Job 38:35

KJV

Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we [are]?

KJV (with Strong's)

Canst thou send {H7971} lightnings {H1300}, that they may go {H3212}, and say {H559} unto thee, Here we are?

Complete Jewish Bible

Can you send lightning bolts on their way? Will they say to you, 'Here we are'?

Berean Standard Bible

Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?

American Standard Version

Canst thou send forth lightnings, that they may go, And say unto thee, Here we are?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Job 38:35 is a profound rhetorical question posed by God to Job from the whirlwind, challenging humanity's capacity to command even the most formidable elements of creation, such as lightning. This verse underscores God's absolute, unchallengeable sovereignty and omnipotence over the natural world, contrasting it sharply with the inherent limitations and finite understanding of humankind. It serves as a powerful reminder that the forces of nature, seemingly chaotic to human perception, are under the precise and immediate command of the Almighty Creator, who orchestrates all things according to His divine will.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within God's climactic speech to Job, which spans from [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech") through [Job 41](/job/41 "Job 41 - God's Description of Leviathan"). After chapters of Job's lamentations and his friends' theological debates concerning the cause of his suffering, God finally intervenes, not with an explanation for Job's pain, but with an overwhelming display of His majestic power and wisdom in creation. The divine discourse is characterized by a series of unanswerable rhetorical questions, each designed to highlight the vast chasm between God's infinite knowledge and Job's finite understanding. [Job 38:35](/job/38-35 "Job 38:35 - Canst thou send lightnings?") specifically follows questions about the origins of light, the storehouses of snow and hail, and the paths of the rain, further emphasizing God's meticulous control over atmospheric phenomena. This entire section aims to humble Job, leading him to a place of awe and submission, as seen in his eventual response in [Job 40:3-5](/job/40-3-5 "Job 40:3-5 - Job's First Response") and [Job 42:1-6](/job/42-1-6 "Job 42:1-6 - Job's Final Response and Repentance").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, natural phenomena like lightning and thunder were often associated with divine power and presence. Many pagan deities, such as Baal, were depicted as storm gods, wielding lightning as a weapon. However, the book of Job, rooted in a monotheistic worldview, firmly attributes all such power to Yahweh alone. The imagery of God speaking from a whirlwind or storm (a theophany) is a recurring motif in the Old Testament, signifying His immense power and often His judgment or revelation (e.g., [Exodus 19:16-19](/exodus/19-16-19 "Exodus 19:16-19 - God Appears on Mount Sinai"), [Psalm 18:7-15](/psalms/18-7-15 "Psalm 18:7-15 - God's Deliverance in a Storm")). The question "Canst thou send lightnings...?" would have resonated deeply with an audience acutely aware of their vulnerability to nature's forces and the sheer impossibility of human control over them. The cultural understanding of a master-servant relationship further amplifies the imagery of lightning "saying, Here we are," implying immediate and unquestioning obedience to a supreme commander.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Job and broader biblical theology. Foremost is **Divine Sovereignty and Omnipotence**, showcasing God's absolute and unchallenged control over every facet of His creation, even the most unpredictable and destructive elements like lightning. It highlights that natural laws and forces are not autonomous but are instruments of His will. Secondly, it underscores **Human Limitation and Humility**, revealing the vast chasm between human capabilities and divine power. Job, despite his righteousness and wisdom, is utterly incapable of commanding the elements, exposing the folly of questioning the Almighty. This theme encourages a posture of humility and reverence before God. Finally, the verse speaks to **God's Order and Purpose in Creation**. Even seemingly chaotic phenomena are depicted as operating with intelligent obedience to God's command, implying an underlying divine order and purpose that transcends human comprehension. This challenges the notion of a random or indifferent universe, affirming a God who is intimately involved in and sovereign over every detail of His cosmos.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lightnings (Hebrew, _bĕrāqîm'_):** This plural noun refers to flashes of lightning, often associated with divine power, judgment, and the manifestation of God's presence. In biblical contexts, lightning is frequently depicted as an instrument of God's will, signifying His swiftness, brilliance, and overwhelming might. The word itself conveys a sense of sudden, irresistible force.
* **Send (Hebrew, _šālaḥ'_):** The verb "send" implies intentionality, command, and delegation of authority. It's not merely that lightning *occurs*, but that God *sends* it. This highlights God's active role as the orchestrator and director of natural phenomena, emphasizing His direct control rather than a passive allowance of events.
* **Here we [are] (Hebrew, _hinnēnû'_):** This phrase is a powerful expression of immediate readiness and obedience, often used by servants or subordinates reporting for duty (e.g., [Genesis 22:1](/genesis/22-1 "Genesis 22:1 - Abraham's Obedience")). Applied to lightning, it personifies these natural forces as sentient beings, perfectly aligned with and instantly responsive to their Creator's command, underscoring the absolute and unquestioning obedience of creation to God.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Canst thou send lightnings":** This opening rhetorical question immediately challenges Job's (and by extension, humanity's) fundamental inability to command the forces of nature. It highlights the vast disparity in power between God and man, asserting that only the divine can initiate and direct such powerful and unpredictable phenomena.
* **"that they may go":** This clause emphasizes the directed movement and purpose of the lightning. It's not just about their existence, but their trajectory and destination. This implies that even the seemingly random path of lightning is under divine guidance, moving precisely where God intends.
* **"and say unto thee, Here we [are]?":** This concluding phrase is a striking personification, endowing the lightnings with the capacity for speech and immediate, obedient response. It vividly portrays creation as a perfectly disciplined army, ready at a moment's notice to execute the divine will. The question highlights the absurdity of a human expecting such perfect, instantaneous obedience from the elements, further magnifying God's unique authority.

#### Literary Devices
Job 38:35 is rich in **Rhetorical Question**, a dominant device throughout God's speech, serving not to elicit an answer but to underscore a point – in this case, human impotence versus divine omnipotence. The question "Canst thou send lightnings...?" powerfully exposes Job's limitations. **Personification** is prominently employed as lightning is given human attributes: the ability to "go" with purpose and, most strikingly, to "say unto thee, Here we are." This imbues the natural world with a sense of conscious obedience to God, making God's control over creation more vivid and absolute. The verse also uses **Imagery**, painting a vivid picture of flashing, powerful lightnings, instantly appearing at a command, which evokes a sense of awe and overwhelming power. This imagery contributes to the overall **Theophany** of God's appearance from the whirlwind, where His voice and actions are inextricably linked with the raw power of nature, further establishing His unparalleled majesty.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Job 38:35 stands as a profound theological statement on God's absolute sovereignty, not merely as a philosophical concept but as a tangible reality demonstrated through His command over creation. It reinforces the biblical truth that God is not a distant deity but an active, immanent Ruler who orchestrates every detail of the cosmos. This verse challenges any anthropocentric view that places human intellect or control at the center, instead calling humanity to a posture of profound humility and worship before the Creator. The immediate obedience of the lightnings serves as a powerful metaphor for the entire created order's subservience to God's will, reminding us that even the most formidable forces are but His servants. This divine control extends beyond the physical realm, assuring us that the God who commands the lightning also governs the affairs of humanity and works all things according to His purpose, even when His ways are inscrutable to us.

* [Psalm 135:7](/psalms/135-7 "Psalm 135:7 - God Controls Weather")
* [Psalm 29:3-9](/psalms/29-3-9 "Psalm 29:3-9 - The Voice of the Lord in the Storm")
* [Jeremiah 10:13](/jeremiah/10-13 "Jeremiah 10:13 - God Brings Forth the Wind from His Treasuries")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Job 38:35 invites us to a profound re-evaluation of our place in the universe and our relationship with the Almighty. In a world that often prizes human autonomy and control, this verse serves as a humbling corrective, reminding us that true power and ultimate authority reside solely with God. When we face circumstances that feel overwhelming, unpredictable, or beyond our grasp – whether personal suffering, global crises, or the sheer unpredictability of life – this verse calls us to remember that there is a sovereign God who commands even the lightnings. It encourages us to release our futile attempts to control what is beyond our capacity and instead cultivate a deeper trust in His wisdom and benevolent oversight. Recognizing our limitations fosters a posture of humility, leading to authentic worship and a surrender to His will. This surrender, paradoxically, brings immense peace, knowing that the One who orchestrates the cosmos also holds our lives in His powerful, caring hands.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God commanding lightning challenge my own sense of control or self-sufficiency in life?**
* **In what areas of my life do I struggle to trust God's sovereignty, particularly when circumstances seem chaotic or unjust?**
* **How can reflecting on God's power over creation deepen my worship and cultivate a greater sense of humility before Him?**
* **What practical steps can I take to surrender more fully to God's will, knowing He commands all things?**

### FAQ
**Why does God use rhetorical questions in His response to Job?**
Answer: God employs rhetorical questions throughout [Job 38](/job/38 "Job 38 - God's First Speech")-[41](/job/41 "Job 41 - God's Description of Leviathan") not because He seeks information, but to highlight the vast chasm between His infinite wisdom and power and Job's finite understanding. These questions are designed to humble Job, expose the limits of human knowledge, and ultimately lead him to a place of awe, repentance, and trust in God's unsearchable ways. They demonstrate that God's governance of the universe is beyond human comprehension and challenge any presumption of human right to question divine justice based on limited perspective.

**Does this verse imply God is directly responsible for natural disasters, like lightning strikes causing damage?**
Answer: Yes, this verse, along with many others in Scripture (e.g., [Amos 3:6](/amos/3-6 "Amos 3:6 - Disaster in the City from the Lord"), [Psalm 148:8](/psalms/148-8 "Psalm 148:8 - Fire and Hail, Snow and Mist, Stormy Wind Fulfilling His Word")), affirms God's ultimate sovereignty and control over all natural phenomena, including those we perceive as destructive or chaotic. While there may be secondary causes or natural laws at play, the Bible consistently attributes the ultimate orchestration and permission of such events to God's will. This does not mean God is capricious, but that even in what appears to be chaos, His purposes are being served, whether for judgment, discipline, or simply to display His power.

**How does the biblical understanding of God's control over lightning reconcile with modern scientific explanations?**
Answer: Science describes *how* lightning works – the atmospheric conditions, electrical charges, and physical processes involved. The Bible, however, speaks to *who* ultimately governs these processes. There is no contradiction. Scientific laws are simply the consistent patterns by which God upholds and operates His creation. Job 38:35 asserts that God is the ultimate orchestrator behind these natural laws, the One who "sends" the lightning and to whom it "responds." Science explains the mechanism; the Bible reveals the Master. God's sovereignty is not a suspension of natural law but the ultimate authority behind its very existence and operation.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Job 38:35, with its awe-inspiring portrayal of God's absolute command over creation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and most tangible expression in the person of Jesus Christ. The divine power displayed in commanding the lightnings is precisely the power manifested in the Son of God. While Job could not send lightnings or elicit their obedience, Jesus, as the incarnate God, demonstrated unparalleled authority over the natural world. He calmed raging storms with a mere word, causing the wind and waves to obey Him instantly, prompting His disciples to marvel, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" ([Mark 4:39-41](/mark/4-39-41 "Mark 4:39-41 - Jesus Calms the Storm")). This echoes the "Here we are!" obedience of the lightnings to God in Job. Furthermore, the New Testament reveals that Christ is not only the One who sustains creation but also the very agent through whom it was made: "For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible... all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together" ([Colossians 1:16-17](/colossians/1-16-17 "Colossians 1:16-17 - Christ as Creator and Sustainer")). The wisdom and power that spoke from the whirlwind to Job are fully embodied in Jesus, the "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ Upholds All Things")). Thus, Job 38:35 points us to the Lord Jesus, who is the very embodiment of God's sovereign power, now exercised not only in creation but supremely in redemption for His people.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 1:14

Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight.

Job 37:3

He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.

Numbers 11:1

¶ And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it]; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp.

Isaiah 6:8

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here [am] I; send me.

Leviticus 10:2

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Exodus 9:29

And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; [and] the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth [is] the LORD'S.

Revelation 11:5

And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.