The Mere Edges of His Ways

Job’s friends began their speeches with great bluster and ended with a tiny whimper. They thought they understood everything they needed to know to address Job’s situation, but their assumptions could not stand up against Job’s rebuttals. Thus, as Job countered this final attempt, he challenged their presumptive manner in claiming to speak on God’s behalf when they clearly did not understand God Himself (Job 26:1-4). As if adding an exclamation point to his argument, he proceeded to offer a beautiful and powerful description of God’s work in creation that extends far beyond the extent conceived by his friends. While they recognized the power of God in the heavens, Job emphasized that His power extended to the depths as well (Job 26:5-6). He recognized the power of God in the universe, suspending the earth within space itself (Job 26:7), creating the water cycle (Job 26:8), and building a wall so thick with clouds as to cut off the view of all that is beyond (Job 26:9). Job recognized God’s power over all nature from the ocean deep to the great mountain peaks. He saw how God established the boundaries of light and darkness and has power to calm the most violent storm (Job 26:10-12). However, Job also recognized that divine power is not limited to this earth but rather extends into the vastness of space where the LORD created the beauty of the stars in their constellations with precision and care (Job 26:13). Then, as Job reached the final crescendo of his point, he noted, “Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, And how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26:14).

The mere edges of His ways! What a beautiful and powerful description! Job had just described the creative power of God in broad terms, yet he knew that he had only scratched the surface of what God had done and could do. He did not have a huge telescope to peer into space and reveal all the details of various galaxies. He did not have a microscope to study mitochondrial DNA. He did not have access to the breadth of information about the variety of animal and vegetable life on the earth. But he had enough. He recognized there was more than sufficient information available in his own time to acknowledge the creation of God and to see that this only touched the hem of the garment of possibilities. He did not even have a copy of one book of the Bible. But he saw all of creation as a reason to turn to God, to trust Him, and to do His will. 

We have so much more evidence available to us. Unfortunately, many have twisted this evidence to try to excuse their denying God rather than, like Job, seeing the power and wisdom of God behind it all. Scientists make discoveries on a regular basis of the vast intricacies of creation, but rather than being impressed with God, they seem impressed with themselves. Job saw creation as a powerful testimony to the omnipotence and omniscience of God, and even then He recognized that this meant that God was capable of far more. Creation is indeed only the beginning of what God can do, because it is concerned only with the beginning of His purpose. Today we can study the extensive explanation of God’s ways contained in scripture to understand in far greater detail the vastness of His power and the height of His glory, yet in this we still only see the mere edges of His ways, though enough—we would hope—to motivate us to want to see His fullness in heaven.