February 13 - Evening
“Now Moses said to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses’ father-in-law, ‘We are setting out for the place about which the Lord said, “I will give it to you.” Come with us and we will treat you well, for the Lord has promised good things to Israel.’
He answered, ‘No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.’
But Moses said, ‘Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.’
So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.”
- Numbers 10:29-32
He answered, ‘No, I will not go; I am going back to my own land and my own people.’
But Moses said, ‘Please do not leave us. You know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can be our eyes. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the Lord gives us.’
So they set out from the mountain of the Lord and traveled for three days. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them during those three days to find them a place to rest. The cloud of the Lord was over them by day when they set out from the camp.”
- Numbers 10:29-32
Moses Evangelizes his In-Laws
Jethro (or, Reuel in Ex. 2:18; 3:1) was Moses’ father-in-law and Hobab, Jethro’s son, was Moses’ brother-in-law. Some of Moses’ in-laws from Midian had been welcomed into the Israelite camp. As the Lord was preparing the Israelites to begin their journey to begin the conquest of the Promised Land, Moses invites his brother-in-law to join them. Hobab is invited to travel with Israel and enjoy the benefits that the Lord will provide in the Promised Land.
Moses desire to have Hobad stay with the Israelite camp and accompany them to the Promised Land included:
- Family Covenant…Moses had joined Hobad’s family through marriage which was a serious covenant that involved inheritance, responsibility, and other covenant benefits in the ancient world.
- Wilderness Guide …Hobab, who had grown up in the Midian wilderness, would be of great assistance to Israel in the wilderness when they needed water and pasture land.
- Evangelism…Hobab is invited to join the Israelite covenant with Yahweh and enjoy the benefits of the Promised Land
- A land
- A family
- A god(s)
“The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law, the Kenite, went up from the City of Palms (Jericho) with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad.” – Judges 1:16
This decision to join Moses and Israel was not a minor decision since it included moving to a new land, helping fight the battles with Joshua, switching allegiance to Yahweh and joining in a covenant.
Later in the days of the Judges one of Jethro’s and Hobab’s descendents named Heber left the Negev and moved north to assist the Canaanites near Hazor make iron chariots:
“Now Heber the Kenite had left the other Kenites, the descendants of Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, and pitched his tent by the great tree in Zaanannim near Kedesh.” – Judges 4:11
Yet, covenant relations between the family of Jethro and Hobab continued into King Saul’s day when Saul asked the Kenites to move away from the Amalekites before he acted on Samuel’s (and, the Lord’s) command to destroy the Amalekites who also lived in the Negev:
“Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. Then he said to the Kenites, “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.” – First Samuel 15:5-6
Pale (Gr) – Wrestle Eng) – pale is a Greek word that is used only one time in the Greek New Testament: "For our struggle (pale) is not against flesh and blood..." (Ephesians 6:12). Pale was used to identify wrestling since the days of Homer. Pale was a contest between two men who attempted to throw each other. The winner of the contest was the one who could hold his opponent down with his hand on his neck. In Ephesians Paul tells us that we are pale, or wrestling, against spiritual forces.
Do I work for things, or simply wish for them?
Do I have cravings or desires that I do nothing to satisfy or obtain?
Nothing is accomplished by mere wishing, craving, or desiring.
I will be diligent and begin to fulfill wishes and satisfy desires.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
For favor with people
Church
Christ-like attitudes and actions
Nation
Immigration
World
Algeria
Galyn stands in the excavated pavement and gate from the days the days of Herod Agrippa II in 41-44 AD or the days of Emperor Hadrian in 135 AD. This is the gate on the north wall of the city of Jerusalem located directly under the Damascus Gate that is used today
Someone to Quote
“Hold fast to the Bible. To the influence of this Book we are indebted for all the progress made in true civilization and to this we must look as our guide in the future.”
– Ulysses S. Grant
Something to Ponder
Tertullian wrote that Marcus Aurelius (121-180 AD), the great pagan emperor of the Roman Empire and persecutor of Christians, gave credit to the prayers of Christians (namely, his Roman soldiers who were Christian) for ending a drought with the arrival of rain. Tertullian wrote:
"You will see by examining the letters of Marcus Aurelius, that most serious of emperors, in which he bears his testimony that a certain Germanic crought was ended by the rains obtained through the prayers of the Christians." - Tertullian 197 AD
"Marcus Aurelius, also, in his expedition to Germany, received rain in that well-known drougth by the prayers his Christian soldiers offered to God." - Tertullian, 212, AD
(Details here and here)
"You will see by examining the letters of Marcus Aurelius, that most serious of emperors, in which he bears his testimony that a certain Germanic crought was ended by the rains obtained through the prayers of the Christians." - Tertullian 197 AD
"Marcus Aurelius, also, in his expedition to Germany, received rain in that well-known drougth by the prayers his Christian soldiers offered to God." - Tertullian, 212, AD
(Details here and here)
Here’s a Fact
Proverb
“The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”
– Proverbs 13:4
Coach’s Corner
Learning most often begins with a question.
Exodus 20
New International Version (NIV)
The Ten Commandments
20 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
New International Version (NIV)
The Ten Commandments
20 And God spoke all these words:
2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 “You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
Idols and Altars
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven: 23 Do not make any gods to be alongside me; do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.
24 “‘Make an altar of earth for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, your sheep and goats and your cattle. Wherever I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. 25 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it with dressed stones, for you will defile it if you use a tool on it. 26 And do not go up to my altar on steps, or your private parts may be exposed.’
Leviticus 3-4
New International Version (NIV)
The Fellowship Offering
3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. 2 You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb, you are to present it before the Lord, 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord.
12 “‘If your offering is a goat, you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
The Sin Offering
4 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—
3 “‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. 4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. 5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and carry it into the tent of meeting. 6 He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the Lord, in front of the curtain of the sanctuary. 7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, 9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys— 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox sacrificed as a fellowship offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines— 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean, where the ashes are thrown, and burn it there in a wood fire on the ash heap.
13 “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood into the tent of meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before the Lord seven times in front of the curtain. 18 He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar, 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the community, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.
22 “‘When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect. 24 He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord. It is a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
27 “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt 28 and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect. 29 They are to lay their hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. 30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
32 “‘If someone brings a lamb as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect. 33 They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 35 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.
New International Version (NIV)
The Fellowship Offering
3 “‘If your offering is a fellowship offering, and you offer an animal from the herd, whether male or female, you are to present before the Lord an animal without defect. 2 You are to lay your hand on the head of your offering and slaughter it at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall splash the blood against the sides of the altar. 3 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 4 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 5 Then Aaron’s sons are to burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering that is lying on the burning wood; it is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.
6 “‘If you offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the Lord, you are to offer a male or female without defect. 7 If you offer a lamb, you are to present it before the Lord, 8 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 9 From the fellowship offering you are to bring a food offering to the Lord: its fat, the entire fat tail cut off close to the backbone, the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 10 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 11 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering presented to the Lord.
12 “‘If your offering is a goat, you are to present it before the Lord, 13 lay your hand on its head and slaughter it in front of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron’s sons shall splash its blood against the sides of the altar. 14 From what you offer you are to present this food offering to the Lord: the internal organs and all the fat that is connected to them, 15 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which you will remove with the kidneys. 16 The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the Lord’s.
17 “‘This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood.’”
The Sin Offering
4 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands—
3 “‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed. 4 He is to present the bull at the entrance to the tent of meeting before the Lord. He is to lay his hand on its head and slaughter it there before the Lord. 5 Then the anointed priest shall take some of the bull’s blood and carry it into the tent of meeting. 6 He is to dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before the Lord, in front of the curtain of the sanctuary. 7 The priest shall then put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the bull’s blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 8 He shall remove all the fat from the bull of the sin offering—all the fat that is connected to the internal organs, 9 both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the long lobe of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys— 10 just as the fat is removed from the ox sacrificed as a fellowship offering. Then the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the hide of the bull and all its flesh, as well as the head and legs, the internal organs and the intestines— 12 that is, all the rest of the bull—he must take outside the camp to a place ceremonially clean, where the ashes are thrown, and burn it there in a wood fire on the ash heap.
13 “‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord. 16 Then the anointed priest is to take some of the bull’s blood into the tent of meeting. 17 He shall dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle it before the Lord seven times in front of the curtain. 18 He is to put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before the Lord in the tent of meeting. The rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 He shall remove all the fat from it and burn it on the altar, 20 and do with this bull just as he did with the bull for the sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the community, and they will be forgiven. 21 Then he shall take the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the community.
22 “‘When a leader sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the commands of the Lord his God, when he realizes his guilt 23 and the sin he has committed becomes known, he must bring as his offering a male goat without defect. 24 He is to lay his hand on the goat’s head and slaughter it at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered before the Lord. It is a sin offering. 25 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 26 He shall burn all the fat on the altar as he burned the fat of the fellowship offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the leader’s sin, and he will be forgiven.
27 “‘If any member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, when they realize their guilt 28 and the sin they have committed becomes known, they must bring as their offering for the sin they committed a female goat without defect. 29 They are to lay their hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place of the burnt offering. 30 Then the priest is to take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 31 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven.
32 “‘If someone brings a lamb as their sin offering, they are to bring a female without defect. 33 They are to lay their hand on its head and slaughter it for a sin offering at the place where the burnt offering is slaughtered. 34 Then the priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering and pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. 35 They shall remove all the fat, just as the fat is removed from the lamb of the fellowship offering, and the priest shall burn it on the altar on top of the food offerings presented to the Lord. In this way the priest will make atonement for them for the sin they have committed, and they will be forgiven.
Job 37
New International Version (NIV)
37
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
2
Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3
He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4
After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
5
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7
So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.
8
The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
9
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
10
The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
11
He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
12
At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
13
He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.
14
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
15
Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
16
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
17
You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18
can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19
“Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20
Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21
Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22
Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
23
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24
Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”
New International Version (NIV)
37
“At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
2
Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3
He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4
After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
5
God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6
He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7
So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.
8
The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
9
The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
10
The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
11
He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
12
At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
13
He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.
14
“Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
15
Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
16
Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
17
You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18
can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19
“Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20
Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21
Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22
Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
23
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24
Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?”