Daily Devotional | God as Builder

On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building opened to great fanfare. At the time, it was the largest building in the world. The construction involved over 3,500 workers and took three years to complete. Architects, iron workers, stone masons, carpenters, and plumbers were all needed, along with many other specialties to craft the iconic building.

In Job 38, God is the master builder. He created not a skyscraper but the entire universe! He alone is the Creator of everything. You may remember that the Old Testament book of Job shares the story of a man who had lost everything. His house, wealth, reputation, and his children had all been taken from him. Job could not fathom why. What had he done to deserve such calamity?

Job’s intense suffering impacted his relationship with God, and he began to question God’s justice (Job 31:35). God met with Job “out of the storm” (v. 1), giving him a series of rhetorical questions that centered around God’s work in Creation. God presents himself as the main architect, carpenter, and builder of the world. He alone knows the secrets of the universe because He is its Creator. God is the master builder.

How does God’s answer relate to Job’s question? God reminded Job of his place in the universe. The questions forced Job to reflect: “Where were you? Who are you? Have you ever? Are you able?” God was the Creator; Job was merely a creature. He was not to judge God. He did not have the information, the standing, or the capacity to do so. He had been speaking “words without knowledge” (v. 2).