THE IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS OF GOD

THE IMMEASURABLE GREATNESS OF GOD

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

Finally the LORD (and now, significantly, he is

given his proper name) answers Job. But he

gives Job no answer to the agonized

complaints and questions. In all his speeches

the LORD makes no statement; he only asks,

ironically and majestically, a series of questions

which show that no answer is needed. Indeed,

no answer is possible, because Job cannot

enter into debate with the LORD.

Job has clamoured for a lawsuit, but the

majestic questions show that no lawsuit is

possible, for Job cannot begin to understand

how the LORD works. The ground has been

prepared by the noble poem on Wisdom in

creation (chapter 28, not read in this selection)

with its refrain, ‘Where is understanding to be

found? Wisdom? It is fear of the LORD.’ Now the

LORD’s questions to Job range over the whole

field of creation, the sea with its robe of mist,

the harness of the Pleiades, how the mountain

goats give birth, monsters like the

hippopotamus lying beneath the lotus, tamed

and obedient to its maker, or the crocodile

merely laughing at the whirring javelin.

At the same time as showing Job his

incapacity to understand the mysteries of the

LORD’s activities, the poem shows the LORD’s

tender love and affection for the whole of

creation, even combining humour with majesty.

There is no attempt and no need to approach

Job’s questions of justice and innocence, for

the revelation of God thus imparted is simply

overwhelming and fully satisfying, leaving no

room for such petty human evaluations.