38 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 2 Who is this darkening counsel with words lacking knowledge? 3 Prepare yourself like a man; I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me. 4 Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Tell me if you know. 5 Who set its measurements? Surely you know. Who stretched a measuring tape on it? 6 On what were its footings sunk; who laid its cornerstone, 7 while the morning stars sang in unison and all the divine beings shouted? 34 Can you issue an order to the cloudsso their abundant waters cover you? 35 Can you send lightning so that it goes and then says to you, “I’m here”? 36 Who put wisdom in remote places, or who gave understanding to a rooster? 37 Who is wise enough to count the clouds, and who can tilt heaven’s water containers 38 so that dust becomes mud and clods of dirt adhere? 39 Can you hunt prey for the lion or fill the cravings of lion cubs? 40 They lie in their den, lie in ambush in their lair. 41 Who provides food for the raven when its young cry to God, move about without food?

 Job 38:1-7 Common English Bible (CEB)

The lesson from Sunday was a tough one...The Book of Job is a tough nut to crack. Ever since the story was included in the Hebrew Bible, and later the Christian Bible, there have been questions about what it is even about. God’s justice? God’s punishment? Man’s inhumanity to man?

Or is it about mercy? God’s provision? Looking for blessings?

The reading from Job 38 above is the start of God’s response to Job’s anguished pleas to God. Job wants to believe that God is good, in spite of all the Job has lost. These words of God...are fairly amazing, in my view.

God essentially says, “Look around you, child. Don’t you see what you have?”

God provides all, gives all, and loves all.

As we start this year’s stewardship season, it’s a time to count blessings. God, the Architect of Creation, has a left a lot to us to take care of. The World. Each other. The church. Sometimes, when we’re in our times of deepest loss, it’s hard to see what we actually have.

So, at the close of worship this week, I dared all of you to count your blessings, as a spiritual practice.  I dare everyone to find just one, little, blessing to count. God provides, for all of us. That is a good blessing to start with.

In Christ,
Rev. Jarrod Johnston