The Voice in the Whirlwind

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? 

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. 

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. 

Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 

When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

  Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb?

When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it,

And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, 

And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?

Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; 

That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? ...

Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 

Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

 

 

... Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; 

To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man;

To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? 

Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?

. . . Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?  Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?

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

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven . . .

These pictures are some that came around on the Internet, supposedly of the skies just before Hurricane Katrina. I don't know who took them or even if they're authentic. 

But, oh my, they are awe-inspiring and at once brought to mind words from the Book of Job -- one of the Bible's most troubling stories with some of its most glorious language.