Don’t try staring at the sun. But how will you see the Lord when He appears “as golden splendor”?
Once again, after speaking in general terms, Elihu turns directly to his friend (Job 37:14-24). Presenting an exquisite poetic rendition, he eloquently says what I will tell you bluntly: It’s hard to hug a thunderhead! Impossible, actually, and this is Elihu’s concern. He knows how Job longs for a personal audience with God, but really? How can that be accomplished? When he invites Job to “stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” (v 14), he isn’t saying God’s works are wonderful the way we use (or misuse) the word. The word “wondrous” is not a general adjective to be used for anything we like. Elihu is saying that we are stunned speechless by God’s works. We’re overwhelmed with what He has done and are inundated with astonishment. So Job, if you’re flabbergasted at the way God “dispatches” the weather and distributes light (v 15), how He balances clouds (v 16), warms or cools the earth with breezes (v 17), and stretches out the heavens (v 18), what would it be like to actually meet HIM? “Teach us what we should say to Him, for we can prepare nothing because of the darkness” (v 19). If you can’t even look at the sun, will you be able to survive meeting its Maker (vv 20-21)? There’s no question that “with God is awesome majesty” (v 22). We’ve already discussed many of His attributes. “As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.…He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart” (vv 23-24). So how could a speck of dust on a speck of dust off in the corner of God’s universe ever have a meaningful encounter with Him? We won’t have to wait long for the answer because this majestic God is now approaching at whirlwind speed!