Originally posted: 9/13/2020

“Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place…?” (38:12).

It was a breath of fresh air, to read the words, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,” (38:1).

Did you feel that way? Hearing Him from out of the whirlwind? But I confess, I wanted the Lord to rush in with words of comfort and affirmation, to bind up the wounded Job instantly with one Word.

But that is not what He speaks. The first words rushing in from out of the storm, both chastise and challenge Job.

“Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
³ “Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!” (38:2-3).

Ouch! Is He angry with His servant who was unlike any other on the face of the earth; His servant who was blameless and upright; His servant who feared Him and turned away from evil? It seems so.

And I wrestled with the Father’s heart towards His child who was so caught off guard, so confused by the events that didn’t resemble his theology at all. And with a series of piercing questions, God draws Job’s attention to his drastically finite limitations to intelligently interpret his life situation.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
⁵ Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?” (38:4-5).

And I couldn’t help but feel really sorry for Job; for we would all have our questions. But Job’s questions went beyond merely wondering why this was happening and somehow moved to judgments about God. And through every question God asked Job, it was as if God was saying: Job are you Me? Are you even like Me? Are you even close to being like Me, in My Authority, Power and Ability?

And I was reminded of my own children during their adolescent and teenage years, when my aggravation would rise whenever they became convinced they somehow had everything figured out, somehow knew better. And I quickly remembered that my own exasperation with them did not diminish the great love I have for them… not one iota.

And then came the question God posed that struck a nerve; a nerve of hope that bolstered faith.

“Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place…?” (38:12).

And while there is no debating this from Job, or from any one of us, in that rebuke came a ray of light as I reflected on Mornings. Mornings are the dawn of new beginnings. Mornings bring light. Mornings usher in hope.

And the Morning comes at His Command; His ways and His timing are perfect.

Consider Him Who Commands the Morning

“Have you ever in your life commanded the morning,
And caused the dawn to know its place…?” (38:12).

No one but Almighty Creator God has authority over the Morning’s dawn. He causes the dawn to know its place as He Commands the Morning. Nowhere is this more beautifully displayed than when He sent Jesus, in His perfect time and His perfect way. Jesus, the great Light that would dawn, so that we would no longer have to dwell in the darkness of sin and death.

“the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned,” (Matthew 4:16).

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ for our salvation, He promises we will never again have to walk in the darkness of sin and eternal death.

Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life,” (John 8:12).

But, even as believers, we have dark days; but dark days are not “the darkness.” Jesus, our Savior, has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to His kingdom.

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (Colossians 1:13).

We are citizens of His kingdom, not of this fallen world. But a fallen world has dark days. When the dark days come, with their confusion and questions, the promise of Him Who Commands the Morning shines through.

• When we need new beginnings, He Commands the Morning to bring His great love and mercy.
  • The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
    His mercies never come to an end;
    They are new every morning;
    great is Your faithfulness, (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV).

• When we need rescue from sin and sorrow and pain, He Commands the Morning to bring us the light of His eternal favor and joy.
  • For His anger is but for a moment,
    His favor is for a lifetime;
    Weeping may last for the night,
    But a shout of joy comes in the morning, (Psalm 30:5).

• When we need His wisdom and guidance to live as His disciples, He Commands the Morning to bring us hope and strength as we hear His voice.
  • The Lord God has given Me the tongue of disciples,
    That I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.
    He awakens Me morning by morning,
    He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple, (Isaiah 50:4-5).

How do we respond to Him Who Commands the Morning?

Scripture speaks of Jesus rising early in the Morning to be alone with His Father, to seek Him in prayer.

In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there, (Mark 1:35).

The Psalms also make frequent reference to seeking the Lord in the Morning hours.

Let us follow the example of our Savior, and the godly writers of the Psalms, that we would commit to start each new day with Him Who Commands the Morning, that we would experience His new beginnings, His light and His hope for each day.

And the truth is, when life is hard, if we don’t begin our day with Him, our concerns, agonies and distresses will threaten to rob us of His light and keep us in the darkness of life’s trials and troubles.

• Let us come eagerly each Morning, expecting that He will hear our prayers.
  • In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
    In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch, (Psalm 5:3).

• Let us choose to spend time each Morning in praise as we remember His faithful lovingkindness and protection.
  • But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
    Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
    For You have been my stronghold
    And a refuge in the day of my distress, (Psalm 59:16).

• When we are in need, and before we look elsewhere, let us run to Him in the Morning expecting to receive His help.
  • But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help,
    And in the morning my prayer comes before You, (Psalm 88:13).

• Oh, that we would grow so completely dependent on His Presence that we could not possibly be satisfied until we have met with Him in the Morning.
  • O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness,
    That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days, (Psalm 90:14).

• And as we daily come to Him to begin each day, He will be faithful to grow us in our faith and teach us the way we should walk; for He Who Commands the Morning is faithful.
  • Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning;
    For I trust in You;
    Teach me the way in which I should walk;
    For to You I lift up my soul, (Psalm 143:8).

Let’s Grow Together!