If you read along in Job, you watch terrible tragedy come upon Job time after time. You have seen his friends come to be with him. You have heard those same friends accuse Job of sinning; all of their advice coming from the perspective that he needs to repent in order for God to end his punishment. You have also heard Job defend himself, holding fast to his innocence. He boldly tells his friends what he would do if God would answer him.

23:4-7: I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me. There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
31:35-37:  Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!)
    Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!   Surely I would carry it on my shoulder;
    I would bind it on me as a crown; I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.

Job 39 is part of a “rant” by God that puts Job in his place. God first joins in the conversation between Job and his friends in Job 38:3, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” God repeats this in Job 40:7, “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.”

We will look at God’s reply and Job’s response in a couple of days. Today, I want to focus on a few other thoughts.

First, God is BIG and we are small.

Omniscient – God is all-knowing – we are ignorant
Omnipotent – God is all-powerful – we are weak
Omnipresent – God is everywhere, all the time – we are limited

We need to keep these differences in mind at all times. This is what allows us to fully trust in God and His plan for our lives.

Second, we need to have a proper perspective of our lives on this earth.

2 Timothy 3:12a: “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”
John 16:33: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Both of these verses are directed to those who are in Christ. The Bible’s perspective is that we will face trials and persecution. It is much more difficult to face those trials when we have the perspective that it shouldn’t happen to us. Sin, evil, suffering – these are normal for this life. They should be expected. If we are in Christ, our perspective and expectations should be that these things should happen to us.

Having the right perspective of who we are compared to God and what expectations we should have regarding life in this age will help us trust God as we face whatever circumstances come our way.