.600 --> 00:01:55.600 He's got no wisdom to offer, he's got no insights to give, and the man is just so clearly out of his depth. 00:01:56.580 --> 00:01:57.460 Now here's the thing. 00:01:57.880 --> 00:01:58.460 Here's my week. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:04.120 Spent the first half of the week having heard that story, having a right good laugh at Guy Kumi. 00:02:04.900 --> 00:02:05.060 Right? 00:02:05.100 --> 00:02:06.100 It's a funny story, isn't it? 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:07.200 Having a right good laugh at him. 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:17.759 And then I spent the second half of this week, as I faced up to the awesomeness of the God who speaks in these chapters of Job, 00:02:17.920 --> 00:02:25.939 and thought about the questions which he asks him, realizing that I am Guy Kumi. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:31.860 Here's what's going on as we get back into the letter, or sorry, the book of Job. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:35.659 Job is finally getting what he's wanted the whole time. 00:02:35.659 --> 00:02:37.099 What's he wanted the whole time? 00:02:37.139 --> 00:02:39.579 We've traveled with him through this book, haven't we? 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.379 He's just wanted God to answer him. 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:43.680 It's what he's wanted, right? 00:02:44.219 --> 00:02:46.840 You don't need to turn there, but chapter 23 at the beginning. 00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:49.419 Here's just a little snippet of what Job has wanted. 00:02:49.620 --> 00:02:50.379 Chapter 23. 00:02:50.800 --> 00:02:51.439 Job says, 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:53.340 If only I knew where to find him. 00:02:53.579 --> 00:02:55.180 If only I could go to his dwelling. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:59.219 I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. 00:02:59.639 --> 00:03:03.719 I would find out what he would answer me and consider what he would say to me. 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:06.219 Job has just wanted God to speak. 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:08.379 What have you got to say, God? 00:03:08.460 --> 00:03:09.379 Why is this happening? 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:14.780 Well, in these chapters, the rest of the book, Job gets his wish. 00:03:16.120 --> 00:03:21.960 And it's as if, to tie in with the imagery, God invites Job into his studio and says, 00:03:22.060 --> 00:03:22.639 Take a seat. 00:03:24.340 --> 00:03:24.520 Right? 00:03:24.579 --> 00:03:29.199 And Job sits there with all kinds of accusations in his mind. 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:31.379 He's sitting there with all sorts of questions. 00:03:31.780 --> 00:03:36.259 And I think he's sitting there, I'd imagine, with all sorts of suggestions in his mind as 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:38.599 to how God should govern the universe. 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:41.739 Do you remember, this is, again, a song that's been in my head all week. 00:03:41.780 --> 00:03:44.979 Do you remember when we were little and there was that nursery song? 00:03:45.839 --> 00:03:46.019 Right? 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:46.899 It went something like this. 00:03:46.979 --> 00:03:50.099 The runaway train came over the hill and she blew. 00:03:50.659 --> 00:03:51.219 Remember that song? 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:53.780 The runaway train came over the hill and she blew. 00:03:53.780 --> 00:03:58.419 And the whole thing was about this train that was just completely out of control. 00:03:59.099 --> 00:04:01.379 And I googled the lyrics this week, right? 00:04:02.039 --> 00:04:06.259 The engineer can't stop the train, nor the fireman can't stop the train, nor the conductor 00:04:06.259 --> 00:04:07.240 can't stop the train. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:09.180 This thing is totally out of control. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:13.379 And we sing it to this kind of nice little nursery rhyme, don't we? 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:15.539 But it's such a horrible song when you think about it. 00:04:16.959 --> 00:04:23.199 But that's what Job has concluded is true about God and his relationship to the world. 00:04:23.779 --> 00:04:25.759 It's chaos. 00:04:26.059 --> 00:04:26.759 It's out of control. 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:28.000 Who's in control of this thing? 00:04:28.179 --> 00:04:30.879 Who's sitting there conducting this thing? 00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:33.639 Maybe that's where you're at today. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:35.099 Right? 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:38.459 Is there a God who's in control of the world? 00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:44.079 Maybe in light of everything that's gone on in the world over the last couple of weeks 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:49.119 and the heartbreaking pictures and videos that we've seen from different parts of our world. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:52.539 We were praying for Haiti, weren't we, just a few moments ago. 00:04:52.540 --> 00:04:56.340 Maybe that's the question that's front and center of your mind as you sit here today. 00:04:58.080 --> 00:05:02.439 And I take it that is a valid question and that is a good question that I'm sure every 00:05:02.439 --> 00:05:03.720 single one of us has thought about. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:07.100 Is there a good God who's in control of this? 00:05:09.860 --> 00:05:16.879 We see God has patiently waited and he's listened to Job and his friends for 37 chapters. 00:05:17.500 --> 00:05:20.939 Remember we said last week, it's a testimony, isn't it, to the character of God. 00:05:20.939 --> 00:05:21.759 He is patient. 00:05:24.879 --> 00:05:26.540 And God finally says, let me speak. 00:05:27.959 --> 00:05:31.420 And he says, verse 3 of chapter 38, and we'll tap into the text here. 00:05:31.480 --> 00:05:32.719 He says, I will question you. 00:05:33.740 --> 00:05:37.879 And everything that follows centers around the summary key question I think that God asks. 00:05:38.800 --> 00:05:41.740 And if you didn't feel like Gaikumi before, you will just now. 00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:44.800 What does he say at verse 4? 00:05:44.860 --> 00:05:45.500 What's the question? 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:46.780 Here's the opening gambit. 00:05:48.060 --> 00:05:51.060 Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? 00:05:53.699 --> 00:05:54.139 Wow. 00:05:55.740 --> 00:05:56.139 Right? 00:05:56.259 --> 00:06:01.620 Most of us weren't even here for the beginning of our houses, let alone the creation of the world. 00:06:01.620 --> 00:06:04.180 God says, where were you? 00:06:05.980 --> 00:06:06.899 And what's God's point? 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:12.000 Surely it's to reaffirm to Job that he is the creator and Job is the creature. 00:06:12.959 --> 00:06:17.019 And as the creator, he is in control of his creation. 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:24.000 In ways that are far above Job's capacity as a creature to fully understand. 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:27.759 And so as we consider these questions, and there's a lot of them. 00:06:27.819 --> 00:06:29.259 I started counting them this week. 00:06:29.799 --> 00:06:31.539 And there was just too many for me to count. 00:06:32.639 --> 00:06:34.500 I take it two things are going to happen to us. 00:06:34.579 --> 00:06:37.180 Firstly, we will be shrunk down to size. 00:06:38.099 --> 00:06:38.379 Okay? 00:06:38.419 --> 00:06:39.819 As we contemplate our smallness. 00:06:39.899 --> 00:06:44.740 And I take it that that is a really healthy thing for us to do. 00:06:44.740 --> 00:06:47.819 A good spoonful of humility is always a healthy thing. 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:48.900 They will shrink us down. 00:06:49.019 --> 00:06:55.660 And I hope and I pray that they will build us up as we consider God's goodness. 00:06:56.699 --> 00:06:59.120 Let me just try and point us in the right direction. 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:01.780 I'm just going to pick out three quick things here. 00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:07.780 Just to, I think just to help us see the way in which God is approaching this conversation. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.939 Do you notice beginning of verse 38, who is it that's speaking? 00:07:12.379 --> 00:07:13.199 It's not God. 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:14.240 Well, it is God. 00:07:15.220 --> 00:07:16.199 But the term there is not God. 00:07:16.280 --> 00:07:17.379 It's the Lord, isn't it? 00:07:18.579 --> 00:07:19.920 It's the covenant name of God. 00:07:20.699 --> 00:07:23.600 It's the God who has committed himself to his people. 00:07:23.860 --> 00:07:26.560 It is the God of steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.460 And it's as almost as if the writer at this point is saying, remember who's speaking. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:30.319 This is the Lord. 00:07:30.540 --> 00:07:31.600 This is who he is. 00:07:33.180 --> 00:07:34.340 The Lord speaks. 00:07:34.840 --> 00:07:39.660 But have you ever considered how wonderful a thing it is that the creator of the universe would speak? 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:41.280 Have you ever thought about that? 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:44.679 That he would speak face to face with Job? 00:07:45.299 --> 00:07:47.439 But he would speak to us. 00:07:47.539 --> 00:07:51.379 Have you ever considered that the book you have in front of you is God's inspired word? 00:07:51.459 --> 00:07:53.519 It's his very word to us. 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:54.599 Right? 00:07:54.699 --> 00:07:56.319 Written in a way that we can understand. 00:07:56.319 --> 00:08:01.079 He speaks in a way that we will comprehend who he is. 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:03.199 And we can pick this up in our own language. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:07.540 And remember the people who made sacrifices down the generations that this would be a privilege for us. 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:10.939 And read and understand and use to nick a line. 00:08:11.580 --> 00:08:13.920 The wisdom and reason that God has put in our minds. 00:08:14.020 --> 00:08:17.100 And you see that in chapter 38 verse 36. 00:08:17.560 --> 00:08:22.439 Wisdom in our minds that we can pick up, read, think and respond to who he is. 00:08:23.560 --> 00:08:25.879 This is the Lord who speaks. 00:08:26.140 --> 00:08:28.640 And lastly, notice how he speaks. 00:08:29.879 --> 00:08:32.120 Could have just made blanket statements, couldn't he? 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:33.720 I made God, the Lord. 00:08:34.139 --> 00:08:35.159 I made the earth. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:36.940 I made the seas. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:39.179 I hold the stars in place. 00:08:39.379 --> 00:08:40.639 I make the birds fly. 00:08:41.419 --> 00:08:42.639 I make the seas gush. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.679 But do you see how God does this? 00:08:46.360 --> 00:08:47.480 Rhetorical questions. 00:08:47.919 --> 00:08:48.259 Do you see? 00:08:48.919 --> 00:08:51.220 What's the purpose of a rhetorical question? 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:57.940 Are there to invite you to reflect on the question and to think about the logic of the answer? 00:08:57.940 --> 00:09:04.260 Isn't that just a wonderful bit of pastoral wisdom that God uses here? 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:06.780 It's almost inviting Job in to see. 00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:08.400 See who I am. 00:09:08.760 --> 00:09:08.860 Right? 00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:14.060 God invites Job to look out and consider what the universe is telling him. 00:09:14.720 --> 00:09:17.200 What is it that Sherlock always says to Watson? 00:09:18.620 --> 00:09:20.840 What do you deduce, Watson? 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:21.660 Isn't it? 00:09:21.700 --> 00:09:22.840 What do you deduce, Watson? 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:25.080 Well, that's, I think, is what God is doing here. 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:29.780 God takes Job on a tour of the universe that he has made and controls and says, 00:09:29.940 --> 00:09:30.740 what do you deduce? 00:09:31.580 --> 00:09:32.700 What does it tell you? 00:09:34.800 --> 00:09:38.920 And he takes him firstly to the highest and the widest of places. 00:09:39.280 --> 00:09:40.160 Chapter 38. 00:09:41.060 --> 00:09:42.300 Takes him to the earth. 00:09:42.560 --> 00:09:43.220 Verse 4. 00:09:43.800 --> 00:09:45.120 Were you there in the beginning, Job? 00:09:46.060 --> 00:09:46.320 Right? 00:09:46.379 --> 00:09:49.140 Did you stretch out the earth's dimensions? 00:09:50.020 --> 00:09:51.560 Did you sink it down? 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:52.040 Right? 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:53.519 The imagery here. 00:09:54.179 --> 00:09:55.360 We've got an architect here. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:56.860 You'll feel this imagery, right? 00:09:57.179 --> 00:09:57.740 That's what he's saying. 00:09:57.860 --> 00:09:59.079 God is the architect. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:03.079 He is the builder of the entire creation. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:04.459 That's the imagery here. 00:10:04.559 --> 00:10:05.019 Verse 8. 00:10:05.319 --> 00:10:06.799 What about the mighty seas, Job? 00:10:07.799 --> 00:10:08.980 What about the mighty seas? 00:10:10.319 --> 00:10:12.599 Did you cause them to gush forth? 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:15.039 Did you determine their boundaries? 00:10:15.659 --> 00:10:18.799 I love the language God is saying that the seas will only come so far. 00:10:19.659 --> 00:10:21.299 I've determined their places. 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:24.519 What about the sun? 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:25.399 Verse 12. 00:10:25.559 --> 00:10:26.019 The morning. 00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:28.039 The sun that rises every day. 00:10:28.219 --> 00:10:32.339 The description here is almost like God whispers in the ear of the sun. 00:10:32.500 --> 00:10:33.939 And the sun gets up and does its thing. 00:10:34.219 --> 00:10:34.419 Right? 00:10:34.479 --> 00:10:35.579 Like a parent with their child. 00:10:35.779 --> 00:10:36.799 This is what God is doing. 00:10:37.859 --> 00:10:39.659 Do you cause the rain to fall? 00:10:39.779 --> 00:10:40.779 Verse 25. 00:10:41.719 --> 00:10:41.919 Right? 00:10:41.979 --> 00:10:42.779 I knew I was middle-aged. 00:10:42.839 --> 00:10:44.159 I said to the girls yesterday. 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:45.339 I was tipping it down. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.019 And I'm happy. 00:10:46.099 --> 00:10:46.719 Why am I happy? 00:10:46.759 --> 00:10:48.439 Because the plants will get a good water. 00:10:48.440 --> 00:10:50.680 But it's true, isn't it? 00:10:50.720 --> 00:10:51.400 What he's saying. 00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:53.040 Do you cause the rain to fall? 00:10:53.160 --> 00:10:53.800 Verse 25. 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:55.060 Water the earth. 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:56.700 Do you cause the grass to grow? 00:10:56.780 --> 00:10:57.720 How about the stars? 00:10:57.900 --> 00:10:58.600 Verse 31. 00:10:59.020 --> 00:11:01.740 Love that description of God creating the world. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:03.460 Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. 00:11:03.900 --> 00:11:05.460 And he created the stars. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:07.240 It wasn't difficult for him. 00:11:07.300 --> 00:11:08.140 I think that's the point. 00:11:08.260 --> 00:11:09.560 He created the stars. 00:11:09.820 --> 00:11:11.620 The Pleiades. 00:11:11.880 --> 00:11:12.640 I think that's how you say it. 00:11:12.640 --> 00:11:13.240 The Orion. 00:11:13.899 --> 00:11:15.139 Did you create them, Job? 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:16.600 Did you make them do their thing? 00:11:17.680 --> 00:11:21.039 Remember, twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:24.379 What they are is testament to God's wisdom in creation. 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:27.940 And on and on and on we could go here. 00:11:28.279 --> 00:11:32.659 God takes Job to the highest of places and says, what do you deduce? 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:36.379 And he takes them to the widest of places. 00:11:37.460 --> 00:11:38.799 And to the animals. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:41.199 Chapter 39. 00:11:41.519 --> 00:11:44.120 Job, do you know when the mountain goats give birth? 00:11:45.819 --> 00:11:46.639 Follow with me. 00:11:46.679 --> 00:11:47.199 Verse 5. 00:11:47.319 --> 00:11:50.039 Who let the wild donkey go free? 00:11:50.279 --> 00:11:50.759 Verse 9. 00:11:50.839 --> 00:11:54.699 Will the wild ox consent to serve you? 00:11:54.819 --> 00:11:55.579 Verse 13. 00:11:55.699 --> 00:12:00.019 The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare. 00:12:00.159 --> 00:12:00.979 Verse 26. 00:12:01.079 --> 00:12:03.339 Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom? 00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:06.979 And spread its wings towards the thouse? 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:11.420 Does the eagle do its thing on your command? 00:12:11.639 --> 00:12:16.759 I think the point is that all of these animals, right, you wouldn't find any of them down at Pets at Home. 00:12:17.740 --> 00:12:17.879 Right? 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:18.879 Think about who they are. 00:12:18.960 --> 00:12:21.440 No child is asking for a wild donkey for Christmas. 00:12:21.680 --> 00:12:21.800 Right? 00:12:21.840 --> 00:12:23.800 That was not coming to me in four months' time. 00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:26.399 These aren't domesticated. 00:12:26.519 --> 00:12:28.080 These aren't desirable animals. 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:32.220 And remember back in chapter 1, the context of the book, Job is no stranger to animals. 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:32.620 Right? 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:38.620 Right back in chapter 1, we're introduced to him as a man who has an impressive number of animals that he owns. 00:12:38.860 --> 00:12:41.960 So he knows animals, but he doesn't know these ones. 00:12:43.259 --> 00:12:47.360 He's probably never seen them, let alone managed to control them. 00:12:47.560 --> 00:12:47.700 Right? 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:49.660 He doesn't know who these animals are. 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:51.680 You know, it never ceases to amaze me. 00:12:51.679 --> 00:12:55.019 You know, we watch these nature programs on BBC, right? 00:12:55.059 --> 00:12:56.299 They're fantastic things. 00:12:56.839 --> 00:13:00.879 It never ceases to amaze me that as human beings we're still finding creatures. 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:05.719 You know, I think that in the depths of the oceans and we're still finding things. 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:10.759 We've been on this planet for how many numbers of years and we're still finding things. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.000 Is that not really cool? 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:20.480 But is it also not incredibly humbling that there's animals out there, there's creatures that we just don't know about? 00:13:20.580 --> 00:13:22.000 In the words of Pokemon, right? 00:13:22.019 --> 00:13:23.039 We ain't caught them all. 00:13:24.679 --> 00:13:30.399 God is saying, Job, I've just got knowledge on a level of my creation that you just don't have. 00:13:31.460 --> 00:13:37.320 And yet, says God, even these wild animals that no one knows about, no one cares about, I made them. 00:13:38.779 --> 00:13:40.559 And I have complete knowledge of them. 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.959 I love that image, isn't it, of the animals giving birth. 00:13:43.299 --> 00:13:43.939 Were you there? 00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:45.159 Do you know what I know? 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.179 I know when they give birth. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:49.359 I know when they set out. 00:13:49.439 --> 00:13:51.039 I provide for them. 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:56.919 This God of all power and yet this God of intimate knowledge. 00:13:58.439 --> 00:14:00.579 This is the kind of God that we're dealing here. 00:14:00.699 --> 00:14:06.179 He takes Job to the highest and the widest of places and says, Job, what do you deduce? 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:11.399 And he also takes them to the deepest and the darkest of places. 00:14:12.219 --> 00:14:14.159 Highest and widest, deepest and darkest. 00:14:15.359 --> 00:14:19.679 You know, there's that famous scene, isn't there, in the Lion King where Mephasis is speaking to Simba. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:23.500 And they're talking about where the reign of their kingdom goes to. 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:26.199 And Simba says, what about that shadowy place? 00:14:27.039 --> 00:14:28.299 What about that shadowy place? 00:14:28.819 --> 00:14:29.959 And Mephasis says, no. 00:14:30.919 --> 00:14:32.019 That's not our land. 00:14:32.079 --> 00:14:32.799 That's not our kingdom. 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:33.899 You must never go there. 00:14:33.899 --> 00:14:36.799 Not so with this God. 00:14:38.459 --> 00:14:39.759 Not so with this God. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:42.840 Everything is under his control. 00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:51.639 And while that is absolutely true, friends, we would do really well to grapple with, 00:14:51.679 --> 00:14:57.620 I've spent my whole week doing this, grapple with the exact language that's being used here. 00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:58.559 Right? 00:14:58.600 --> 00:14:59.980 Let me just give you a couple of these. 00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:03.639 Again, just don't settle for a simplistic answer. 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:06.539 You've got to think harder about what this is saying. 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:09.819 If you've got chapter 38 there, verse 17. 00:15:09.959 --> 00:15:11.279 Where does God take Job? 00:15:12.679 --> 00:15:15.259 Have the gates of death been shown to you? 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.679 Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness? 00:15:21.039 --> 00:15:21.199 Right? 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.699 Verse 23. 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:25.379 Do you see God mentions the battles and wars? 00:15:25.860 --> 00:15:30.379 Even the description of some of the animals, the lions hunting their prey. 00:15:30.579 --> 00:15:31.799 Verse 39. 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:37.299 I even noticed one in the reading there that hadn't seen the description of the hawk. 00:15:37.859 --> 00:15:38.859 39, 40. 00:15:38.979 --> 00:15:42.039 It's young ones suck up the blood and where the slain are, there it is. 00:15:42.819 --> 00:15:45.899 The ostrich, verse 16, dealing cruelly with her young. 00:15:46.059 --> 00:15:47.759 Think about what's being described here. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:51.220 You know, we love that Louis Armstrong song, don't we? 00:15:51.259 --> 00:15:52.439 What a wonderful world. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.220 And it absolutely is. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.439 The heavens declare the glory of God. 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:01.120 And yet, is it not true that there's something of truth in what Gary Jewell sang? 00:16:01.819 --> 00:16:02.620 Mad world. 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.460 Thinking about what goes on in our world. 00:16:06.600 --> 00:16:10.039 And we read this and we have to conclude, it's a beautiful world. 00:16:10.039 --> 00:16:12.899 But is it not a scary world as well? 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:16.179 Is that not what's being described here? 00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:18.439 What is it C.S. Lewis said about the world? 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.919 It is a glorious ruin. 00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:24.139 And you have to say often, don't you? 00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:31.319 Often it doesn't feel like a world that is created and governed by a good God. 00:16:31.320 --> 00:16:35.360 And see this mention of hail and thunder. 00:16:36.560 --> 00:16:40.080 It naturally raises questions about things like natural disasters, doesn't it? 00:16:40.120 --> 00:16:42.700 Imagine your brains went straight there when we read it. 00:16:43.080 --> 00:16:46.520 Hugely relevant given the images we've seen from Haiti over the last few weeks. 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:51.800 But I imagine even hearing on the news last night, stuff that might be coming up in central and northern America. 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:55.040 Why do they happen? 00:16:55.880 --> 00:16:57.020 What's going on here? 00:16:57.019 --> 00:17:07.119 And I take it the honest answer we have to give as human beings and the honest answer we have to give as followers of Jesus is that we just don't know. 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:19.519 And I think any attempt on our behalf to pretend that we have got a full answer to that question is both untrue and unhelpful. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.700 We just don't know. 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:25.579 And so I've been thinking about all week. 00:17:25.579 --> 00:17:27.579 Why does God even include this? 00:17:28.279 --> 00:17:31.980 Why not just stop with the grand stuff? 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:33.519 The earth and the stars and the sun. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:34.220 We'd love that. 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:34.859 We get that. 00:17:34.939 --> 00:17:35.960 Why take them here? 00:17:38.179 --> 00:17:40.500 I take it that there's great assurance here for Job. 00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:45.859 Not only by the fact that God is saying, I'm in sovereign control of all this. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:51.139 But perhaps there's something more going on here. 00:17:51.140 --> 00:17:58.560 You know, apparently the scene, if you remember the David Attenborough documentary back in the day, Planet Earth. 00:17:59.740 --> 00:17:59.860 Right. 00:17:59.920 --> 00:18:09.280 Did you know the most complained about scene in that whole thing was the scene where the lions took on the elephants? 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:13.700 And I think they managed to take one down and the whole thing was about how they devoured it. 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:15.099 People hated it. 00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.399 Don't watch it. 00:18:17.180 --> 00:18:17.899 It's turning over. 00:18:18.379 --> 00:18:20.000 But it's not interesting, friends. 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.779 It's not quite revealing for us. 00:18:22.779 --> 00:18:23.399 It's not quite revealing for us. 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:30.680 That when we see this kind of stuff happen in the dark, we instinctively know that there's something not quite right about that. 00:18:32.240 --> 00:18:40.819 And the Bible would say that that gut reaction, that there's something not quite right with this world, is absolutely true. 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:47.619 This isn't the perfect world, is it, that we see described in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. 00:18:48.679 --> 00:18:54.460 Things here like death, darkness and evil, they were nowhere to be found in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. 00:18:54.599 --> 00:18:59.639 This is the world ravaged by the effects of the fall post-Genesis 3. 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:04.460 And it's a world that Job is currently experiencing. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:08.380 And it's a world in desperate need of renewal. 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:18.100 And so as God asks Job to consider the darkness and the things that don't quite make sense, 00:19:20.100 --> 00:19:25.279 is he saying, Job, you can trust me that I will deal with it. 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:32.880 A world where the lion and the lamb live together. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:36.900 A world where death is swallowed up by life. 00:19:37.060 --> 00:19:43.700 A world where darkness is banished because the light has told it to go and the light reigns. 00:19:45.140 --> 00:19:46.380 Long for that kind of world. 00:19:47.800 --> 00:19:49.680 It's the one, isn't it, that the Bible describes. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:55.180 Jesus comes, Jesus judges, Jesus banishes all things. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:19:59.220 All things that would stand against him, all sin as a distant memory. 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:02.300 Pains, tears, gone, hurt, gone. 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:04.259 As he brings in his perfect kingdom. 00:20:04.379 --> 00:20:05.919 Is there something as we read this? 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:09.579 As our heart breaks for what's going on in the world. 00:20:10.579 --> 00:20:14.359 How many times I've seen on my Twitter this week just that phrase, come Lord Jesus. 00:20:17.259 --> 00:20:18.899 So what do you deduce, Job? 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:21.940 Where were you when I created the world? 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.460 Were you there? 00:20:24.359 --> 00:20:24.919 Were you there? 00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:26.940 Of course you weren't. 00:20:26.940 --> 00:20:37.960 And yet, friends, there was one man who once lived on earth who could honestly say that he was. 00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:43.980 Love the opening verses of John's gospel. 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:56.839 The man who spent the three intense years with Jesus Christ, seeing him up close and personal, understanding who he is, his teaching, his life, his miracles. 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:58.200 Sees the crucifixion. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.480 Sees him rise. 00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:00.360 Sees him ascend. 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:02.579 What did he write at the beginning of his gospel? 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.519 In the beginning was the word. 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:07.839 And the word was with God. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:10.839 And the word was God. 00:21:11.019 --> 00:21:14.680 He was with God in the beginning. 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:19.700 So John cannot get over Jesus Christ. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.519 You're not dealing with a simple thinker when you come into John's gospel. 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:25.539 That's why every time you pick it up and read. 00:21:25.879 --> 00:21:27.420 It's just like I've never seen this before. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:27.879 What's going on? 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:29.119 You discover new things. 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:42.679 You know, I heard once recently of a woman in Iran who recently converted to Christianity and she referred to the God of the Bible as the like Jesus God. 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:44.059 Brilliant. 00:21:45.539 --> 00:21:49.519 If you're wondering what God is like, friends, judge him on Jesus. 00:21:50.719 --> 00:21:58.779 The one who came to reveal to us the Father, the one through whom all things were made, the one who is sustaining all things even as we speak. 00:21:59.119 --> 00:22:04.239 Who is giving us life at this very moment and the one who is the very living word of God. 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:09.699 You know, one of my favorite scenes in the gospels is for the one we just read earlier. 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:11.459 It's where Jesus speaks to his disciples. 00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:12.500 Right? 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:18.759 And I take it in that moment in Luke 12, if you get into the narrative, that there's a whole crowd of people listening on. 00:22:19.359 --> 00:22:23.899 And Jesus knows that their lives, just like ours, are marked by what? 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.500 Worry. 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:25.579 Why? 00:22:27.339 --> 00:22:29.440 How do you find yourself here this morning worrying? 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.859 What is worry at its core? 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:39.920 If you boil it right down, is it not just, I know this in my own heart, to doubt that God is who he says he is. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:42.339 And to doubt that God is in control. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:46.519 And to doubt that God knows what he's doing and that he loves me. 00:22:47.140 --> 00:22:49.299 Do you know, Jesus speaks to worried people. 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.720 What does he tell them to do? 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.799 Try harder? 00:22:52.019 --> 00:22:52.279 No. 00:22:53.420 --> 00:22:53.700 Right? 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.059 Go and do something else? 00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:55.400 No. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.420 What does he tell them to do? 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:57.559 He tells them to look where? 00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.220 Up. 00:22:59.700 --> 00:23:00.000 Right? 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:02.180 Consider the ravens. 00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:05.559 God's just told Job to consider the ravens, hasn't he? 00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:07.319 Jesus said, consider the ravens. 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:07.660 Right? 00:23:07.700 --> 00:23:09.819 You can imagine the crowd just looking up and thinking, what? 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.840 What's going on? 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:11.799 Right? 00:23:11.799 --> 00:23:16.039 You can't even reach them, let alone understand them, is saying Jesus. 00:23:16.460 --> 00:23:16.559 Right? 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:17.759 They do not sow or reap. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:20.779 They have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them. 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:23.859 Again, looking up, what do you deduce? 00:23:24.819 --> 00:23:27.859 He goes on, consider how the wild flowers grow. 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.200 Right? 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:30.399 You thought about that? 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:34.899 You ever looked at a flower and thought, do you know, it wasn't me that came up with the photosynthesis process. 00:23:35.599 --> 00:23:35.720 Right? 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:39.480 It wasn't me that kind of came up with the thing, the cross pollination and how all that works. 00:23:39.539 --> 00:23:41.600 It wasn't me when I go to the botanics. 00:23:42.339 --> 00:23:42.480 Right? 00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:49.380 It wasn't me that came up with all those wonderful and beautiful species of flowers and everything else that you see down there. 00:23:49.940 --> 00:23:57.500 And Jesus says, they do not labor or spin, yet I tell you not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:59.680 What is Jesus' point? 00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:05.039 It's how much more can you trust your heavenly father? 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:13.859 If he's going to provide for them, how much more can you trust him to lovingly provide for your needs? 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:20.640 As I take it, there are tons of reasons why we might be sitting here this morning worrying. 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:22.559 Right? 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:27.440 Job insecurity, the future of the planet, relational tensions, bills to bay. 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:35.640 Mouths to feed, schools to pick up from, universities to go to, jobs to find, accommodation to meet, deadlines to meet. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:42.519 Isn't it true that we are the most connected and probably technologically advanced age that there has ever been? 00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:47.720 And yet is it not true that we are probably the generation who has worried the most and has most reasons to worry? 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:55.299 It's why the late John Stott always used to say that it was for theological reasons that he took up bird watching. 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:57.900 Look at him. 00:24:57.940 --> 00:24:59.539 What is creation telling us? 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.640 Jesus says, consider. 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:06.420 And I love how Jesus doesn't sit down and answer every single person there. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:09.120 Their questions about what is going on in the world. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:11.339 He doesn't answer their worries. 00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.639 Yet what does he say? 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.799 He says one thing. 00:25:13.919 --> 00:25:16.379 He says, what do you need to do? 00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:25.319 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all else will be added to you. 00:25:25.319 --> 00:25:28.379 Come to me with your worries. 00:25:28.619 --> 00:25:33.539 Come to me with your burdens and trust that I am big enough to handle them. 00:25:34.779 --> 00:25:36.359 And how about you just go for a walk? 00:25:37.899 --> 00:25:38.679 I've done that. 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:44.139 I find walks so helpful just to consider who God is. 00:25:44.879 --> 00:25:45.579 Go for a walk. 00:25:45.659 --> 00:25:46.559 What do you deduce? 00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:49.159 See who your heavenly father is. 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.939 The one who controls all things. 00:25:50.940 --> 00:25:55.940 The one who loves you and come to me and trust me and follow me. 00:25:57.640 --> 00:25:58.680 Says Jesus. 00:25:59.740 --> 00:26:08.900 And who is Jesus, friends, other than the very one who would experience the depths of death and darkness on the cross. 00:26:09.840 --> 00:26:13.700 That's why the gospel writers make such a thing about darkness falling on Jesus. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:17.940 He experiences utter darkness. 00:26:18.320 --> 00:26:19.640 Our sin on him. 00:26:19.640 --> 00:26:21.400 He takes our place. 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:24.100 He knows what it is to be in this world. 00:26:25.820 --> 00:26:32.080 Jesus, who would rise and who would say in the same chapter in Luke chapter 12, in the same passage, 00:26:32.620 --> 00:26:34.540 do not be afraid, little flock. 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:36.780 Love that Jesus calls his little sheep. 00:26:36.960 --> 00:26:37.560 Isn't that incredible? 00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.960 You'll feel like that in your life. 00:26:40.060 --> 00:26:40.720 Little sheep. 00:26:40.840 --> 00:26:41.940 You can't fathom this. 00:26:42.020 --> 00:26:43.020 You do not understand. 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.540 But you know what? 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:48.079 It is your father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:51.220 This is who Jesus Christ is. 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:57.440 You know, just as we close, we've had American presidents in the news all week, right? 00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:02.200 I've had the words of Barack Obama in my head all week. 00:27:03.120 --> 00:27:09.140 Remember his famous tagline, his famous phrase from his acceptance speech when he became president in 2008? 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.299 Remember that line? 00:27:11.200 --> 00:27:14.059 The fact that we remember it even today shows how powerful it was. 00:27:14.580 --> 00:27:15.259 Yes, we can. 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.740 Remember that? 00:27:16.740 --> 00:27:18.319 Yes, we can. 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:20.599 So he said to a nation, yes, we can. 00:27:21.200 --> 00:27:26.019 Notwithstanding the merits of everything that he was talking about and all of that, 00:27:26.099 --> 00:27:27.299 here's what I want to suggest. 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:33.299 That we cannot leave these chapters of Scripture and conclude, yes, we can. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:38.180 The mantra here surely has to be, no, we can't. 00:27:39.579 --> 00:27:40.500 No, we can't. 00:27:42.180 --> 00:27:44.120 And some of us will have lived that this week. 00:27:44.119 --> 00:27:51.179 You know, my week, honestly, I have first week back from holiday, all sorts of worries in my mind, right? 00:27:51.979 --> 00:27:55.479 Emails to answer, sermon to write, services to plan. 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:59.059 Kids starting school this week, they're in different places, going to pick them up. 00:27:59.099 --> 00:28:00.719 How am I going to pick them up in different places? 00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:02.559 What food are we going to eat? 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:03.619 We've got no food in the cupboards. 00:28:03.679 --> 00:28:04.379 What's going on? 00:28:04.419 --> 00:28:06.500 All these different things coming at you in life. 00:28:06.619 --> 00:28:09.959 Think to myself, I do not have the mental capacity to do all of this. 00:28:10.279 --> 00:28:12.639 Came to Wednesday night, I'm sleeping at half past nine. 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:14.700 Never happened before. 00:28:15.560 --> 00:28:16.660 No, we can't. 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.300 I can't. 00:28:18.300 --> 00:28:19.160 I can't do it. 00:28:19.300 --> 00:28:24.580 Friends, I take it there is great freedom in embracing the fact that we are gaikumi. 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:27.380 We are the guy at the start who doesn't have the answers. 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:30.100 Where were you when the world was created? 00:28:30.240 --> 00:28:33.000 You're asking the wrong guy, right? 00:28:33.100 --> 00:28:35.280 I am the creature, not the creator. 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:37.899 But you know what? 00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:43.339 This God, this good, no, I can't. 00:28:43.379 --> 00:28:46.420 And I think that's what qualifies people, as it were, to come to Jesus. 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:50.059 When you read the Gospels, he's never turning away the people who fall at him and say, 00:28:50.139 --> 00:28:51.019 I haven't got this sorted. 00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.359 Don't know what I'm doing. 00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:53.859 I'm sinful. 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:54.660 Would you help me? 00:28:54.700 --> 00:28:56.579 It's never those people he's turning away. 00:28:57.119 --> 00:29:02.279 Friends, I find myself there all the time, looking to Jesus and concluding, no, I can't. 00:29:02.279 --> 00:29:04.579 But yes, he can. 00:29:05.759 --> 00:29:13.119 My savior, my redeemer, my king, my lord, this is who he is. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:16.119 Taking in who he is, coming to him. 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:16.960 Yes, you can. 00:29:17.079 --> 00:29:18.879 And more than that, yes, you will. 00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:29.019 Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take him at his word, just to rest upon his promise, 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:31.859 just to know, thus say the Lord. 00:29:32.279 --> 00:29:39.220 Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him, how I've proved him over and over. 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:46.279 Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, offer grace to trust him more. 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:47.940 Let's pray. 00:29:50.859 --> 00:29:55.680 Friends, maybe in the quiet of your own heart, why not just use this few moments, 00:29:55.680 --> 00:30:03.720 just to come before this heavenly father who knows you and who loves you. 00:30:04.779 --> 00:30:07.360 I want to come before him in prayer in a silence now. 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:14.740 Do not be afraid, little flock. 00:30:16.019 --> 00:30:21.139 For your father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 00:30:22.399 --> 00:30:33.279 Father, we come here this morning with all sorts of questions and worries and burdens and doubts and people on our minds. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:38.359 Father, we realize our capacity, Lord, is so limited. 00:30:39.220 --> 00:30:44.619 Father, I pray that you would help us to understand that we are the creature and you are the creator. 00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:59.579 But to understand that through Jesus in him, that you are our good heavenly father who knows us, who loves us and he will provide for all of our needs. 00:31:00.439 --> 00:31:06.959 So, Father, we thank you for this time together this morning, just spending listening to your voice as we turn to the Bible. 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:10.039 So, we pray you'll be with us now as we continue on. 00:31:10.319 --> 00:31:11.360 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:31:11.799 --> 00:31:12.120 Amen.