Job 37:20

Job 37:20 is part of Elihu's concluding discourse, where he passionately defends God's absolute sovereignty, power, and wisdom, contrasting it with human frailty and limited understanding. This verse serves as a rhetorical question emphasizing the futility and danger of a mere human attempting to contend with or even fully comprehend the Almighty.

Context

This powerful statement comes at the end of Elihu's fourth and final speech (Job 36-37), just before God Himself speaks from the whirlwind in Job 38. Elihu has positioned himself as a younger, more objective voice among Job's friends, arguing that God is just and always acts righteously, even in suffering. His aim here is to silence any human complaint or challenge against God, asserting that divine majesty is beyond human critique or even full description. He paints a vivid picture of God's control over nature (thunder, lightning, clouds, rain), leading to the inescapable conclusion that human speech in God's presence is utterly insignificant, if not outright presumptuous. Elihu's words prepare the stage for God's direct intervention, which further underscores human inability to grasp divine ways, echoing Elihu's sentiment that God is "great, and we know him not".

Key Themes

• God's Unapproachable Majesty: The verse highlights the immense gap between the Creator and creation. God's wisdom, power, and justice are far beyond human comprehension or challenge. Elihu suggests that even speaking about God, let alone to Him in a challenging manner, is a perilous endeavor for finite beings.
• Human Humility and Insignificance: The rhetorical question "Shall it be told him that I speak?" underscores the idea that humans have no standing to instruct or question God. The consequence, "if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up," vividly portrays human insignificance and the overwhelming power of divine presence, implying utter defeat or destruction for any who dare to speak presumptuously. This calls for profound reverence and the fear of the Lord.
• The Danger of Presumptuous Speech: Elihu warns against the prideful inclination to speak carelessly or challenge God's ways. Such speech is not only futile but potentially destructive, as human words are utterly overwhelmed by divine glory and power.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "swallowed up" (Hebrew: בָּלַע, balaʿ) is particularly strong. It means to engulf, consume, destroy, or absorb completely. It conveys the idea of being utterly overwhelmed and obliterated, leaving no trace. This imagery emphasizes the absolute disproportion between human frailty and divine might, suggesting that any human attempt to contend with God would result in immediate and complete annihilation or utter defeat.

Practical Application

Job 37:20 serves as a timeless reminder of the need for profound humility and reverence before God. It encourages believers to:

• Cultivate Humility: Recognize God's infinite wisdom and power, and our own limited understanding. This fosters a spirit of dependence and trust rather than questioning.
• Speak with Reverence: Be mindful of how we speak about God and to God. While we are invited to pray and bring our petitions, this should always be done with respect for His sovereignty and wisdom, understanding that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
• Trust God's Sovereignty: Even in times of suffering or confusion, this verse encourages us to trust that God is just and wise, even when His actions are beyond our full comprehension.